Ukraine-Russia war latest: Ukraine hit by deadliest strike in weeks - as Zelenskyy blames lack of air defence systems from allies (2024)

As we've been reporting, Russia has unleashed its deadliest attack in weeks on Ukraine today.

At least 17 people have been killed in the northern city of Chernihiv.

These are some of the latest images from the scene - although many of the photos coming out of the city are too gruesome to show.

Earlier today, three Russian missiles struck the city centre of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine.

At least 17 people have been killed, making this the deadliest attack in weeks.

Footage showed flames and columns of black smoke rising above the city after the explosions ripped through the area just after 9am local time.

The strike destroyed a hotel and damaged several multi-storey residential buildings, a hospital, an education facility and dozens of private cars, officials said.

Sixtypeople, including three children, were wounded,the emergency services said.

Governor Vyacheslav Chaus said Iskander cruise missiles were used in the attack.

Civilians were left clearing glass and debris with shovels near residential houses, while local doctors urged residents to donate blood.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed a lack of air defence systems from Ukraine's allies for the high number of deaths.

"This would not have happened if Ukraine had received sufficient air defence equipment and if the world's determination to counter Russian terror had been sufficient," he wrote on Telegram.

The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives has released its expected text on three proposed new foreign aid bills.

A joint bill that would have provided aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan has remained stuck for weeks due to opposition from some Republicans.

It had already passed in the Senate, but is yet to be put to the House.

Now, a new plan is being put forward to split the bills into three.

A fourth bill will also include measures to "confront Russia, China and Iran".

In a message texted to House members earlier, Speaker Mike Johnson said the three bills "will fund America's national security interests and allies in Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and Ukraine, including a loan structure for aid, and enhanced strategy and accountability".

One of Ukraine's main media companies has said its satellite TV channels have fallen victim to a cyberattack.

1+1 Media said 39 channels, including some of its own, were currently unavailable.

"Another attempt took place to jam satellite broadcasting of Ukraine on the Astra 4A 11766 H transponder, where 39 TV channels broadcast," the company said.

It added Russia had been attempting signal jamming since March.

European provider SES, which operates Astra, told Reuters news agency that a few dozen video distributors in Europe faced outages caused by "external radio frequency interference".

Satellites are safe and its teams are investigating, it said.

Ukraine's 24 Channel said on its website that its satellite broadcast had also been affected as hackers "launched their propaganda".

"After two hours of the attack, the signal was restored, but the attack started again," it said.

Thanks for following our coverage of the war in Ukraine today - let's recap the day's key happenings:

Missile strike kills 17

Three missiles slammed into the centre of the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine near the Russian border, leaving 17 dead, scores of others wounded and buildings and cars wrecked.

Videos showed flames and columns of black smoke rising over Chernihiv, which had a pre-war population of around 300,000, after the missiles struck at around 9am local time.

More than 60 people, including three children, were wounded, officials said.

Zelenskyy calls for more ammo

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the deadly strike on Chernihiv wouldn't have happened "if Ukraine had received a sufficient number of air defence systems".

Taking to X, the Ukrainian president said: "The Ukrainian determination is sufficient. There must be equally sufficient determination from our partners and, as a result, sufficient support."

NATO will meet on Friday to discuss further arming Ukraine.

Here's a quick round-up of what else has happened so far:

• Croatians are going to the polls in an election which has seen battle lines drawn over whether the country should lean more towards NATO or Moscow;
• A woman in America is due in court over allegations of posing as an Irish heiress, running a bogus charity for Ukraine;
• Russia's Supreme Court has cancelled the treason conviction of scientist Valery Golubkin and ordered a new trial;
  
• Russia has expelled one Estonian embassy official working in Moscow in a tit-for-tat move against the Baltic state.
  

US House ofRepresentatives speaker Mike Johnson says the textof bills providing assistance to Ukraine, Israel and theIndo-Pacific will be filed "soon today," along with a fourth with"other measures to confront Russia, China and Iran" posted laterin the day.

He said the House Rules committee will also be posting texton a separate border security bill and vote on final passage tobe held on Saturday evening.

Funding for Kyiv from the US has been tied up in internal wrangling on Capitol Hill for months as initially a combined bill covering Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and border funding was causing ructions in both parties.

A woman accused of claiming to be an Irish heiress to scam victims across America allegedly started a fake Ukraine charity to defraud her marks.

Marianne Smyth, a 54-year-old American, is due in court today for a hearing that could extradite her to the UK.

Other victims have accused her of posing as an emissary for Satan, a witch, a hockey coach, a cancer patient and best friends with Jennifer Aniston.

She often changed her name and appearance, her victims say.

Smyth stands accused of stealing more than £136,000 from at least five victims from 2008 to 2010 in Northern Ireland, hence her potential extradition to the UK.

She denies the charges.

The NATO-Ukraine Councilwill meet on Friday to discuss ways on how to provide more airdefence systems for Kyiv, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said onWednesday.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked for such ameeting to take place as he is facing an ammunition shortage, with funding from the US being held up in Congress and delays in munitions deliveries from the EU.

Calls have already come in from NATO members, with German foreign ministerAnnalena Baerbock appealing for stronger support forUkrainian air defence before departing for a meeting with her G7 counterparts in Capri, Italy.

"We and our partners around the world must now be just asresolute in our defence against Russian terror from the air," Ms Baerbock said.

"Stronger air defences are a matter of life and death forthousands of people in Ukraine and the best protection for ourown security," she added.

UK foreign secretary David Cameron is also set to urge the meeting today to keep up the pressure on Vladimir Putin as he continues to wage war.

Russia's Supreme Court has cancelled the treason conviction of scientist Valery Golubkin and ordered a new trial, according to the TASS state news agency.

Golubkin was sentenced to 12 years behind bars for treason last year after he was convicted of handing over state secrets to"representatives of foreign organisations".

He had worked in the Department of Theoretical andApplied Aerohydromechanics at the Moscow Institute of Physicsand Technology.

The former professor was detained in late 2020 on suspicion of handingover secrets to an unnamed NATO country.

His lawyer said at thetime Golubkin denied the charges.

The death toll from the Russian strike on Chernihiv has risen to 16.

Three missiles slammed into the centre of the city in northern Ukraine near the Russianborder, leaving scores of others wounded and buildings and cars wrecked.

Videos showed flames and columns ofblack smoke rising over Chernihiv, which had a pre-war population of around 300,000, after the missiles struck at around 9am local time.

More than 60 people, including three children, were wounded,officials said.