Zelensky inspects Ukrainian troops near besieged Bakhmut
Moscow: Depleted uranium delivery to Ukraine exacerbates conflict risk
Ukrainian President Zelensky speaks to soldiers at a post near Bachmutt. A.B
Russia warned yesterday that London's delivery to Ukraine of ammunition containing depleted uranium would represent a "dangerous aggravation" of the conflict, and at a time when Moscow launched Russian drone bombs, killing five people near Kiev, hours after the Japanese Prime Minister left the Ukrainian capital, and with Chinese President Xi Jinping leaving Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky inspected the frontline positions of Ukrainian forces near the besieged city of Bakhmut.
In detail, the Russian foreign minister warned yesterday that London's delivery to Ukraine of ammunition containing depleted uranium, which a British official recently spoke of, would represent a "dangerous aggravation" of the conflict.
Sergey Lavrov, speaking at a press conference in Sochi in southern Russia, said that "it is a step towards further aggravation, an exacerbation of the danger" of the conflict.
On Monday, British Deputy Defence Secretary Annabelle Goldi indicated that the United Kingdom planned to supply Ukraine with missiles "containing depleted uranium."
"This munition is very effective in destroying modern tanks and armored boats," she said, explaining that these projectiles were intended for use with Chalgener tanks, which London also intends to deliver.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that "Russia will be forced to respond" in the event of such an extradition, without providing further details.
Meanwhile, Chinese leader Xi Jinping left the Russian capital Moscow, concluding a three-day visit, hours after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida left Kiev.
Kishida made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Tuesday, drawing some attention away from Xi's visit to Moscow to promote Beijing's proposal for peace in Ukraine, which has already been rejected by Western countries.
For his part, the Ukrainian president inspected the frontline positions of Ukrainian forces near the besieged city of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region, which has been the center of major battles with the Russian military in recent months.
Bloomberg news agency reported yesterday that Zelenskiy was briefed on the situation on the ground in the region.
Zelensky earlier denounced what he called "bloody" Russian strikes on Ukraine at night, using drones, as well as new missile attacks and bombings.
The media office of the Ukrainian army in Kiev announced yesterday that at least 14 civilians were killed and 24 others wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine. The office said the shelling took place in 11 districts, mostly along the front lines in the east and south of the country.
Five people were killed in a Russian drone attack on Tuesday night, targeting a vocational school in the Kiev region, Ukrainian authorities said yesterday.
For his part, Deputy Advisor to the Acting President of the Donetsk Republic, Jan Gagin, said that Artyomovsk (Bachmot) is practically surrounded by Russian forces, according to the Russian news agency "Sputnik".