The European Union is considering the creation of a “training and assistance” mission. Ukrainian armies that will march in neighboring countries, the EU High Representative said. foreign policy Joseph Borel.

The proposal will be discussed next week in Prague during a meeting of the Council of EU Defense Ministers, Mr. Borrell said at a press conference in Santander, northern Spain. “Hopefully it will be approved,” he added.

#RENEW The European Union will discuss launching a major operation to train Ukrainian forces in neighboring countries, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday. pic.twitter.com/9vwIPgowPO

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 22, 2022

Kyiv bans gatherings on Independence Day

Meanwhile, early this morning, Russia fired missiles at cities west of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, and the capital Kyiv banned rallies marking the anniversary of independence from Soviet rule over fears of Russian attacks.

Artillery and rocket attacks near the Zaporizhzhya nuclear reactor complex on the Russian-held southern bank of the Dnieper have raised fears of a nuclear holocaust and calls for the demilitarization of the surrounding area.

Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the bombings, some of which targeted a factory that was taken over by Russian forces shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February, but still works mostly with Ukrainian technicians.

At night, salvos of Russian missiles hit Nikopol, which is located across the Dnieper from the Russian-occupied Energodar, where the Zaporozhye plant is located, and the nearby cities of Krivoy Rog and Sinelnikovsky, at least four people were injured, the regional governor wrote on Telegram today. Valentin Reznichenko.

Ukraine also reported a Russian missile attack on Voznesensk, southwest of and close to the country’s second-largest nuclear power plant.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of the risk of more serious attacks ahead of the 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from Soviet power the day after Wednesday.

Local authorities in Kyiv have banned large mass events, rallies and other events planned in connection with the anniversary in the capital from today until Thursday due to possible rocket attacks, according to a document released by the Kyiv military administration and signed by its head Nikolai. Zirnov.

Zelenskiy said Moscow could do “something particularly bad” before August 24, which also marks six months since the start of the Russian invasion.

Zelenskiy said he had discussed “all threats” with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and that messages had also been sent to other leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary General António Guterres.

“All of Ukraine’s partners have been briefed on what a terrorist state might be preparing for this week,” Zelenskiy said in a late-night video address, referring to Russia.

At a morning briefing, the Ukrainian General Staff said that Russian forces had advanced in the area of ​​Blagodatnoye towards the city of Nikolaev, the main target in the south.

Russia is also trying to gain momentum towards Pisky, Bakhmut and Kramatorsk, key cities in the Donetsk region that, along with neighboring Luhansk, captured by Moscow earlier this summer, make up the eastern part of the Donbass.

Russian artillery and multiple rocket launchers shelled the Solentar, Zaitsevo and Belologorifka districts near Bakhmut, the Ukrainian military command said in a statement.

At least two civilians were killed, the regional administration said. Russia denies that it has targeted civilians. Reuters cannot independently confirm battlefield reports.

^{According to REUTERS, AFP}