Latest news from Russia and the war in Ukraine

The death toll from an attack in the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia rose to 23 people, including three children, according to Ukraine’s emergency service.

The service added that 117 people need medical attention. Thirty-four of those people are in serious condition and 5 people are in critical condition. Search and rescue teams are still looking for at least 39 people in the rubble.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the cruise missile attack on the community facilities and medical center as an “act of Russian terror.”

— Amanda Macias

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin thanked his Italian counterpart at the Pentagon for bolstering NATO’s eastern flank along with the country’s “expansive contributions to international security.”

Italy’s Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini and Austin agreed to maintain close cooperation “particularly during these challenging times that have proven the importance of the transatlantic relationship,” according to a Pentagon readout of the meeting.

The two also discussed “how the United States and Italy could increase defense cooperation activities in Africa.”

— Amanda Macias

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a special tribunal on Russia’s war in Ukraine as “soon as possible” in a nightly address on Telegram.

“No state in the world poses such a terrorist threat as Russia. No other state in the world allows itself to destroy peaceful cities and ordinary human life with cruise missiles and jet artillery every day,” Zelenskyy said, adding that “Russia has thus shown its attitude to international law, to Europe and to the entire civilized world.”

Zelenskyy said that the death toll continues to rise in Vinnytsia following a Russian cruise missile attack.

“Dismantling of debris is ongoing. Dozens of people are listed as missing. Among those hospitalized are seriously injured,” Zelenskyy said.

— Amanda Macias

Spanish celebrity chef and restaurateur Jose Andres said in a tweet that more than 2 million food kits have been delivered to those affected by the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.

“Thanks to your help the @WCKitchen team in Ukraine has delivered over 2,000,000 food kits, with ingredients for 40,000,000+ meals,” wrote Andres, referencing the World Central Kitchen, his humanitarian organization dedicated to feeding vulnerable communities.

“This is in addition to tens of millions of hot meals we have delivered,” he added.

The two-star Michelin chef brought the World Central Kitchen to Ukraine in order to address the mounting food crisis triggered by Russia’s war.

— Amanda Macias

French President Emmanuel Macron warned his country’s people to prepare for a total cutoff of Russian natural gas by supporting alternatives, having public lights switched off at night and engaging in a period of nationwide energy “sobriety.”

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and ensuing sanctions have aggravated other factors driving up prices for energy and others goods. With no end in sight for the Ukraine war, Macron said, the French should brace themselves for costs to remain high.

“This war will continue,” he said in a televised interview marking France’s national holiday, Bastille Day. “The summer, early autumn will be very hard.”

“Russia is using energy, like it is using food, as a weapon of war,” Macron said. “We should prepare ourselves for the scenario where we have to go without all Russian gas.”

He said the government would prepare a “sobriety plan” to conserve energy, which would start with turning off public lights at night when they aren’t useful.

— Associated Press