Refugees and diplomats travelling in the convoy from Ukraine have arrived at the Durankulak border crossing. Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodora Genchovska welcomed at the border 190 citizens of Bulgaria, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Germany and Armenia, whose journey continued 36 hours. In Minister Genchovska’s words, Bulgarians who request evacuation from Ukraine can rely on the assistance of the Situation Center of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, because Bulgaria’s diplomats already left Ukraine. With the assistance of the Turkish authorities, more Bulgarian citizens have been evacuated from the Kharkiv and Kyiv by train, Minister Genchovska stated. 

Russian forces appeared to have taken the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson with a population of 250,000. The mayor of the city called for a green corridor to supply the local residents with food. Russian airborne troops attacked Kharkiv. Fighting in Ukraine’s second-largest city continues. Russian cruise missiles hit civilian objects in Kharkiv and Zhytomyr.

Ukraine was the focus of the President Joe Biden’s annual speech to Congress. “Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the foundations of the free world thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways. But he badly miscalculated. He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over. Instead he met a wall of strength he never imagined. He met the Ukrainian people. From President Zelenskyy to every Ukrainian, their fearlessness, their courage, their determinations inspires the world. Putin has unleased violence and chaos. But while he may make gains on the battlefield- he will pay a continuing high price over the long run”, President Biden said.