If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest on Friday’s developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine:
Ukrainian territories liberated in Kherson: The Ukrainian military has liberated 2,400 square kilometers (more than 926 square miles) of territory in the south “since the beginning of the full-scale war,” according to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, a senior Ukrainian official. Almost all of that land has been recovered in the past two weeks as Ukraine has stepped up its counteroffensive in Kherson, which is one of the regions Russia has claimed it is annexing. The recaptured areas includes six settlements that were liberated in the Kherson district and 61 settlements that were recaptured in the region’s district of Beryslav, according to Tymoshenko. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov released a video Friday in which he urges Russia’s frontline troops to lay down their arms and promised “life, safety and justice” to those that do.
Russian shelling hits the district of Nikopol: Almost 40 Russian shells hit Nikopol, Valentyn Reznichenko, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, said in a post on Telegram. No injuries were reported but several high-rise buildings, more than 10 private houses, a transport infrastructure enterprise, gas pipelines and electricity networks were damaged, he said.
Deadly missile strikes in the south: Rescue operations are underway in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia after Russian missile strikes killed 11 people on Thursday, according to Ukrainian authorities. The bodies of 11 people were retrieved from two destroyed residential buildings. Additionally, 21 people were rescued, 13 of whom were hospitalized.
Fleeing Russians arrive on American shores: Two Russians crossed the Bering Strait and landed in Gambell, Alaska, earlier this week. They said they were seeking asylum to avoid Russia’s draft in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said their arrival had been a surprise and that officials “don’t anticipate a continual stream of individuals.” The Russian Embassy in Washington has said its diplomats will hold a “telephone conversation” with two Russians, state media TASS reported.
Biden’s nuclear warning: US President Joe Biden’s stark warning Thursday night that the world faces the highest prospect of nuclear war in 60 years was not based on any new intelligence about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions or changes in Russia’s nuclear posture, multiple US officials told CNN. The US still has seen no evidence that Putin is moving toward using Russia’s nuclear capability, nor is there any intelligence showing he’s decided to do so. But Biden’s comments – laid out in starker terms than other US officials have used to date – reflected heightened concerns inside his administration about the risk of Russia carrying out a nuclear strike in Ukraine.
