Latest news about the war in Russia and Ukraine

President Joe Biden welcomes EU High Commissioner Ursula van der Leyen to the White House this afternoon.

“Leaders will review strong cooperation between the United States and the European Union to ensure that Ukraine protects its sovereignty and democracy and imposes costs on Russia for its aggression,” the White House wrote in a statement.

Earlier in the week, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said additional Russian sanctions would also be a topic of discussion between Biden and Van der Leyen.

The two are also expected to discuss trade and ways to reduce the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels and energy.

Read the full story here.

– Amanda Macias

Switzerland will continue its long-standing policy of banning the re-export of Swiss-made weapons to a third country, its government said on Friday, amid growing calls from Western allies to send arms to Ukraine.

“The Federal Council is committed to the values ​​of Swiss neutrality and will continue to work to ensure that the benefits of neutrality are realized,” the council said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters.

– Natasha Durak

“The energy system has suffered significant damage” in the eastern Ukrainian city after it was hit by a wave of Russian missile and drone strikes on Thursday, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Sinyehubov said.

“However, critical infrastructure has already been restored in the city, and the water supply has been almost completely restored,” Sinyehubov wrote in a post on the Telegram messaging app. However, public transport has been closed, he added.

A Russian military spokesman confirmed that its strikes targeted Ukrainian critical infrastructure in several cities across the country.

– Natasha Durak

Russian mercenary group Wagner’s forces – thousands of whom are fighting in Ukraine – are believed to be taking a “tactical pause” in the eastern city of Bagmut, which has been almost completely destroyed by the fighting. War, an American think tank.

“Wagner Group’s offensive activity in eastern Bagmut appears to have entered a temporary tactical pause, and it remains unclear whether Wagner fighters will retain their operational priority in future Russian attacks in the city,” ISW wrote in a Twitter post.

The bloody battle for Pakmut has been going on for months and has been compared to a “meat grinder” due to the level of casualties caused by the fighting there. Moscow says Ukrainian forces have been encircled, which Kiev denies.

Ukrainian officials say they are determined to hold the ruined city because a Russian victory there would mean direct access for its forces to the rest of eastern Ukraine.

– Natasha Durak

At least nine people have been confirmed killed in a Russian hypersonic missile attack in Ukraine on Thursday. It was the first time Russia has used its powerful Kinsale missiles, which can get past air defense systems, since the early months of its invasion – and the most intense strikes since late January.

The strikes affected critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and local emergency services were scrambling to repair it.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said of the attack: “High-precision long-range air, sea and land-based weapons, including the Kinzel hypersonic missile system, hit key elements of Ukraine’s military infrastructure.”

Ukraine’s military said it was unable to intercept six Kinzhal ballistic missiles.

“This is a major attack and the first time with multiple types of missiles,” a Ukrainian military spokesman was quoted as saying by Reuters. “It’s unprecedented.”

– Natasha Durak

Maxar satellite images depict how the Battle of Bakhmut changed the landscape near the city.

Before: Images show only a few craters in fields east of Bagmut, Ukraine

Back: Photos show hundreds of craters in fields.

One person was killed and another injured in an artillery attack in Volnovaka, Ukraine.

– Anadolu Agency | Good pictures