Russia intensifies strikes on civilians and energy as Izium endures bombardment

Russia is continuing to strike civilian targets and energy infrastructure in Ukraine, with the eastern city of Izium among the places closest to the front line and under constant threat. A news team travelled to the city, about 20 miles from the line of contact in the Kharkiv region, to see how residents live under bombardment.

The journey itself was dangerous. Roads were covered with anti-drone nets, and the team used an in-car drone detector. The device warned of a drone nearby. Air raid sirens sounded and an app warned of possible incoming fire. With no hard cover, the team carried on. The nets can catch slower FPV drones but not jet-powered drones or glide bombs used by Russian forces. As the team entered Izium, the drone disappeared.

Until a few weeks ago, houses in one area were places of life. People lived there, went to work and got on with their lives. A Russian attack ended that. Nothing is left except flowers growing among the rubble.

Izium was occupied by Russian troops for five months at the start of the war. Half of the 50,000 people who lived there fled or were killed. Those who stayed live under constant bombardment. Buses and trains are targeted. Taking a bus is now an act of courage. Schools are also targeted, so learning takes place in basements or at home.

Children are growing up without peace. Magdalena is proud of her English and learns colours while bombs fall around her home. Jeho was born on the first day of the war and has never lived in peace. Victoria has tried for almost five years to prepare her classes for a future that is far from certain. She says the bombardments are now terrifying because more powerful weapons are being used.

Grief is everywhere. Every week, Sergey brings flowers for his son-in-law, who was killed driving troops to the front. He calls the Russians inhumane and worse than animals. He sees no hope for an end to the war until President Putin gets what he wants. Oleksandr and Vera lost their son during the occupation and never got his body back. They honour a soldier who shares their surname as a way to honour their son. Air raid alerts interrupt daily life, leaving little quiet time to grieve.

Fear remains that Russia will try to retake the city. In the graveyard, the horrors of the last occupation are clear. Four hundred bodies remain unidentified after being recovered from mass graves. Work continues to identify them. Each person beneath a cross is mourned. They may not have a name now, but they did when the war began and when it took their lives.

Separately, President Zelensky was in Brussels to meet EU leaders. He said he had the right as president to continue long-range strikes on Russia to defend Ukraine. He also made clear he did not want to be used as a scapegoat for Donald Trump's domestic troubles. European leaders used the meeting to show public support after a difficult week, including significant civilian casualties in Ukraine and attacks from Trump. Zelensky said Ukraine will need around 70 billion from Europe to go into next year with the war.

The Pope, speaking from his hospital bed, called President Putin and urged him to break the siege on Oleshky in southern Ukraine. The city has been occupied by Russian forces since the start of the war. A humanitarian crisis is growing. No food or medical services have reached the area since May. Around 2,000 people, including 50 children, are trapped. Earlier appeals for supplies and for the Red Cross to evacuate people have gone unheeded.