Russian Strikes Devastate Ukrainian Neighborhood

Residents of the Korabelny District of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson have been left to pick up the pieces after a series of Russian strikes on their neighborhood, engulfing three houses in flames, damaging several other residences and hitting a high-rise building.

A 48-year-old man was taken to hospital and diagnosed with explosive, craniocerebral, thigh and forearm injuries as well as contusions, according to the Kherson Region's Military Administration.

Ukraine's commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky said the situation on the eastern front had worsened significantly as Russia claimed the capture of a village near the occupied industrial town of Avdiivka.

Zelensky said in his evening address that the "situation at the front, in some areas, is difficult".

Zelensky thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for "a real manifestation of support for Ukraine at a critical time for us".

"He was also working with Germany on the supply of an additional Iris-T air defense system, which is capable of short- and medium-range protection against missiles and drones," Zelensky added.

Russia's defense ministry announced its troops had "liberated" the village of Pervomaisk in the Donetsk region, about 11 km west of the largely destroyed town of Avdiivka, captured by Russia in the middle of February.

Ukraine did not confirm this, however. Its General Staff said that troops had repelled Russian attacks aimed at pushing them out of Pervomaisk and other villages nearby.

Ukrainian prosecutors said Russia launched air strikes on villages in the Donetsk region, killing three including a 60-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman, and wounding four.

In the south, Russia accuses Ukraine of killing 10 by shelling the occupied town of Tokmak in the Zaporizhzhia region.