UN chief visits Ukraine

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Clean-up crews work at the site of an explosion in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday. Associated Press/Photo by Emilio Morenatti

Two large missile strikes rocked the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday as United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres toured the city. Guterres visited the sites of massacres and mass graves and held a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shortly before the explosions rang out. Authorities said the missiles struck two high-rise buildings, killing at least one person and injuring 10. Guterres pledged to boost support and cash assistance to Ukrainians. On Thursday, President Joe Biden also asked Congress to provide an additional $33 billion in military assistance and economic aid to Ukraine.

How is the battle going in the eastern region? Analysts say Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely pushing for a major battlefield victory ahead of a Russian holiday May 9. Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbas region reported increased Russian bombardments Thursday. Shelling also intensified near Kharkiv, a city that could bring a strategic victory for Russia’s offensive if captured. British intelligence said Russia is making territorial gains at a significant cost to its forces.

Dig deeper: Follow WORLD’s latest coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Leigh Jones

Leigh is features editor for WORLD. She is a World Journalism Institute graduate who spent six years as a newspaper reporter in Texas before joining WORLD News Group. Leigh also co-wrote Infinite Monster: Courage, Hope, and Resurrection in the Face of One of America's Largest Hurricanes. She resides with her husband and daughter in Houston, Texas.