The Russian military has killed more than 100 "foreign mercenaries" in attacks in the past 24 hours, officials said, as Nordic countries held a summit in Oslo, Norway, discussing joint defense cooperation.

A spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, confirmed that the dead included Germans and two Poles, and said that the attacks also left more than 50 wounded in the Kharkiv region.

Russian spokesman Konashenkov also said that Russian forces attacked Kherson in the south and Donetsk in the east, killing more than 420 Ukrainian soldiers, adding that a Ukrainian command post was bombed near Bakhmut - a town of strategic importance - in the Donetsk region.

On the other hand, Ole Sinihopov, the governor of Kharkiv, said that the Russian army attacked industrial buildings and infrastructure with missiles, but he did not mention the casualties.


Russian bombing

The Russian Defense Ministry had said that it had bombed with missiles and artillery targets in dozens of places in eastern Ukraine, and took control of a town in the city of Kharkiv.

She explained that her attacks were concentrated in the Donetsk region (eastern Ukraine), and she also said that the town of Udi in the neighboring Kharkiv region was captured.

For his part, Sergey Khelan, Deputy Governor of Kherson Province, confirmed that the Russian forces that crossed the Dnipro River in the city of Kherson may remain stuck in the area after bombing all its bridges.

In statements to Ukrainian television, Khellan estimated the number of Russian soldiers on the right bank of the river at about 20,000, noting that they can still cross the damaged bridges on foot, or by using floating boards near the Antonevsky Bridge.


Zaporozhye station

In developments around the Zaporozhye nuclear plant, Russia said it would do "everything necessary" to allow specialists from the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit the plant, amid concerns about the safety of the bombed plant.

Russia seized the station, the largest in Europe, last March, shortly after the start of its war on Ukraine, and the station was bombed in recent days.

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of the bombing, which each says endangers the station.

While Russia says Ukraine recklessly shoots at the station, Kyiv says Russia is bombing it, accusing Ukraine of causing any blackouts.

Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a cessation of all hostilities near the station.

In an urgent news broadcast by Reuters this evening, Monday, it said that the Russian Defense Minister discussed, in contact with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, ensuring the continuation of the Zaporozhye nuclear plant.

Ukrainian soldiers training in England (Getty Images)

Ukrainian soldiers training

On the other hand, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today, Monday, that 120 soldiers will be sent to train Ukrainian soldiers in Britain.

Ardern indicated - at a press conference - that New Zealand will continue to respond to Ukraine's demands, and will provide Kiev with the necessary support to resist "unprovoked Russian attacks."

She also explained that two New Zealand infantry teams will train Ukrainian soldiers in basic combat skills, including handling weapons, first aid in combat and other skills.

The Oslo summit focused on how northern European countries can dispense with Russian gas (Reuters)

Oslo summit

Politically, the Nordic summit was held today, with the participation of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Germany.

The summit discussed common issues, the most important of which is joint defense cooperation, with the start of the process of joining Sweden and Finland to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

She also discussed the protection of the oceans and the transition to green energy, as part of a plan that aims for the Nordic countries to become the most integrated and sustainable region in the field of energy in the world by 2030.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said - in a press conference - that Russian President Vladimir Putin is using gas to weaken Europe, and there is a need for independence from it as soon as possible, adding that the Russian attack on Ukraine has created a new reality with regard to European security.

For his part, the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Store, said that the Nordic alliance does not pose a threat to anyone, but rather works for common security.

As for German Chancellor Olaf Schultz, he stressed that the Nordic countries and Germany support the unity and sovereignty of Ukraine and stand against Russia's war on it, adding that the Nordic countries seek to dispense with Russian gas.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson stressed the need for European countries not to allow Russia to win its war against Ukraine.