A factory and a shop burn down after a bombing in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine
Russian forces have intensified shelling of Ukrainian cities in the center, north and south of the country. Areas that received heavy shelling included the outskirts of Kyiv, Chernihiv in the north, Mykolaiv in the south and Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city. Kharkiv officials said the television tower was damaged by the shelling and heavy artillery was targeting residential areas. In Chernihiv, officials said all areas of the city were vulnerable to missile strikes. The attacks dashed hopes that more people could escape fighting in Ukraine, where Russia’s plan to annihilate the country quickly has been halted by fierce resistance. As Russian forces increased the shelling of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to the West to tighten sanctions. Meanwhile, a member of the Ukrainian delegation says that the next round of talks with Russia will be held today.