Natalia Zinets, Jarrett Renshaw

WARSAW/LVIV (Ukraine) – U.S. President Joe Biden referred to Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a “butcher” who could not remain in power after having met with Ukrainian refugees in Poland. The Kremlin increased attacks on Ukraine including Lviv, the Western City.

Biden’s statements, which are an escalated U.S. rhetoric against Moscow over its invasion in Ukraine, were not meant to call for regime changes in Russia, as a White House official stated, but were intended to help prepare the world’s democracies and for an extended war.

Officials said that four missiles were fired just minutes before he was due to speak outside Warsaw’s Royal Castle. They struck Lviv’s outskirts, which is only 60 km (40 mi) away from the Polish border.

A second strike severely damaged Lviv’s infrastructure, but did not cause any deaths.

As Russia continues to invade Ukraine’s neighbour, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president is clearly irritated and insists that Western nations provide military hardware.

When asked if they felt intimidated by Moscow, he replied, “We have been waiting for 31 days.”

Biden gave a fiery speech to end a European visit aimed at strengthening Western resolve.

Biden stated, as he concluded his speech: “For God’s sake this man cannot continue in power.” However, the Kremlin rebutted by saying that it was not up to Biden to make this decision. Russians elect the president of Russia.

After meeting with refugees from Poland, Biden called Putin “a butcher.”

“We must keep our eyes open. He said that this battle would not be won within days or even months. We must be ready for the long battle ahead.

Moscow claims that the goal of what Putin refers to as a “specially military operation” is demilitarization and “denazification” of its neighbor. This is a pretext to invading Ukraine without its Western allies.

According to United Nations, Russia failed to take any Ukrainian major cities and has sent almost 3.8 million people abroad. More than half the children of Ukraine have been driven from their homes.

FIGHTING AND BOMBING NATIONWIDE

According to Western intelligence, Russian troops now prefer to use indiscriminate bombings over large-scale ground operations. This tactic could reduce Russian military casualties, but it would also be more harmful for civilians.

Olha Moliboha (ninety-year old) escaped the Chernihiv northern city shortly before Russia tore down a bridge that connected it to Kyiv. He prevented any further evacuations, or humanitarian aid.

“They bombed and attacked us. Everything in the city was destroyed. Moliboha in Poland said it with tears. She was sitting on a chair, her dog on her knees, and so many children, women, have lost their lives. All our homes are gone. It is impossible to find a place where you can live.

Russian forces took Slavutych from workers of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The mayor claimed that three people had been killed. Interfax Ukraine news agency reported that the Russians also took the town.

Ukrainian workers continued working at Chernobyl even after the Russian forces seized the location of the worst nuclear accident in history. International Atomic Energy Agency expressed concern about the current situation.

The parliament of Ukraine stated that Russian forces opened fire on a Kharkiv-based nuclear research laboratory.

Mayor Vadym Borichenko stated that the situation in Mariupol’s southern port was still critical. There is street fighting at the centre. Russian fire has destroyed Mariupol for weeks.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the accounts of fighting in Ukraine.

UKRAINE WAITS

USA has already pledged millions of dollars in assistance and promised to provide additional $100 million in civilian and field security aid for Ukraine’s police and border guard.

Zelenskiy likened Mariupol to the devastation inflicted upon Aleppo, Syria by Russian and Syrian forces during the civil war.

He warned of serious consequences for Ukraine, the major global grain producer, if it was unable to export its products.

U.N. confirms 1,104 deaths of civilians in Ukraine, and 1754 injuries. But it says that actual toll could be much higher. Ukraine reports that the deaths of 136 children are confirmed.

According to Interfax, Russia’s defense ministry reported Friday that 1,351 Russian soldiers were killed and 3,825 injured. Ukraine reports that 15,000 Russian soldiers died. Reuters couldn’t independently verify these claims.