Several substations in Lviv in the west of the country were completely destroyed by the shelling, which apparently focused mainly on energy infrastructure. Many residents were cut off from electricity.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov, meanwhile, thanked him for arms shipments from the US and Germany on Wednesday evening and announced “a new era of air defense” for his country.
Despite Moscow’s recent escalation, another prisoner exchange took place between the two countries, according to information from Kiev. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin – and again called for a protection zone around the occupied Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhya. Meanwhile, the G7 countries have pledged further support to Ukraine. Wednesday is the 231st day of the war.
Zelenskiy: Russian attacks can only delay reconstruction
Tuesday’s shelling only delayed repair of previously damaged objects, Selenski said in his video address on Wednesday evening after the second wave of Russian attacks. “Where there are losses, there is all our will to build. Where there was any hope of the enemy, there will only be ruins of the Russian state.” Russia fired 28 missiles at its country on Tuesday, Zelensky said. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 20 of them. Nearly all 15 drones were shot down.
Biden: Putin ‘significantly miscalculated’
Kremlin chief Putin misjudged his war of aggression against Ukraine, US President Joe Biden says. “I think he’s a rational actor who has seriously miscalculated,” Biden told CNN in an interview on Tuesday evening (local time). Putin had mistakenly assumed that the Ukrainians would submit to a Russian invasion. “I think he thought he would be welcomed with open arms,” Biden said. “I think he just misjudged himself.”
G7 wants to hold Putin responsible for war crimes
The seven leading democratic economic powers have strongly condemned the recent Russian missile attacks on Ukraine and have pledged further military support to the Ukrainian armed forces. After a video conference with Zelensky, G7 leaders issued a joint statement saying that “indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constituted a war crime”. They threatened Russia with further sanctions against individuals and institutions inside and outside the country that supported the war of aggression politically or economically. The G7 promised further financial, humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine.
Stoltenberg threatens Russia with consequences if nuclear weapons are used
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has again threatened Russia with consequences if nuclear weapons are used in the war in Ukraine. “If Russia uses nuclear weapons, it will have various consequences, including the use of smaller nuclear weapons,” the Norwegian told the news portal “ZDFheute.de”. He doesn’t want to go into too much detail. “The most important thing is to prevent this from happening.” According to Stoltenberg, the risk of Russia using nuclear weapons remains low. “But the escalation in Ukraine and the nuclear threat to Russia make it necessary for us to take them seriously and be prepared.”
Lambrecht condemns Russian rocket attacks on civilians
Ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers on Wednesday, Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) strongly condemned Russian missile attacks in Ukraine. “Putin is openly terrorizing the civilian population by firing missiles at Ukrainian cities. His disdain for people clearly increases with the failure of his plans,” Lambrecht told the Funke media group newspapers. “We must continue our support for Ukraine unabated.” Supplying air defense systems is therefore the right step.
Lambrecht had announced that the first of four state-of-the-art Iris-T SLM air defense systems would now be made available to Ukraine. According to a “Mirror” report, the unit has already been handed over. According to the Ministry of Defense, three more units will be delivered next year.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Resnikov thanked Twitter for arms deliveries from the United States and Germany on Wednesday evening. “A new era of air defense” has begun in Ukraine, Resnikov wrote. The Iris-T air defense system from Germany has already arrived. Nasam missile launch systems from the US are on their way. “That’s just the beginning. And we need more. Russia is undoubtedly a terrorist state,” the minister wrote, thanking Lambrecht for their “strong willingness” to support Ukraine. “We will win,” Reznikov tweeted.
That will be important on Wednesday
Defense ministers of NATO countries are meeting in Brussels for a two-day meeting. In addition to the war in Ukraine, it is also about efforts to expand the capabilities of the arms industry. Following the alleged acts of sabotage against the natural gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, additional protection for critical infrastructure must also be deployed.
Blick informs you in the live ticker about the current developments in Ukraine.
In New York, the UN General Assembly votes on Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine. The vote is also seen as a global mood test about the war of aggression in Moscow. A corresponding vote resolution condemns and invalidates the annexation of Russia. In addition, the Kremlin is being asked to undo the annexation of the partially occupied regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.
Putin is expected in Moscow during Russian Energy Week.
(SDA)