Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/KYIV: Ukraine’s recently liberated southern city of Kherson faced heavy mortar and artillery strikes by Russian forces across the Dnipro River as Moscow rejected a peace plan by Kyiv, demanding that Ukraine accepts its annexation of four regions.
Kherson has been facing shelling from the Russian military, which had retreated to the east bank of the river when Ukrainian forces retook the city last month in what was a major victory for them.
Latest shelling hit a medical centre in Kherson
The latest strikes hit a hospital’s maternity ward. However, no-one was hurt in the attack, according to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s deputy chief of staff. The hospital staff and patients were moved to a shelter, Tymoshenko said in a post on Telegram.
The attacks occurred despite Moscow’s repeated denial of targeting civilians.
Zelensky asks countrymen to cherish time with loved ones
The Ukrainian president, in a video address, asked his countrymen to hug their loved ones, appreciate friends, help colleagues, thank their parents and enjoy with their children more often.
He said, “We have not lost our humanity, although we have endured terrible months.”
“And we will not lose it, although there is a difficult year ahead,” he added.
Ukraine and its Western allies denounced Russia’s invasion of the country on February 24 as an imperialist-style land grab. Whereas, Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Moscow’s move as a “special military operation” to demilitarize its neighbour.
