Day 22 of the invasion… Attacks continued across Ukraine
The fourth round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is expected to continue as the Russian forces invading Ukraine continue to attack. © Mikhail Podolak, aide to the President of Ukraine
It is known that Russia and Ukraine are continuing the fourth round of negotiations, but have not been able to narrow their differences of opinion on the issue of Ukraines declaration of neutrality and the withdrawal of Russian troops.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, Kremlin spokeswoman Dmitry Peskov said on the 17th that negotiations are expected to continue. The two countries have been conducting video negotiations since the 14th.
A spokeswoman for Peskov, however, insisted that the Ukrainian side was less enthusiastic about the negotiations than its own. He said our delegation remains in contact with experts and government agencies and is ready to work around the clock.
According to the TASS news agency, Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the Office of the President The Russian and Ukrainian delegations said they would stick to their respective positions and said it could take anywhere from a few days to a week and a half to close the gap.
During the four-day negotiations, some media reported that some progress had been made, including the declaration of neutrality in Ukraine, abandonment of membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and non-hosting of foreign military bases.
However, Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian negotiator, said that this report only reflected a proposal from the Russian side, and mentioned a ceasefire, withdrawal of Russian troops, and security guarantees from various countries.
In a tweet, Podolyak warned non-negotiators not to spread lies in a country at war.
◆ 21 killed in shelling outside Kharkiv
On the 17th, the 22nd day of the war, attacks continued across Ukraine, and cases of civilian casualties were reported.
At least 21 people were killed and 25 injured in a Russian shelling in the village of Merepa on the outskirts of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, AFP news agency reported.
Ukrainian prosecutors said on social media that Russian troops bombarded a school and cultural center in the village of Merapah, and 10 of the wounded were in critical condition.
Kharkiv, Ukraines second largest city, has been under heavy attack by Russian forces since the start of the war.
On the 17th day, in the southern port city of Mariupol under siege by Russian forces, until now 30,000 people fled the city.
Mariupol City Hall announced on social media that about 30,000 citizens had escaped using private vehicles, and about 80% of residential buildings had been destroyed.
Mariupol City Hall added that an average of 50 to 100 bombs are being dropped per day, and about 350,000 people have been evacuated to air-raid shelters or basements.
◆ WHO, medical facilities were hit at least 43 times
At least 12 people have been killed in the Russian attack on medical facilities, the World Health Organization claims.
According to CNN, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attended a United Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine on the same day and said there had been at least 43 attacks on medical facilities since the Russian invasion.
Ghebreyesus said at least 12 people were killed and 34 injured. Among the casualties were medical personnel.
He criticized attacks on health services anytime, anywhere, as a violation of international humanitarian law, depriving them of urgently needed care and undermining an already stressed health care system.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 35,000 patients in psychiatric hospitals suffer from shortages of medicines, food and heating.
