Volodymyr Zelenskyi said towns and villages retaken from Russian forces had been destroyed by them, while a major Ukrainian city, Kryvyi Rih, was struggling to contain damage to its water supply system after rocket attacks by Kremlin forces.

Highlights of Thursday, the 204th day of the Ukrainian war, LIVETEXT:

Briefly about the most important latest news:

• The largest city in central Ukraine, Kryvyi Rih, was targeted by eight cruise missiles that destroyed a water pumping station and caused a dam on the Ingulets River to burst.
• Zelensky unexpectedly visited Izyum – until four days ago, Russia’s main bastion and logistics center in the region. On the buildings, traces of explosions and shrapnel were visible, Reuters notes.
• In another town in northeastern Ukraine, Balaklia, Ukrainian police said civilians were killed while the town was under Russian control.
• Zelenskyi said that Ukraine has recaptured about 8,000 square meters.
• Ukraine wants the UN General Assembly to allow Zelensky to address world leaders via video link.
• US Democratic and Republican senators have proposed legislation that would designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, something President Joe Biden’s administration disagrees with.
• The naval forces of Russia and China are conducting joint patrols in the Pacific Ocean, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.
• Putin’s top emissary to Ukraine told the Russian leader at the start of the war that he had reached a preliminary agreement with Kiev that would have satisfied Russia’s demand that Ukraine stay out of NATO, but Putin rejected it, according to three Russian sources cited by Reuters.
• German Chancellor Scholz urged Putin to find a diplomatic solution as soon as possible based on a ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, the spokesman said.
• A UN proposal for Russia to resume ammonia exports through Ukraine has raised hopes that the global fertilizer shortage could be eased.
• Russia’s oil export earnings fell to $17.7 billion in August, the lowest level since March, as falling oil prices outweighed rising exports.
• Brussels has officially proposed measures to reduce electricity consumption in the EU, as well as limit the income of energy companies and introduce a “crisis contribution”.

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• Wednesday’s military events were broadcast LIVE here on HotNews.ro