Six dead after Russian strike on Zelenskyy's hometown, Ukraine claims fresh gains
* At least six people were killed in a Russian missile strike on an apartment building in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, officials said. At least 25 people were wounded in the attack on the central Ukrainian city, with others thought to still be trapped under the rubble. READ MORE BELOW
More Context
Where did the Russian missile attack take place?
* Ukraine claims to have recaptured seven villages from Russian forces along the frontline in the country's southeast since starting its long-anticipated counteroffensive. President Zelenskyy said that despite rain and fierce fighting, Ukrainian forces were making progress. He declared: "We have movement and that is crucial... The enemy's losses are exactly what we need." READ MORE BELOW
* U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was too soon to say exactly where Ukraine's counteroffensive was going, but added Washington was confident that Kyiv will continue to have success in taking back land seized by Russia.
* President Emmanuel Macron said France had promised more military assistance to Ukraine to bolster its counter-offensive, having already intensified its delivery of ammunitions, weapons and armed vehicles.
More Context
Who is providing military assistance to Ukraine?
* President Zelenskyy has promised action after seeing the "unsatisfactory" results of an inspection he ordered into all Ukrainian shelters after three people were killed when they were unable to access one during a Russian air strike in Kyiv.
More Context
What happened in the Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih?
* The breach of the huge Kakhovka dam on Ukraine's Dnipro river will have a huge impact on global food security, lead to a rise in food prices and could cause drinking water problems for hundreds of thousands, the UN's aid chief said.
More Context
What would be the impact of the Kakhovka dam breach on global food security?
* The U.S. is concerned that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is planning to deliver more weapons to Russia after DPRK leader Kim Jong Un vowed to bolster strategic cooperation with Moscow. Kim had used Russia's national day to say his nation would "hold hands firmly with the Russian president... to fulfil the grand goal of building a powerful country."