Ukraine updates: Russia steps up attacks on frontline town

Russian forces have escalated attacks near Toretsk, a frontline town in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, according to Ukrainian officials.

Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes damaged energy infrastructure in central Ukraine and injured at least two people in the western Lviv region, Ukrainian officials said.

Here are the latest developments from Russia's war in Ukraine on Wednesday, June 19:

06/19/2024June 19, 2024

Russian drone strike damages Ukraine's energy infrastructure

Russian drone strikes have damaged energy infrastructure in central Ukraine and injured at least two people in the western region of Lviv, according to Ukrainian officials.

Ukraine's air force said it destroyed 19 of 21 drones launched by Russia over six Ukrainian regions.

The Energy Ministry said via the Telegram messaging app that emergency services had been dispatched to the sites of the attacks and that repairs were underway to damaged electrical equipment in the western Lviv region.

Russian forces launched five drones to attack the Lviv region, which borders NATO member Poland, injuring two men, according to Lviv regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi.

Kozytskyi said on Telegram that Ukrainian air defense systems destroyed all five drones. The damage and injuries were caused by falling debris.

The drone attack in the village of Malekhiv in the Lviv city district damaged a multi-story residential building, in addition to dozens of windows in other residential buildings, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi wrote on Telegram.

06/19/2024June 19, 2024

North Korea, Russia sign mutual defense deal as Kim pledges support

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense treaty with North Korea's Kim Jong Un during a summit in Pyongyang, where Putin made his first visit in 24 years.

"It is really a breakthrough document," Putin said at a press conference in the North Korean capital, adding that it provided, "among other things, for mutual assistance in case of aggression against one of the parties to this treaty," Russian news agencies reported.

Kim called Putin the "dearest friend of the Korean people" and said his country "expresses full support and solidarity to the Russian government" over the war in Ukraine.

The two countries have been allies since North Korea's founding after World War II, and have grown even closer since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The United States and its allies have accused North Korea of providing ammunition and missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

06/19/2024June 19, 2024

Russian forces attack Toretsk 'after a lull'

Russian forces have escalated their attacks near Toretsk, a frontline town in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials.

The military said in a briefing late Tuesday that Russia had "intensified" its assaults near Toretsk and "launched five assault operations at once," targeting surrounding towns and villages.

The Ukrainian military said the increase in Russian attacks had begun "after a prolonged lull."

Russian troops have swung the battlefield initiative in their favor in recent months, advancing north and south of Toretsk, but the front line near the mining town has remained relatively stable.

dh/rc (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)