Seventeen people were killed in missile strikes on a multy-storey apartment building and a recreation center in Ukraine’s Odessa region, local authorities said. 31 were wounded, among them 4 children and a pregnant woman. 8 people were rescued from the rubble of the residential building, including 3 children. The X-22 missile was launched from a TU-22 long range strategic and maritime strike bomber. Earlier, Russian troops abandoned their positions on Snake Island, off the coast of Odessa.

Russian troops are advancing in the area of the Lisichansk oil refinery south of the city, where heavy fighting is taking place.

During its European Union Council Presidency, the Czech Republic will focus on five closely linked priority areas:

-Managing the crisis in Ukraine’s post war recovery.

-Energy Security.

-Strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities and cyberspace security.

-Strategic resilience of the European economy.

-Resilience of democratic institutions.