Live blog: Several explosions rock Ukraine's Kiev

 

Russia says its forces have taken control of Soledar in eastern Ukraine, in what would be a rare success for Moscow after months of battlefield reverses, but Kiev says its troops are still fighting in the town, as fighting enters its 325th day.

 

The Ukrainian capital hasn’t been attacked since New Year’s night. (Reuters Archive)

Saturday, January 14, 2023

08:00 GMT

Missile attack on infrastructure under way in Kiev - Ukranian officials 

Several explosions resonated in Ukraine's capital Kiev with Ukrainian officials reporting strikes on key infrastructure.

"Missile attack on critical infrastructure facilities" are ongoing in Kiev, Deputy Head of Presidency Kyrylo Tymoshenko said on Telegram, while the capital's mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in the Dniprovskiy district and urged residents to "stay in shelters!".

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the explosions were caused by the strikes or by air defence systems operating. The Ukrainian capital hasn’t been attacked since New Year’s night.

 

 

 

21:00 GMT 

Zelenskyy says salt-mining town of Soledar still contested

Ukrainian forces are continuing to fight Russian troops in Soledar and other cities in eastern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said in a new video address. 

''The heavy fight for the Donetsk region continues. The battle for Bakhmut and Soledar, for Kreminna, for other cities and villages of the east of our country continues. Despite the fact that the enemy has deployed most of its forces exactly on this direction, our warriors — the Armed Forces of Ukraine, all defence and security forces — are defending the state.''

''324 days of a full-scale war, and how everything has changed for Russia. They are already fighting among themselves over who shall be credited with some tactical advance," Zelenskyy said. "It is a clear sign that the enemy has failed. And this is another incentive for all of us to put more pressure on the invader and to inflict greater losses on the enemy."

US, Japan warn against status quo change in Ukraine and elsewhere

The United States and Japan have reiterated the importance of peace and stability in Taiwan Strait and warned against any use of a nuclear weapon by Russia in Ukraine.

The two nations, following a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, also cited "provocations" by North Korea in a joint statement issued by the White House.

"We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, anywhere in the world," the statement said.

Kishida said if we let unilateral challenge to status quo go unchallenged in Ukraine, it will happen elsewhere, including in Asia. 

Source: TRTWorld and agencies

 

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