LIVE TEXT The war in Ukraine, year 2, day 79. Zelenski arrived in Italy and is going to the Vatican / Air alert in 12 regions of Ukraine / All the drones with which Russia attacked Kiev last night were shot down / Ukrainian troops are gaining ground in Bahmut / Member of the Russian State Duma, injured in Luhansk

UPDATE 14:00 Zelenski, conversation with Mattarella at the Quirinale

The Ukrainian president was welcomed at the Quirinale Palace by an Italian delegation that included Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. The head of Ukraine then discussed with the Italian head of state, Sergio Mattarella.

UPDATE 13:00 Zelenski will meet the Pope after 15:00 (no – 16 in Romania)

According to Vatican sources, Ukrainian President Zelensky will meet with the Pope at the Vatican this afternoon, after 15.00 local time, an hour later in the Capital.

UPDATE 12:00 Zelenski landed in Rome

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky landed at Ciampino airport in Rome. Foreign Minister Tajani was waiting for him on the stairs of the plane.

UPDATE 11:40 From Berlin, a new military aid to Kiev worth 2.7 billion

“The German government will provide Ukraine with additional military equipment worth 2.7 billion euros. The package includes Leopard 1 tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, reconnaissance drones and other military equipment,” according to the German publication Der Spiegel.

UPDATE 11:30 Kyiv: at least 11 injured in the Russian attack on Khmelnitsky

The toll from the Russian attack in the Khmelnytskyi region of Ukraine is “at least 11 injured”, Mayor Oleksandr Simchisin announced, quoted by UNIAN, adding that many buildings were damaged. “Currently, we have 11 injured, but the number could increase. One of them is hospitalized, but his life is not in danger”, he said.

UPDATE 11:10 Pope: the war in Ukraine brought suffering

“The war going on in Ukraine has brought suffering”. Pope Francis emphasized this, receiving in audience the ambassadors of Iceland, Bangladesh, Syria, Gambia and Kazakhstan at the Holy See, on the occasion of the presentation of their credentials.

UPDATE 11:00 The EU Presidency is ready for any help for the counteroffensive

“Ukraine decides on the counter-offensive, but we are strongly in favor of providing any priority aid for the counter-offensive.” This was stated by Tobias Billstrom, the foreign minister of Sweden (the country currently president of the EU), upon his arrival at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, a gathering in which his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, also participated.

UPDATE 10:30 Kyiv, three injured during the Russian attacks on Mikolaiv

Attacks carried out by Russian forces injured three people in the city of Mykolaiv, in southern Ukraine, the city’s mayor said. Oleksandr Sienkevici, on his Telegram channel, said Russian forces targeted a local factory, also damaged nearby residential buildings, set fire to three apartments and damaged an educational institution. Attacks have been reported in Lviv, in western Ukraine, with the regional military administration saying kamikaze drones were involved.

UPDATE 10:00 Kyiv: almost 200,000 Russian soldiers dead since the beginning of the conflict

According to Kiev, almost 200,000 Russian soldiers have died since the start of the conflict in Ukraine last February. The latest update of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, published on Facebook, talks about “about 198,260” Russian soldiers “eliminated” in the fighting on February 24, 2022, of which 590 in the last 24 hours. Kiev forces also claim the destruction of 3,751 tanks and 3,095 artillery systems. Destroyed or shot down, according to the Ukrainian bulletin relaunched by Ukrinform, there would be 2,665 drones and 970 cruise missiles.

UPDATE 09:30 New attack during the night in Kiev, all the drones were shot down

“The sixth air attack on the capital since the beginning of May”. The head of the military administration of the city of Kiev, Serhi Popko, writes on Telegram, reporting an attack that took place last night against the capital. “This time, the enemy launched an attack using only unmanned aerial vehicles. During the last air raid, which lasted 2.5 hours in Kiev, Iranian Shahed ammunition was detected in the airspace in the direction of the capital. All enemy drones heading towards Kiev were successfully destroyed” and “no damage or injuries were reported in the capital”, explained Popko.

UPDATE 09:00 Air warning in 12 regions, including Kyiv

Air raid warning in 12 regions of Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, where the military administration advised civilians to stay in shelters. The Kyiv Independent reports this.

UPDATE 08:30 G7: support for Ukraine and condemnation of the Russian war

“We reiterate our unwavering support for Ukraine as long as necessary and unite in condemning Russia’s illegal, unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine”, is the first point of the final communique of the G7, meeting that ended in Niigata, Japan. “We are strongly committed to continuing to address urgent short-term financing for Ukraine, as well as supporting neighboring and other severely affected countries. The commitment to the reconstruction and repair of critical Ukrainian infrastructure was also highlighted.

UPDATE 08:00 Ministry of Defense of Ukraine: 740 anti-aircraft sirens sounded in Kiev since the beginning of the war

“740 air alerts have been triggered in Kyiv since February 24, 2022”: this is how a tweet published by the account of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense begins. “In total, the alarms lasted 851 hours and 38 minutes.”

UPDATE 07:00 Blinken talked with Kuleba about preparing the counter-offensive

US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The two – according to a note from Washington – “discussed the ongoing preparations for the counteroffensive” in Kiev, including “how the contributions of international partners can support its success”. Blinken also noted that Ukraine’s sovereignty is “vital for peace and security in Europe” and reaffirmed the commitment of the United States and President Joe Biden.

UPDATE 06:00 Rome armored for Zelensky’s arrival: no-fly zones and snipers

Rome is armored for the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Rome Police Headquarters has launched a safety plan that also includes a no-fly zone and a ban on drones. The use of sniper teams, helicopters and snipers is foreseen.

Also, an increase in controls is expected in train stations, airports and on the main roads and highways. Also, starting tomorrow, a task force will be established in the operations room of the police headquarters, in the area reserved for the management of major events, where all public order and safety services will be coordinated.

There will be about a thousand law enforcement officers on the ground. According to what was learned, the security device also provides for the use of special departments that will support the staff that already accompanies the Ukrainian president during his travels and meetings with President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Francis.

UPDATE 05:00 The deputy of the Russian Duma, Vodolatski, was injured in Lugansk

The First Vice-Chairman of the Inter-Ethnic Affairs Committee of the Russian Duma, Viktor Vodolatsky, was injured following the shelling of Lugansk in Donbass by the armed forces of Ukraine. This was reported by the Russian news agency Tass. “Following the rocket attack on the city of Lugansk – reports the Russian press agency citing the representative of the Luhansk People’s Republic – six children and State Duma deputy Viktor Vodolatski were injured”, the news says.

FT: Ukrainian counter-offensive takes shape with first territorial victories around Bahmut

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that Ukraine had launched a counter-offensive, pointing to the intensification of attacks in eastern Ukraine over the past 48 hours.

The ministry said Friday that Ukraine had launched 26 assaults along a nearly 100-kilometer stretch of the front line near Bahmut and the neighboring town of Soledar, involving more than 1,000 soldiers and up to 40 tanks. The Russian ministry admitted that Russian troops had withdrawn to “more advantageous” positions in some locations, but said it had prevented Ukrainian forces from making progress, reports the Financial Times.

Kiev has denied that a major counter-offensive is underway, saying it is still conducting defensive operations in an area that has seen the heaviest fighting in recent months.

“What is happening now? Enemy troops are advancing in the east in several directions. We are defending ourselves,” said Ukraine’s deputy defense minister, Hanna Maliar. “Defense measures include not only defense in the proper sense, but also counterattacks.”

She added that Russian forces were pushed back more than a kilometer and a half from positions on the southern flank near Bahmut, marking Ukraine’s most significant territorial victory around the city in recent months.

The IAEA will present the Zaporozhye agreement to the UN this month

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog plans to present an agreement with Russia and Ukraine on safeguarding the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant to the UN Security Council this month. This move indicates that a deal could be close to being agreed between the two sides.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has been trying for months to reach an agreement to reduce the risk of a catastrophic nuclear accident caused by military activity at the plant, which is the largest in Europe.

The plant has been occupied by Russia for more than a year and has been subjected to numerous attacks.

Given that Ukraine is preparing a counteroffensive in the area, there is a risk that the fighting near the plant and its six reactors will intensify.

Others said Ukraine, which has long opposed the plan, now supports it, while Russia’s position is less clear.

At least 480 children killed by Russia, says Ukraine

At least 480 children were killed by the invading army, announced the Ukrainian General Prosecutor’s Office.

Another 968 have been injured since the start of the war, he added.

The office has provided regular updates on alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces since Vladimir Putin launched his invasion.