Your Evening Briefing: Ukraine Warns of Intensified Fighting, ‘Cruel’ Assault by Russia

Officials at the United Nations planned to meet Tuesday about the situation unfolding at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, where intense fighting risks triggering a nuclear accident. Ukrainian officials say Russian troops continue to shell Europe’s largest plant and nearby areas. Earlier in the war, Russia captured the largest nuclear plant in Europe. Intensified attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities are increasingly likely in coming days, warn US and Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said the Kremlin may attempt a “particularly cruel” assault as the country prepares to celebrate its Independence Day. The US will pledge an additional $3 billion in arms—the largest single installment of US security assistance since Russia’s invasion—to coincide with the national holiday.

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