European Foreign Ministers' visit to Kyiv, destruction of Mariupol center: today's highlights
Foreign Ministers of 7 countries — Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland — arrived in Kyiv on November 28. Since November 28, the occupants have banned the entrance to the territory of Zaporizhzhia NPP to the plant employees. The natural and historical center of Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, has turned into a real dead zone. We have collected the key news for today.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of seven countries arrived in Kyiv
Foreign Ministers of 7 countries - Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland - arrived in Kyiv on November 28. This was stated by Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs.
“We are in Kyiv in full solidarity with Ukraine. Despite Russia’s bomb rains and barbaric brutality, Ukraine will win!” the Minister said.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto posted a photo from St. Sophia Square in Kyiv and wrote that “one can only admire the courage and determination of Ukrainians” in the fight against Russia. He also assured that his country “will support Ukraine as long as necessary”.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko told us about the purpose of the ministers' visit.
“They arrived to discuss steps to counter Russian aggression, as well as specific steps to strengthen assistance to Ukraine both in minimizing missile attacks on energy infrastructure and in strengthening military support,” Nikolenko said.
The natural and historical center of Mariupol is completely destroyed
The natural and historical center of Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, temporarily occupied by Russians, has turned into a real dead zone. This was reported by the adviser to the mayor Petro Andriushchenko.
“A square of almost 5.5 km along the perimeter is completely destroyed: Archypa Kuindzhi Street, Arkhitectora Nilsena Street, Shevchenka Boulevard. As if it was chosen separately for destruction to erase the Ukrainian identity of the city,” he said.
Andriushchenko specified that people still live among these ruins — without water, electricity, heating, repairs, and windows. Forgotten by the occupation authorities, at least 10 families remain there.
Russia banned ZNPP employees to enter the territory of the plant
Since November 28, the occupants have banned the entrance to the territory of Zaporizhzhia NPP to the plant employees who refused to sign contracts with Rosatom. This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 18:00 on November 28.
Bodies of 5 victims of Russian air strike exhumed in Kharkiv Oblast
In the village of Slobozhanske, Kharkiv Oblast, the bodies of five civilians who died as a result of a Russian air strike were exhumed. This was reported by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.
The occupants launched an air strike on Slobozhanske on March 9. Five civilians died in a multi-story building that was destroyed. Among the dead are two women, a man, a 10-year-old girl, and a boy who was 1 year 9 months old. Local residents buried the dead in the cemetery in the village.
Russia launched more than 16 thousand missile strikes on Ukraine
Over the nine months of the full-scale war, Russia has launched more than 16 thousand missile strikes on Ukraine. This was reported by Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.
According to him, 97% of the targets were civilian facilities. The occupiers launched about 12,300 strikes on suburban areas and villages, 1900 strikes on houses, and more than 500 strikes on military facilities. In addition, Russians launched about 220 strikes on energy infrastructure facilities and 250 strikes on transport infrastructure facilities.