Russia and Ukraine continued their attacks against each other on Monday.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Monday that its forces had gained control of a settlement in Kharkiv, destroying a significant amount of Ukrainian military equipment.
The Russian air defense systems intercepted six US-made HIMARS rockets, one Neptune long-range cruise missile, and 356 fixed-wing drones. Furthermore, Russian forces targeted energy infrastructure in 145 locations across Ukraine, along with Ukrainian fuel storage sites and areas prepared for the storage and launch of drones.
On the same day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that there were 231 combat encounters along the front lines in the past day.
The Ukrainian Air Force, along with missile units and artillery, struck three concentration areas of Russian personnel, weapons, and military equipment.
Furthermore, the Ukrainian Air Force said that since 20:00 on Sunday, Russian forces had launched attacks on Ukraine using 116 attack drones. By 09:00 on Monday, Ukrainian air defense had successfully shot down or suppressed 83 of those drones.
Also on Monday, multiple rounds of shelling were heard at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) amid the longest off-site power loss of the plant, posing "growing risks" to its nuclear safety and security, according to a UN nuclear watchdog statement.
The shelling occurred in the afternoon, totaling about 15 rounds at near and middle distance from the site. The ZNPP informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that two rounds of shelling struck around 1.25 km from the site perimeter, the IAEA statement said.
No casualties have been reported and there was no immediate information of any damages. However, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the shelling further underlined the constant dangers facing the ZNPP.
The nuclear safety and security situation is clearly not improving. On the contrary, the risks are growing, Grossi said. The plant has now been without off-site power for almost two weeks, forcing it to rely on emergency diesel generators for the electricity it needs to cool its shutdown reactors and spent fuel. This is an extraordinarily challenging situation, Grossi said.
In the statement, Grossi called for maximum military restraint near nuclear facilities and said he will continue to engage with Russia and Ukraine to restore the plant's off-site power as soon as possible.
Russia, Ukraine continue their attacks against each other
Emergency measures are being put in place to help urban areas across China cope with sweltering daytime temperatures as a severe heatwave grips multiple regions of the country, with local community rest stations being set up to shield residents and provide much-needed respite to outdoor workers amid the scorching weather.
Large swathes of the country are baking as the summer heat takes hold. According to the Central Meteorological Observatory of China, eight of the top ten hottest areas nationwide on Wednesday were in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where Turpan and Toksun both recorded temperatures above 44.5 degrees Celsius.
The intense heat is unlikely to let up anytime soon, as Hami Meteorological Station has issued a red alert and is forecasting that temperatures in Hami City will exceed 40 degrees Celsius from Wednesday to Sunday.
In an effort to combat the heatwave, the local sanitation department has deployed multiple sprinkler and spray trucks to cover major roads in downtown Hami to help with dust suppression and road surface cooling, while upping the frequency of operations.
Persistent high temperatures have also affected many areas in the southwestern Sichuan Province, with some weather stations recording maximum highs exceeding 42 degrees Celsius and weather alerts being issued in numerous cities.
In Guang'an City, the mercury had already soared to 38 degrees Celsius by 10:00 Wednesday morning, pointing to a long, hot day ahead.
However, the county has opened nearly 350 'rest stations' to help local people escape the heat. These air-conditioned cooling points, equipped with fans, drinking water, emergency medicines, and seating, provide much-needed rest areas for outdoor workers such as delivery drivers and couriers, as well as to the elderly and other passersby.
"This round of high temperatures is characterized by its long duration, high temperatures, and the oppressive, muggy conditions, impacting outdoor workers and the elderly the most," said Yu Jilin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group at the Wusheng County Federation of Trade Unions.
In the neighboring Chongqing Municipality, a red alert for high temperatures was issued on the same day.
At the exit of a busy highway in Wuxi County, heat waves shimmered on the road surface amid heavy traffic. Police officers on duty were busy checking vehicles under the scorching sun, focusing on any potential safety hazards in passenger and freight vehicles, while enduring the sizzling weather themselves.
"The main issue is the high temperature -- surface temperatures can reach over 50 degrees Celsius. Whenever we are on duty, the exhaust from passing fuel-powered vehicles feels scorching hot against our bodies," said Lin Xianyong, an auxiliary police officer.
Air-conditioned "rest stations" set up to provide respite as scorching heatwave grips China
