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Selenskyj criticizes Iran again

Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyj has criticized Tehran’s arms supplies to Russia as contributing to prolonging the war. “Iran is supporting the Russian terrorist regime and helping to prolong the war and with it the threats to the world posed by the Russian war of aggression,” Zelenskyy said in his daily video address on Sunday night. Without Tehran’s support for Moscow “we would be closer to peace,” the Ukrainian head of state said.

Without Tehran’s interference, a solution to the world food or energy crisis would also be more within reach, he argued. “Whoever helps Russia prolong this war must also take responsibility for the consequences of this war.” Tehran only admitted on Saturday that it had supplied drones to Russia – but spoke of only a few. Selenskyj then accused Tehran of lying.

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Renewed Russian drone strikes on Sunday

In the course of Sunday, Iranian attack drones were again deployed by the Russian side. “There were deaths, but unfortunately also hits,” Zelenskyj continued. It is clear that the “terrorist state”, as he called Russia, is pooling forces and resources for new massive attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure. Nearly 4.5 million Ukrainians have already suffered from power outages. “We are preparing to respond,” Zelenskyy said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly bombed infrastructure in Ukraine, including the capital Kiev. Whole parts of the city have no light for hours. Mass power outages in Kiev were again announced for Monday. It will be worse than initially feared, the general manager of the state-owned Ukrenergo, Sergy Kowalenko, wrote on Facebook. This is because of “force majeure”.

Under international humanitarian law, “all possible measures” should actually be taken to protect the lives of civilians and basic infrastructure such as power plants or water supplies.

Fighting continues near the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson

Heavy fighting also shook the region around the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson on Sunday. According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a building occupied by about 200 Russian soldiers has been destroyed in the village of Kakhovka. The consequences of this attack would be “carefully concealed” by the Russian side. A column of Russian armored vehicles was destroyed near Radensk. The information could not be independently verified.

According to the Ukrainian army, the Russian occupiers began destroying the boats of the civilian population along the Dnipro River. In addition, the Russian army confiscates engines and equipment from the boats. In doing so, the Russian military is flagrantly violating laws and rules of warfare affecting the civilian population, it said.

The Russian occupier has been trying for days to persuade the civilian population of Kherson to leave the region. Ukrainian forces want to retake the area, which has been under Russian control since March, as soon as possible.

Selenskyj and von der Leyen discuss new billions of aid for Kiev

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has informed Selenskyj of plans for a new aid package for Ukraine of up to €18 billion. The European Commission explained that it plans to present the package, to be divided into monthly tranches of €1.5 billion each, in Brussels next week. The low-cost loans should make a “significant contribution” to Kiev’s financial needs by 2023.

Selenskyj only explained on Twitter that he had spoken with von der Leyen about financial support for the current and coming year. Another topic was the importance of grain deliveries from Ukraine via the Black Sea to support global food security.

The grain agreement between the United Nations and Turkey was finalized in July. In it, Russia agreed to end the blockade of Ukrainian seaports for grain exports. In return, it demanded facilitation of fertilizer and food exports. The agreement is initially valid until 19 November. Russia and Ukraine are both major grain exporters. (sda/dpa)