Ukraine demands rapid arms shipments as Kherson hit by deadly Russian shelling

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KYIV (AP) Russian missile strikes killed three of her people in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, while fighting escalated in the eastern Donetsk region, Ukrainian officials said, while Russia shelled the main city of Vkhredal again.

France and Australia agree to work together to produce artillery shells for Ukraine
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced on Monday that France and Australia had agreed to produce “thousands” of 155mm artillery shells to aid Ukraine.

Mr Lecorne met with his Australian counterpart Richard Mulls in the first joint high-level meeting since Canberra abandoned its defense pact with Paris two years ago in favor of Britain’s relations with the United States. 

President Volodymyr Zelensky met Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen during a trip to the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv on Monday.

Launching a programme backed by the EU and aimed at replacing 50 million light bulbs, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said all adults would be able to exchange five incandescent light bulbs for five LED bulbs at post offices.

The goal is in the next few months to reduce by a quarter the energy deficit caused by Russian missile and drone strikes on power infrastructure that have frequently left millions of Ukrainians without light, water or heating.

More Russian forces moved to Kursk region on Ukraine border, governor says
Russia has moved additional forces and equipment to the Kursk region on the border with Ukraine to protect the frontier and ensure security, regional governor Roman Starovoit said on Monday, according to Interfax news agency.

Local authorities say that the region has repeatedly been subjected to Ukrainian shelling since Russia invaded Ukraine almost a year ago. Part of the Russian forces invaded from the Kursk region, but the territory they occupied in northeastern Ukraine was later recaptured by the Kyiv army.

A Moscow deputy said on Monday that Russian troops were advancing near the eastern Donetsk city of Vgledal, the epicenter of fighting in Ukraine, a claim Kyiv denied.

Russian artillery fire has killed at least five people and wounded 13 in the past 24 hours, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.

Moscow forces occupied large areas northeast of Kharkov in the months following the neighboring country’s invasion last February. But the Ukrainian counteroffensive that began in August recaptured Russian-held territories, particularly Kharkov.

Ukrainian presidential aide Mikhail Podryak on Monday called the International Olympic Committee (IOC) a “pro-war sponsor” and said sports federations were considering competition opportunities for Russian athletes. At least three killed in Russian shelling of southern city of Kherson.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least three people were killed in a Russian shelling Sunday in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.

The front in southern Ukraine has recently been much quieter than in the east. Moscow withdrew from the city of Kherson last November.

On Sunday, Ukraine carried out “A HIMARS multiple rocket launcher attack on a railway bridge over the Molothnaya River,” Yevgeny Baritsky, the head of the Russian-installed area, wrote on social media. “Four members of the rail brigade were killed and five wounded,” Baritsky added.