Russia claimed on Monday that its forces continued offensive operations against Ukrainian troops, while Ukraine said on the same day that its forces have inflicted losses on Russian troops over the past 24 hours, according to the latest official briefings of the two countries.
According to Russia's Ministry of Defense, Russian forces repelled several Ukrainian attacks and launched offensives in Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine, and Kherson in southern Ukraine.
Over the past day, Russian air defense forces reportedly shot down 69 Ukrainian drones and a rocket of the U.S.-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported 120 clashes along the frontline, saying that Ukrainian forces have inflicted significant losses on Russian troops despite ongoing Russian attacks.
It also reported 27 attacks staged by Russian troops in the direction of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine and 16 attacks in the direction of Pokrovsk also in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the West's calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine during a meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in Moscow on Monday.
Lavrov argued that such proposals are "means to give a respite to Ukraine and hence grant themselves a possibility to flood Ukraine with advanced long-range weapons again," which are not a path to peace.
He also reiterated Russia's firm opposition to Ukraine joining NATO.
Russia claims offensive continues, Ukraine reports inflicting losses on Russian forces
Senior representatives from major regional news media organizations, gathering at the ongoing 12th Global Video Media Forum (VMF) in China, say they are looking to amplify the voices of the media in the Global South to help consolidate cooperation and friendship in an ever more challenging global environment.
The forum opened in Quanzhou in east China's Fujian Province on Tuesday, bringing together 200 media representatives from over 60 countries and regions in the historic coastal city.
By working more closely together, media organizations in the Global South can reap rewards that might otherwise be unavailable, according to Ahmed Nadeem, Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcast Union.
"If we work together, there is an opportunity for us to bring out the best from these Global South countries who have much less resources," he said.
Other media representatives at the VMF stressed that in challenging times, it is even more important for developing countries to have their voices heard on the global stage.
"[The Global] South media have a lot of responsibility to build a new opinion," said Issoufou Sare, Director-General of BF1 Television.
"[The media can provide] solutions for misunderstandings or stereotypes. So the media have a major role. They can bridge our cultures and make us know each other better," said Feten Fardi, head of Arab and International Cooperation Unit, Arab States Broadcasting Union.
The event also witnessed the launch of the "Global South Media Dialogue and Cooperation Mechanism and Joint Initiative," a program to support closer cooperation led by China Media Group.
"That will help to promote our voices, our realities to make the world know better about our customs, realities, about our history, about our culture, customs, about our problems, but also our achievements," said Martin Hacthoun, chief editor of Press Latina News Agency.
The two-day VMF is being held under the theme "Intelligence Without Frontiers, Vision Beyond The Horizon -- Media's Role in Communication and Cultural Exchange."
Launched by the CCTV Video News Agency (CCTV+) in 2011, the VMF is an annual professional journalism forum focusing on the latest trends and innovations in news and journalism, which provides a highly specialized, unique and interactive platform for domestic and foreign media peers.
Media groups aim to amplify voice of Global South at VMF
