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Ukraine war: At least three killed in Odesa strikes, Kyiv says Ukraine war: 'Extremely fierce battles' as Kyiv seeks to advance
(about 3 hours later)
At least three people have been killed in a relatively rare Russian strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa, Ukrainian officials have said. Ukraininan troops have recaptured several settlements in the east of the country
"Extremely fierce battles" are raging in parts of Ukraine as Kyiv's forces continue their counter-offensive, the country's deputy defence minister says.
Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram that Ukrainian forces had managed to advance near Bakhmut in the east and Zaporizhzhia in the south.
But she conceded Russian forces were mounting a stiff defence in some areas.
Her comments come after another night of Russian missile and drones strikes on cities across Ukraine.
Russia has stepped up its bombing campaign in recent weeks, despite President Vladimir Putin admitting that his forces are suffering from a shortage of missiles and drones. The latest wave included a relatively rare strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa.
Kyiv's much-anticipated advance has been long in the making, and Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of increasing strikes in recent weeks to deflect attention from the offensive.
The Ukrainians say their troops have recaptured seven settlements and at least 90 sq km (35 sq miles) since starting their counter-offensive.
Ms Maliar wrote on Telegram that Ukrainian troops had advanced around the city of Bakhmut, long the centre of a grinding and bloody street-by-street battle with Russian forces.
She said soldiers advanced by 200m to 500m towards the city, as well as advancing 300m to 500m in the southern Zaporizhzhia province. The BBC cannot independently verify these claims.
But she conceded that the counter-offensive had already led to some "extremely fierce battles", as Ukrainian forces try to break through well established Russian defensive lines.
Senior Western officials have warned against the idea that Russian forces will simply "melt away" in the face of Ukrainian attacks, adding that Kyiv's gains had already been "costly".
"Russian forces have generally put up a good defence from their well-prepared, defended positions and had been falling back between tactical lines," the sources said.
"This 'manoeuvre defence approach' is proving challenging for the Ukrainians and also costly to attacking forces. Hence, the advance at the moment has been slow," they observed, adding that it was too soon to say how effective Ukraine's offensive has been.
Valery Zaluzhny, the man behind Ukraine's counter-offensive
Inside one of the villages freed from Russian forces
What will it take for military push to succeed?
But they emphasised that heavy losses were to be expected, given Russia has had months to prepare defensive lines.
"This was never going to be without risk," they said. "What we're seeing is not unexpected. It's difficult, and it is going to be challenging for Ukrainians. What we have seen, though, is they've continued to push through where they have had losses, and then continued to advance. So overall is going in the right direction."
Both sides have reported mounting casualties among their opponents which cannot be independently verified.
Wednesday night's strikes on the Black Sea port city of Odesa killed at east three people, Ukrainian officials have said.
Another 13 people were injured in the early morning attacks, which targeted a warehouse and damaged shops.Another 13 people were injured in the early morning attacks, which targeted a warehouse and damaged shops.
The south-western city is vital to Ukraine's grain exports through the Black Sea and has come under infrequent missile fire during the war.The south-western city is vital to Ukraine's grain exports through the Black Sea and has come under infrequent missile fire during the war.
The strikes come as Ukraine's counter-offensive continues to gain ground.
Kyiv's much-anticipated advance has been long in the making, and Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of stepping up missile strikes in recent weeks to deflect attention from the offensive.
Military commanders said Russia fired 10 missiles and 10 drones overnight, most of which were shot down by air defences.Military commanders said Russia fired 10 missiles and 10 drones overnight, most of which were shot down by air defences.
They added that three of four KH-22 missiles launched from a Russian warship in the Black Sea were shot down, with the final one managing to hit Odesa.They added that three of four KH-22 missiles launched from a Russian warship in the Black Sea were shot down, with the final one managing to hit Odesa.
A number of civilians buildings were destroyed by the Russian attack in Odesa, including a shopping mall
Oleg Kiper, the head of the region's military administration, said the three dead were workers in the warehouse, which was being used as a food storage centre.Oleg Kiper, the head of the region's military administration, said the three dead were workers in the warehouse, which was being used as a food storage centre.
"There may be people under the rubble," he added. More civilians were injured after the blast and "air combat" damaged shops, restaurants - including a McDonald's - and residential areas, Mr Kiper wrote on Telegram."There may be people under the rubble," he added. More civilians were injured after the blast and "air combat" damaged shops, restaurants - including a McDonald's - and residential areas, Mr Kiper wrote on Telegram.
As well as being one of Ukraine's biggest ports, Odesa is also known as the pearl of the Black Sea an isd home to a number of historical buildings. In January, the United Nations cultural agency Unesco designated the city centre as an endangered World Heritage site in light of Russian attacks.
And the city has long been a prize target for Russian forces.
Valery Zaluzhny, the man behind Ukraine's counter-offensive
Inside one of the villages freed from Russian forces
What will it take for military push to succeed?
Elsewhere, strikes on the eastern cities of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka killed a further three people and destroyed dozens of residential houses, Ukrainian authorities said.Elsewhere, strikes on the eastern cities of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka killed a further three people and destroyed dozens of residential houses, Ukrainian authorities said.
And six people - including four forestry workers - were killed after Russia shelled a a van in north-eastern Ukraine on Tuesday. Ukrainian prosecutors said the attack occurred near the village of Seredyna-Buda, close to the Russian border.And six people - including four forestry workers - were killed after Russia shelled a a van in north-eastern Ukraine on Tuesday. Ukrainian prosecutors said the attack occurred near the village of Seredyna-Buda, close to the Russian border.
Russia has stepped up its bombing campaign in recent weeks, despite President Vladimir Putin admitting that his forces are suffering from a shortage of missiles and drones. The director of the UN's nuclear watchdog has postponed a planned trip the the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
The attacks - which have killed dozens of civilians this week - come as Ukraine's counter-offensive in the south and east gains momentum.
The Ukrainians say their troops have recaptured seven settlements and at least 90 sq km (35 sq miles) since starting their counter-offensive.
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram that Ukrainian forces had also advanced around the city of Bakhmut, long the centre of a grinding and bloody street-by-street battle with Russian forces.
Ms Maliar said soldiers advanced by some 200m to 500m towards Bakhmut, and 300m to 500m in the southern Zaporizhzhia province. The BBC cannot independently verify these claims.
But she conceded that the counter-offensive had already led to some "extremely fierce battles", as Ukrainian forces try to break through Russian defensive lines.
Ukraininan troops have recaptured several settlements in the east of the country
Fresh reports have also emerged of casualties among senior Russian commanders.
In Kherson, the Russian-installed governor, Vladimir Saldo, wrote on Telegram that Maj Gen Sergei Goryachev was killed in action by Ukrainian forces.
And pro-Russian military bloggers have also suggested that one of the top commanders of Russia's Chechen paramilitary forces fighting in Ukraine has been injured.
Russia has lost a number of senior generals since the war began, a relatively unusual feature of modern warfare, where top commanders normally remain far behind their own lines.
Some analysts have suggested Moscow's commanders have been forced further forward because of junior officers' reluctance to take serious operational decisions.
But the story of the advance is not as clear-cut as the triumphant claims of liberation that came from Kyiv earlier this week.
On Tuesday, the BBC was granted access to some of the first settlements in eastern Donetsk, where the Ukrainian flag is now flying. Many are deserted, and in some areas Russian forces are pushing back.
Meanwhile, the director of the UN's nuclear watchdog has postponed a planned trip the the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
Senior Ukrainian officials said Rafael Grossi had agreed to delay his trip until it was safer to travel. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief said on Tuesday that he was "very concerned" that the plant could be caught in the crossfire of Ukraine's counter-offensive.Senior Ukrainian officials said Rafael Grossi had agreed to delay his trip until it was safer to travel. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief said on Tuesday that he was "very concerned" that the plant could be caught in the crossfire of Ukraine's counter-offensive.
His officials have also stressed their need to access a site near the plant to check water levels, after the nearby reservoir supplying cooling pools for the plant was hit by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.His officials have also stressed their need to access a site near the plant to check water levels, after the nearby reservoir supplying cooling pools for the plant was hit by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.
Meanwhile, in Moscow the state Duma [parliament] has approved a new bill allowing the defence ministry to sign contracts with convicted criminals to fight in Ukraine.
The new law will allow anyone who is being investigated for committing a crime, having their case heard in court or who has been convicted but before the verdict takes legal effect, to sign up to the army.
People accused of sexual offences, treason, terrorism or extremism will be excluded from the law.
The move - widely seen as the latest attempt by Russian to avoid moving to full conscription - seeks to fill gaps left by mounting casualties.
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