Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now

Under pressure in the south of Ukraine, Russia fired missiles and drones into Ukrainian-held Mykolaiv on Sunday, destroying an apartment block in the ship-building city near the front and said the war was trending towards “uncontrolled escalation”.

CONFLICT
* A missile attack destroyed apartments in a block in Mykolaiv, which is near the southern frontline and has faced months of shelling and water shortages.

* Russia told people in the occupied Ukrainian city of Kherson to flee for their lives as more residents joined an exodus to escape an anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive.

* Russia said its forces had prevented an attempt by Ukraine to break through its line of control in the Kherson region, where it anticipates a wider Ukrainian counteroffensive.

* Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his French counterpart that the situation in Ukraine was trending towards “uncontrolled escalation” and said Moscow had concerns Ukraine could use a “dirty bomb”, without providing evidence.

* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said only Russia was capable of using nuclear weapons in Europe, responding to Shoigu’s comments.

* A Russian military plane crashed into a residential building in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, the region’s governor said. Two pilots died in the crash, Russian media reported.

DIPLOMACY
* Iran strongly condemned a call by France, Germany and Britain for the United Nations to probe accusations that Russia has used Iranian-origin drones to attack Ukraine.

Also Read: Russia discusses Ukraine in calls with France, Turkey, UK

QUOTES
* “Of course we don’t have the technical ability to knock down 100% of the Russian missiles and strike drones. I am sure that, gradually, we will achieve that, with help from our partners,” Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.