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At least 10 dead as Russia advances offensive in northeastern Ukraine – 102.3 KRMG

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KYIV, Ukraine — (AP) — At least 10 people were reportedly killed in attacks in war-torn northeast Ukraine on Sunday as Russia continued its renewed offensive.

In the Kharkiv region, the focus of the offensive, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said five people were killed and 16 wounded in a Russian attack on the outskirts of the regional capital, also known as Kharkiv.

He added that five more people were killed and nine injured in an attack in the Kupiansk district, southeast of the regional capital.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that its forces in the region were “continuing to advance into the depths of the enemy’s defenses.” Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia had increased its attacks around Kharkiv and that the situation was “dynamic.”

Russia launched an offensive in the Kharkiv region late last week, significantly increasing pressure on Ukraine’s outnumbered and outgunned forces as they await delayed shipments of key arms and ammunition from Western partners. Ukraine’s overstretched armed forces are trying to thwart Russia on the new front by using bomb-laden drones to destroy military vehicles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday during a visit to China that Moscow’s offensive in the Kharkiv region was aimed at creating a buffer zone, but there were no plans to capture the city.

Meanwhile, drone attacks continued between Ukraine and Russia.

Ukrainian Air Force officials said Sunday morning that air defenses shot down all 37 Russian drones fired against the country overnight.

In Russia, Russian air defense forces shot down 57 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Local military officials said drone debris hit an oil refinery in the Kuban town of Slavyansk, but there was no fire or damage. The Astra news agency published videos that appeared to show an explosion at the refinery when it was hit by a drone. The videos could not be independently verified.

Nine long-range ballistic missiles and a drone were destroyed over the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula after a massive Ukrainian drone strike knocked out power in the city of Sevastopol on Friday morning.

Three more drones were shot down over the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine. According to the region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the roof of a church was set on fire by falling drone debris, but there were no injuries.

The Russian-appointed governor of Ukraine’s partially occupied Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said one person died and 16 were injured Sunday morning when a Ukrainian drone hit a minibus.

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Morton reported from London.

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Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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