Ukraine: Russian missiles kill at least 10 civilians in recent attacks

2023-01-28 08:22:14, Denoncim CNA

Ukraine reported that Russian rockets killed at least 10 civilians on Friday as fierce fighting continued in the country's east. Twenty other people were injured.

Ukrainian officials said most of the casualties from the rocket strikes were in towns in the country's east and south, which are located near Russian artillery units. A day ago, Russian missile attacks penetrated deep into the territory of Ukraine and killed 11 people.

Kiev said Ukrainian forces were engaged in heavy fighting on Friday with Russian forces in the eastern town of Vuhledar, part of the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening speech on Friday that fighting was fierce in Donetsk and that Russian forces were not only seeking to achieve victory militarily, but were also trying to destroy towns and villages.

Earlier, a senior European Union official said Russia was moving the war in Ukraine "to another stage", launching attacks on civilians and cities in response to a recent decision by NATO countries to send in weapons. advanced in Ukraine, to support its efforts in this war.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, the secretary general of the European External Action Service, Stefano Sannino, told reporters that Russia was no longer focusing on military targets, but was attacking cities and populations indiscriminately.

"I think that the latest development in terms of arms supply is just an evolution of the situation and how Russia began to move the war to a new stage," he said.

"Putin has moved from the concept of a special military operation to a concept of a war against NATO and the West," said Mr. Sannino.

Ukraine: Russian missiles kill at least 10 civilians in recent attacks

Stefano Sannino

Russia has repeatedly denied that it is targeting civilians in Ukraine.

Mr Saninno's comments come as Germany and the United States announced this week that they would send advanced battle tanks to Ukraine, hoping to balance Russia's fighting power on the ground.

Zyrtari i lartë i BE-së tha se furnizimet e reja nga Perëndimi nuk janë një përshkallëzim, por një përpjekje për t’i dhënë Ukrainës shansin që të mbrohet. Ai tha se zhvillimet e kanë detyruar Presidentin Putin të ndryshojë variantin e tij fillestar, kur e përshkronte sulmin si një “operacion special” për të çliruar Ukrainën nga një regjim nazist.

“Tashmë po flasim për një luftë me NATO-n dhe Perëndimin. Tjetër histori”, tha zoti Sannino.

Polonia u zotua të premten të dërgojë tanke të tjera në Ukrainë, duke premtuar 60 tanke shtesë, krahas 14 tankeve Leopard 2 të prodhimit gjerman që kishte rënë paraprakisht dakord t’i dërgonte.

Presidenti ukrainas Zelensky u përgjigj në Twitter, "Faleminderit... Polonisë për këto vendime të rëndësishme për t'i dërguar Ukrainës 60 tanke polake - 30 prej të cilave janë të famshmit PT-91 Twardy, së bashku me 14 Leopardë".

Një zëdhënëse e Ministrisë së Jashtme ruse, Maria Zakharova, tha të premten se furnizimi me tanke perëndimore në Ukrainë nuk do të ndihmonte shanset ushtarake të Kievit, por do t'i “sillte vendet e Perëndimit në një nivel të ri konfrontimi me vendin tonë dhe popullin tonë”.

Presidenti ukrainas, Volodymyr Zelensky

Të enjten, Presidenti Zelensky shprehu mirënjohjen për numrin në rritje të vendeve që premtojnë furnizimin me armatime të avancuara, përfshirë tanke, ndërsa në të njëjtën kohë theksoi nevojën për të përshpejtuar dërgimin e sistemeve të armëve të premtuara.

President Zelensky said the only way to stop "this Russian aggression" is with "the right weapons". He emphasized that "the terrorist state does not understand anything else".

The Ukrainian president also praised Western supplies to boost defenses against Thursday's missile attacks. "Today, thanks to the air defense systems provided to Ukraine and thanks to the professionalism of our fighters, we managed to shoot down most of the Russian missiles and (drones) Shahed," he said in his speech.