Putin Tells Mothers of Russian Soldiers that he Shares their Pain, while Ukraine's Zelenskyy Calls on Europe to Stay United

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Europe to stay united in the face of Russia’s ongoing war, calling it “mission number one” for the region this year. Zelenskyy has urged European leaders to maintain a united front against Russia, and has called on the international community to do more to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

"We must preserve the unity of Europe," he said via video link to a conference in Lithuania. "There is no split, no schism among Europeans."

The U.K. defense ministry has said that it is "highly likely" that Russian reservists have suffered heavy casualties in Ukraine. This comes two months after President Vladimir Putin mobilized them to fight.

The Kremlin is likely to be concerned that an increasing number of reservists' families are prepared to risk arrest by protesting against the conditions their relatives are serving under, according to its daily update Friday.

Around 70% of Kyiv's regional government is still without electricity, the head of the regional government said. This is causing major disruptions for residents and businesses in the area.

On Friday, President Vladimir Putin met with the mothers of Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. He told them that he and his country shared their pain.

Putin said that he understood the pain of losing a son, and that no amount of tea or cake could replace him.

"I want you to know that I, and the entire leadership of the country, share your pain," he said, according to a recorded television clip seen by Reuters.

We know that there is nothing that can replace the loss of a son - especially for a mother. We feel this pain deeply and share it with all who are grieving.

The clip did not immediately show the mothers’ response to Putin’s comments. However, it is clear that they were not pleased with what he had to say.

Hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers have been sent to fight in Ukraine this year, including around 300,000 reservists who were called up in September. This represents a significant increase in Russian military activity in the region, and is likely to heighten tensions further.

At least 77 civilians have died and millions have been plunged into extreme hardship since Russia began its bombardment of Ukraine's critical infrastructure in October, the U.N. human rights chief said.

Volker Turk, in a statement to Reuters, said that millions of people are being plunged into extreme hardship and appalling conditions of life by these strikes. This raises serious problems under international humanitarian law, which requires a concrete and direct military advantage for each object attacked. Turk stated that an early analysis of videos appearing to show Ukrainian soldiers executing Russian prisoners of war indicated they were most likely authentic.

Seven people were killed and at least 21 more injured in the latest round of shelling by Russian forces in the southern city of Kherson, according to one official.

Since the city was liberated from Russian occupation two weeks ago, shelling from Russian positions across the Dnieper River has become a regular occurrence.

Yaroslav Yanushevych, the governor of the Kherson region, said that a residential area was hit by Russian artillery and antiaircraft fire at around 5 p.m. local time on Thursday. This caused a high-rise building to catch fire. He also said that a children’s playground was hit in the attack.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Europeans to stay united in the face of Russia’s war. He said that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a threat to European security and stability. President Zelenskyy called on European leaders to maintain a strong and united front against Russia.

Zelenskyy spoke at a conference in Lithuania and said that the task is the region’s number one mission.

"We must preserve the unity of Europe. This is our top priority this year."

The U.K. defense ministry said that Russian reservists, who were mobilized by Putin two months ago, have "highly likely" experienced heavy casualties after being asked to dig trenches in the east of Ukraine.

The Kremlin is likely to be concerned that an increasing number of reservists' families are prepared to risk arrest by protesting against the conditions their relatives are serving under, according to its daily update Friday.

Prominent supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin are using increasingly aggressive and violent language when discussing Ukrainians, analysts note. Some pro-war commentators are even cheering the concept of the "liquidation" of the modern state of Ukraine. This rhetoric is alarming and could lead to further violence and conflict in the region.

The head of Kyiv’s regional government has reiterated that approximately 70% of the regional government remains without electricity. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Oleksiy Kuleba has said that the death toll from recent Russian airstrikes has risen to seven, according to an NBC News translation.

Rockets rained down on Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after officials said a newborn became one of the youngest victims of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war.This marks a tragic turn in the conflict, which has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians. Putin must be held accountable for his actions, and the international community must do everything in its power to stop the violence.

The Ukrainian government said that investigators have found 50 separate mass graves in the recently liberated areas of Mykolaiv and Kherson. This discovery provides further evidence of the atrocities committed by the former regime.

According to an NBC News translation, the government wrote on the Telegram messaging app that 50 locations of probable burials have been examined in the liberated territories of the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.

The search teams have identified the bodies of around 200 victims. This information was included in a message that was sent out.

The Kremlin has denied claims that its forces have used mass graves in areas that were once heavily occupied.

The organization overseeing the export of Ukrainian crops said there is a backlog of 79 vessels waiting to be loaded with cargo. This is causing delays in shipments and is having a negative impact on the agricultural industry.

According to the Joint Coordination Center, there are around 110 vessels loaded with cargo waiting to be inspected in Turkish territorial waters. The JCC is a UN-led organization, so this is an international issue.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal brokered in July among Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the United Nations, eased Russia's naval blockade and saw the reopening of three key Ukrainian ports. This initiative has helped to improve the flow of grain exports from Ukraine to the rest of the world.

Since the deal was signed, more than 490 ships carrying 11.8 million metric tons of grain and other food products have left for destinations around the world. This has been a huge boon for the economy, and has helped to improve the standard of living for many people.

Kyiv has previously blamed Moscow for holding up inspections and delaying vessel movements. Kyiv has said that Moscow is not living up to its end of the agreement and is instead stalling.

The majority of the Kyiv region is without power, and Ukraine says that 50 mass grave sites have been found in liberated cities. This is a major setback for the region, and it is unclear how long it will take to restore power and bring relief to the affected areas.