New Delhi: As Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its sixth day on Tuesday, Ukrainian authorities flagged the appearance of strange signs on rooftops of buildings and and gas pipes in some cities of the war-torn country.
Images of an ‘X’ mark on rooftops and attics of buildings in Ukraine have been widely shared on social media. These symbols are feared to be potential target signs drawn by "suspicious characters" leaving aerial clues for Russians.
Authorities in Kyiv, capital of Ukraine, have asked the residents to check for any such signs on their rooftops and to close it immediately if they spot any.
“City authorities are appealing to residents of multi-storey buildings that have access to the roof, asking to urgently check the roofs for the availability of tags. In case any marks are detected - please put them to sleep with the ground or something to cover,” wrote the Kyiv City State Administration on Facebook.
Alexander Tretyak, the mayor of Rivne, a town in western Ukraine, had also put out a similar warning on Facebook.
“URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT! I ask the heads of the condominiums to close all the attic. If you or a resident of the house notice tags in the driveway, on the roof, next to the houses of unknown persons - inform law enforcement immediately,” the mayor wrote on Facebook.
“URGENTLY check your roofs, in case you find the tags, paint them and close access to the roofs,” added Tretyak.
On Tuesday, intense shelling in the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city and former capital, was reported. Ukraine claimed that 352 civilians, including 14 children, have been killed in Russia's offensive that began last Thursday.
Attempt for a negotiation between Russia and Ukraine on Monday did not seem to yield any result as no information from the either sides was given regarding the meeting. A second round of talks between both the nations is expected to happen.