Britain’s defense ministry claims that Russia is steadily bombarding the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv to tie down Ukrainian forces and prevent them from staging counterattacks elsewhere.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has been consistently shelled since the start of Russia’s invasion, as it is within the range of most Russian artillery.
In its latest “Intelligence Update on the Situation in Ukraine,” the British defense ministry suggests Russia’s strategy is an attempt “to force Ukraine to maintain significant forces on this front, to prevent them from being employed as a counter-attack force elsewhere.”
Seventeen people were killed and 42 injured in two Russian attacks in Kharkiv last Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Reuters news agency, citing the latest casualty figures released by the regional Ukrainian governor.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described Wednesday’s attack on Kharkiv as a “devious and cynical strike on civilians with no justification.”
According to Father Wojciech Stasiewicz, a Polish priest from Lublin serving in eastern Ukraine since 2006, people in the region remain concerned about the possibility of additional Russian attacks to “commemorate” Ukrainian Independence Day on 24 August.
Source: Radio Poland
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his heavyweight title with a victory over Brit Anthony Joshua in a rematch last night in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The rematch between Usyk and Joshua was one of the most anticipated events in the boxing world in recent years and a chance for Ukrainians to rally behind a cause unconnected to the war.
Usyk ultimately won in a split decision, with one judge narrowly scoring the bout (115-113) in favor of Joshua. The other two judges, however, ruled (115-113 and 116-112) in favor of Usyk.
Before the match, Usyk made waves on social media after arriving at the weigh-in dressed in a traditional Cossack folk costume and then singing “The Red Viburnum in the Meadow,” a Ukrainian patriotic song from 1911 which has returned to popularity since the start of the Russian invasion.
Usyk himself previously fought on the front line to defend Ukraine, only returning to boxing after being persuaded by friends, including the Klitschko brothers.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, espn.com
Anna Wielgosz kept Poland in the top ten in the medal table of the European Championships in Munich after winning the bronze medal in the women’s 800 meters yesterday.
Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain won the gold, and Rénelle Lamote of France took the silver in the women’s athletic event.
Earlier in the week, Sopot native Anna Kiełbasińska took bronze in the 400-meter race, bested only by fellow countryman Natalia Kaczmarek in second place, with Dutch sprinter Femke Boll in the lead.
This year’s European Championships featured nine Olympic sports: Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Canoe Sprint, Cycling, Gymnastics, Rowing, Sport Climbing, Table Tennis, and the Triathlon.
As of Saturday evening, Poland was in the top ten countries in the medal table, with Germany, the UK, and Italy leading the group.
The second annual European Championships are set to end today.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland, munich2022.com
As the summer tourist season winds down, beachgoers are reminded to check water quality before heading out to enjoy the lakes, rivers, and seaside of Pomerania.
As of this morning, most bathing areas in the Pomeranian Voivodeship – including beaches by the sea and local lakes – are currently free of cyanobacteria and safe for swimming.
According to the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate or “Sanepid,” two areas in Kashuby are currently unsuitable for swimming due to cyanobacteria blooms. These include Lake Raduńskie Górne in Stężyca in the Kartuzy district and Lake Sudomie in the town of Sycowa Huta.
Blooms of cyanobacteria are common in summer and can cause a range of adverse reactions for swimmers, including skin rashes, eye irritation, and gastrointestinal problems if the water is ingested.
Before going swimming, members of the public are advised to check for up-to-date water quality information on the GIS website.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy and cool, with a chance of rainstorms throughout the day and a strong breeze coming in from the northwest. Temperatures will peak around a high of 21°C, or 69°F, dropping to an overnight low of 17°C or 62°F. Similar weather is expected for tomorrow, with storms and cooler weather continuing into Tuesday.
Elizabeth Peck/jk
