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The Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine has recently been increasingly attacked

Photo: IMAGO/Belgorod Region Governor Press O / IMAGO/ITAR-TASS

This article will be updated on an ongoing basis.

Zelensky arrives in Moldova for Europe summit

8:51 a.m.: Volodymyr Zelensky personally attends the summit of the new European Political Community (EPC) in Moldova. The President of Ukraine was welcomed this morning in Bulboaca by Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

Sweden: We are on the home stretch when we join NATO

8:49 a.m.: Sweden is on the home stretch in the struggle to join NATO, according to Foreign Minister Tobias Billström. "This is not a sprint, but a marathon, and we see the end of it," Billström said before consultations of NATO foreign ministers in Oslo. His country fulfils all the requirements for admission to the transatlantic alliance. Turkey and Hungary must now ratify the accession, Billström demanded.

Russian Volunteer Corps announces second phase of "liberation"

8:28 a.m.: The Russian Volunteer Corps and the Legion of Free Russia have announced the start of the second phase of the "liberation" of the Belgorod region and have published corresponding video messages. According to the group, they want to advance to the border town of Shebekino.

Belgorod's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported in the morning that at least eight people had been injured by intense shelling on Thursday night. The small town of Shebekino is under "never-ending fire" from the Ukrainian armed forces. Both the center and outlying districts had been shelled since midnight with Soviet-made "Grad" multiple rocket launchers.

Russian Telegram channels write about fighting in the area of the Shebekino border checkpoint, claiming that the "saboteurs" have tanks.

Two dead children after attack on Kyiv, Kremlin speaks of "Russophobia" of the West

8:19 a.m.: Russia shelled Kyiv again, including hitting a hospital. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is making accusations against Western states – and bringing children from the border region. Read the latest developments from the night here.

svs/AFP/dpa/Reuters