Russia, Ukraine claim attacking each other's energy facilities, military targets

Russia and Ukraine have both claimed attacking each other's energy facilities and military targets in the past days.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Saturday that the Russian Armed Forces had conducted 35 group strikes in the past week, using high-precision sea- and air-launched missiles, including Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicles, to hit Ukrainian energy and military-industrial facilities.

Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on the same day that it had fought 79 battles in the past 24 hours.

It said the Ukrainian army conducted strikes on Russian personnel and military equipment, along with radar stations, air defense systems, electronic warfare platforms, and material warehouses.

On his social media platform on Saturday, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk said that Russian forces launched 34 missiles towards Ukraine from land, sea and air from Friday night to early Saturday morning, and Ukrainian forces managed to intercept 21 of them.

Ukraine claimed that multiple energy facilities were hit by the missiles, resulting in severe damage.

In a video address on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the European Union's energy security depends on these energy facilities and Ukraine needs at least 7 more sets of Patriot air-defense systems to bolster its defense capabilities.

On its social platform, the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine clarified on Saturday that the Associated Press (AP)'s report on the withdrawal of U.S.-provided Abrams tanks from the frontline battlefield in Ukraine is unfounded. However, they said they would not publicly disclose the purpose, location, and details of any transfer of these tanks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On Thursday, the AP quoted senior U.S. military officials as saying that due to the extensive use of Russian drones for reconnaissance and targeting of Ukrainian tanks, the U.S.-provided Abrams tanks have been withdrawn from the frontline battlefield in Ukraine.

Russia, Ukraine claim attacking each other's energy facilities, military targets

Russia, Ukraine claim attacking each other's energy facilities, military targets

Two mischievous panda cubs at a breeding base in southwest China have developed an unexpected fascination with cleaning tools, turning mundane chores into their latest source of amusement, latest footage released by the base showed.

The footage was filmed at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and released on Friday last week, showing one cub getting its head stuck in a trash bin while the other twiddling with a shovel.

The two cubs, Cheng Lang and Ji Xiao, are panda celebrities with fans around the world.

Cheng Lang, a female, was born in the Sunshine Delivery House at the breeding base on June 11, 2019, with a weight of 42.8 grams. She is the world's lightest newborn giant panda.

Ji Xiao, also a female, was born at the breeding base on June 5, 2019. She was the world's first captive-bred panda cub of the year. Her father is Mei Lan who was born at Zoo Atlanta in 2006 and returned to China in 2010, and her mother is Ji Li.

The breeding base is a world-renowned institution for the ex-situ conservation of giant pandas, scientific research and breeding, public education and tourism.

The base is famous for its work in preserving and breeding giant pandas, red pandas and other endangered wild animals exclusive to China.

Mischievous panda cubs caught on camera developing unexpected fascination with cleaning tools