Live updates: Russia invades Ukraine, EU approves more sanctions

Russian forces have shelled the town of Kharkiv, the regional navy governor mentioned Friday, amid continued heavy combating in jap Ukraine

“Over the past 24 hours, Russian occupation forces have fired 48 occasions with artillery, mortars, tanks and a number of rocket launchers in Saltivka, Piatyhatky, Oleksiivka, Derhachi and within the metropolis heart,” Oleh Syniehubov, the top of the Kharkiv regional navy administration, mentioned on Telegram.

“As of now, there are 15 injured in Kharkiv and within the district.”

Syniehubov mentioned shelling significantly broken a gasoline pipeline, and that emergency crews have been working on the scene.

The shelling of Kharkiv comes amid heavy combating within the southern a part of the area. Ukrainian authorities have urged civilians to evacuate quite a few cities and settlements in jap Ukraine.

“Preventing continues within the Izium route,” he mentioned. “We proceed evacuation, particularly from Barvinkove and Lozova.”

Some background: Latest advances by Russian forces round Kharkiv may very well be setting the stage for the jap metropolis of Sloviansk to change into the subsequent goal of Russia’s offensive, in keeping with the Institute for the Examine of Warfare, a Washington-based assume tank.