Kyiv mayor says more than 100 war deaths in city, including 4 children

By Gavin Jones and Angelo Amante

ROME (Reuters) -There have been greater than 100 deaths within the Ukrainian capital Kyiv since Russia’s invasion of its neighbour, the town’s mayor Vitali Klitschko stated on Monday.

In an tackle to the town council of Florence, which is twinned with Kyiv, Klitschko stated greater than 20 corpses couldn’t be recognized and 4 of the victims had been kids, whereas one other 16 injured kids are in hospital.

“The cities round Kyiv have seen quite a few battles … on the roads we see many corpses and items of human corpses,” Klitschko stated in accordance an Italian interpreter.

The previous world heavyweight boxing champion stated 82 multi-storey buildings in Kyiv had been destroyed by Russian assaults and it was unimaginable to know the true dying toll within the metropolis.

Ukraine and Russia had been making ready on Monday for the primary face-to-face peace talks in additional than two weeks, however a senior U.S. official stated Russian President Vladimir Putin didn’t seem able to make compromises to finish the struggle.

Kyiv has thus far been spared the sort of destruction wrought on southern cities resembling Mariupol, the place greater than 5,000 individuals have died, in accordance its mayor.

Klitschko stated the seize of Kyiv had been amongst Russia’s “principal plans” at the beginning of its invasion, nevertheless it had been blocked thus far by Ukraine’s resistance.

“We have now destroyed the parable of the invincible Russian military. We’re resisting in opposition to the aggression of one of many strongest armies on this planet and have succeeded in making them change their objectives,” he stated.

Klitschko appealed to Italy’s politicians to keep up sanctions in opposition to Moscow and to not consider what he stated was Russian propaganda in regards to the struggle.

“The destabilisation of our nation could cause repercussions in all the opposite European nations,” Klitschko stated.

With out citing proof, he stated Russian imperialism wouldn’t cease at Ukraine, warning that if it was not stopped now it could goal Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “particular navy operation”.

(Modifying by Andrew Heavens)