Ukraine-Russia live: 7 dead in fresh strike on Lviv as Zelensky reshuffles cabinet

Three people were killed and five injured in Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk city on Wednesday, according to Russian-appointed head of the region Denis Pushilin.

The city was hit by artillery fire and drone strikes, with one other injury reported in another part of the city, Pushilin claimed.

Russia executed three Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in the Donetsk region, Ukrainian prosecutor general says.

A video earlier circulated on Telegram showed three Ukrainian soldiers walking out of a basement with their hands up.

Russian soldiers then approached the prisoners, placed them face down on the ground, and shot them.

The prosecutor general’s office says it is launching an investigation into the incident, the Kyiv Independent reported.

As of March 2024, the office had collected information on over 128,000 victims of war crimes, with at least 54 Ukrainian POWs believed to have been executed by Russia.

In June, prosecutor general Andrii Kostin said Russian commanders had given orders “not to capture Ukrainian servicemen, but instead to kill them with inhuman cruelty”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine needs “new energy” as he enacts a major cabinet reshuffle.

Weapons production chief Oleksandr Kamyshin, deputy prime minister Olha Stefanishyna, and two other ministers had their resignations accepted today.

But the parliament did not consider the resignation of foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, who has also handed in his resignation letter.

His resignation offer will be considered on an unconfirmed date.

As of 09:30am local time, 45 people were reported injured following Russian missile attacks on Lviv, according to the city’s hospital association.

Seven of those injured were children, said the First Medical Association (FMA). None of the children are in a serious condition, the FMA added.

11 patients were in a critical condition when they arrived at the hospital, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Nataliia Matolinets, the association’s director, said: “Operating theatres have been set up. Trauma medical teams are in action. Right now, six operating theatres are being used to save the lives of patients in a critical condition.”

Injuries primarily included shrapnel wounds to the torso, chest, limbs and face.

A mother and her three children were among those killed in the strikes on Lviv, the city’s mayor said.

Yevheniia and her three daughters – Yaryna, Daryna and Emiliia – were killed by a Russian strike while at home.

Posting a five-strong family photo which included husband and dad Yaroslav, Mayor Andrii Sadovyi said on Telegram:  “Out of all the people in this photo, only the man survived today’s attack.

“Russia is massacring entire families of Ukrainians in the centre of Europe. The Russians are killing our children, our future.

“I don’t know what words to use to support Yaroslav, the family’s father. Today, we are all with you. My sincere condolences and a blessed memory,”

The eldest daughter, 21-year-old Yaryna Bazylevych, worked for the Lviv office of the European Youth Capital 2025 initiative by the EU.

Ukraine could join NATO before the alliance holds its June 2025 summit in the Netherlands, according to outgoing foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Speaking to CNN, Kuleba said he can “clearly see an opportunity” for Ukraine to be invited before the military alliance gathers next year.

He said that an invitation would send a clear political signal to the rest of the world – in particular Putin and his allies – even if it did not mean immediate accession.

“Ukraine can receive an invitation even now, even today,” Kuleba continued. “For us, the issue of invitation is still on the table, we are bringing this point in talks with our allies, first and foremost with the United States.

“We are convinced that Ukraine deserves to receive such an invitation in all respects right now.”

Ukrainian authorities have previously said the Alliance would not provide an invitation for accession until the end of the war, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris has landed in Kyiv for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

They are set to discuss EU support for Ukraine and Kyiv’s application to join the union, alongside Putin’s ongoing war, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Harris said ahead of the visit: “Russia’s military strike and killing of scores of people in Poltava on Tuesday is a grim and horrific reminder of the threat Ukraine is facing every day. We express our outrage and sympathy to the families of those who have died.”

The pair will sign a memorandum of understanding on a new bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Ireland, which will affirm Ireland’s solidarity with Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion.

It remains consistent with Ireland’s official status as a neutral country, confirming that future assistance provided to Ukraine will be non-lethal.

The eastern settlements of Karlivka and Prechystivka have both been captured by Russian forces, the defence ministry has claimed.

Karlivka is around 50km (31 miles) east of Poltava and 125km (78 miles) south west of Kharkiv in the north east. Prechystivka is around 70km (43 miles) west of Donetsk in south east Ukraine.

The news was reported by Russian news agency Interfax, via Reuters.

Russia has attacked energy facilities in six Ukrainian regions over the past 24 hours, Ukraine’s energy ministry said.

The ministry revealed the news via the Telegram messaging app, but provided no additional details on the scale of the damage.