Ukraine accuses Russia of war crime with Kharkiv strike

The strikes hit a military hospital, as well as residential and office buildings in Kharkiv [file image]/ RTÉ

Russian forces have captured a village just seven kilometres from the border of Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region in their latest battlefield advance, Moscow has said.

The Kremlin's troops have not crossed the boundary of the region since their offensive began three years ago, but they have been grinding towards it for months in the hope of a breakthrough.

Seizing land in the Dnipropetrovsk region would be seen as a major propaganda victory for Russia, though military analysts have said such a crossing would have little strategic value.

Russian army units "liberated the village of Zaporizhzhia" in the eastern Donetsk region, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. The Donetsk region borders Dnipropetrovsk to the east.

The village of Zaporizhzhia, which shares the same name as the southern Ukrainian region, had a population of around 200 people before the conflict.

US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a speedy end to the fighting since taking office, but his administration has failed to reach a breakthrough despite multiple rounds of negotiation with both sides.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a joint US-Ukrainian plan for a 30-day truce, and this week suggested that President Volodymyr Zelensky be removed from office as part of any peace process.

Ukraine accuses Russia of 'war crime' with Kharkiv strike

Ukraine accused Russia of committing a "war crime" during a massive attack on the city of Kharkiv, which included strikes on a military hospital that wounded personnel undergoing treatment.

"The hospital building and nearby residential buildings were damaged by a Shahed drone," the Ukrainian army said in a statement.

"According to preliminary reports, there are casualties among the military personnel who were undergoing treatment at the medical centre," it added.

Ukraine does not typically reveal data on military casualties and did not say how many soldiers were wounded.

It accused Russia of having carried out a "war crime" and "violating the norms of international humanitarian law".

The Ukrainian emergency services said the "massive attack" on the northeastern city also destroyed residential and office buildings.

Governor Oleg Synegubov said two people were killed: a 67-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman. Another 25 people were wounded, including children, he added.

Accreditation: AFP/Reuters

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