Nighttime attacks by Russia in the cities of kyiv and Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine, left at least 18 dead and 130 injured, Volodymyr Zelensky said. In recent weeks, kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of increasing strikes on civilian areas, while the situation on the front is almost frozen.
Information to remember
⇒ 18 people died and 130 injured in Russian strikes on kyiv and Kharkiv
⇒ Ukraine demands the sending of new weapons from Western countries
⇒ Washington reaffirms its “unwavering” support
A new toll of 18 dead in Russian attacks in the east
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported a new toll of at least 18 dead and 130 injured after strikes carried out by Russia in the cities of kyiv and Kharkiv, in the east of the country. “More than 200 different sites were affected, including 139 residential buildings,” said the head of state.
In a message broadcast on the Telegram messaging service, Volodymyr Zelensky promised a firm response from his country: “Let them know in Russia that the Ukrainian character knows how to react with enough force,” he said.
Ukraine demands the sending of new weapons
Questioned by several German media, the head of Ukrainian diplomacy reported on Tuesday an insufficient supply of weapons from Western countries, after new Russian strikes.
“The attacks clearly demonstrate the need to provide more air defense systems, as well as additional anti-aircraft missiles,” Dmytro Kouleba told the German newspaper Die Welt. “Although Ukraine has significantly increased its production, we see that the Western arms industry is not able to produce sufficient quantities,” he added. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the delivery of six multifunction helicopters, “Sea King”, in a press release released Tuesday evening. This delivery should take place in the second half of 2024.
The Kremlin, for its part, has assured that Europeans are beginning to turn their backs on Ukraine, while debates on continued aid to the country are causing tensions in the United States and Europe. “The Europeans realize that they have thrown their money out the window,” Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies. The Ukrainian president finds himself, according to the Russian spokesperson, “in a very difficult position”: “He no longer receives money, there are not enough shells for him abroad.”
The United States reaffirms its “unwavering” support for Ukraine
The American Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, reaffirmed in a press release published Tuesday the “unwavering” support of the United States for Ukraine. She also recognized the “effective work of the Ukrainian authorities to manage the country’s economy and progress in reforms despite the pressures caused by the Russian war.”
The Treasury Secretary also insisted on “the importance for Congress to act as quickly as possible in favor of financial support for Ukraine.” The American government has in fact asked Congress to vote for additional aid of $11.8 billion to support the country, but some elected Republicans in the House of Representatives are opposed to this expenditure. On January 18, the vote on a provisional budget in Congress averted the risk of a “shutdown”, leaving additional time for elected officials to negotiate aid to Ukraine.
The support provided by the United States makes it possible to “maintain vital government operations, such as keeping hospitals and schools open and supporting first responders,” the Treasury Department recalled on Tuesday.