Tragic Bombing in Kharkiv: Ukraine Calls for Increased Military Support Amid Rising Casualties
A devastating attack on a residential building in Kharkiv left one person dead and at least 41 injured on Sunday afternoon, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. A Russian guided bomb struck the 10th floor of the 12-storey building, leading to a fire that spread across four floors, with the body of a 94-year-old woman recovered from the ninth floor. Terekhov reported that twelve additional buildings sustained damage from the assault.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that rescue operations were ongoing, with individuals trapped under the rubble. He stated that, among the 35 injured, three were children. The Russian airstrike on Kharkiv was part of a larger offensive during which four bombs were released in total, with only one hitting the city; the others targeted nearby villages. Russia has denied intentionally targeting civilians, despite the high number of civilian casualties since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
Zelenskiy once again urged Western allies to reassess their policies regarding long-range weaponry. He stated that Russia is conducting approximately 100 airstrikes akin to the Kharkiv attack daily. "The only way to counter this terror is through a systemic solution: long-range capabilities to destroy Russian military aviation at its bases," he articulated on social media platform X.
Over the weekend, both Moscow and Kyiv engaged in a series of drone and missile assaults. The Ukrainian air force reported shooting down 10 of 14 drones and one of three missiles launched by Russia overnight. Conversely, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed it had downed 29 Ukrainian drones during the same timeframe, with no reported damage caused by debris.
Zelenskiy voiced concerns about the high losses among Ukrainian troops, attributing them to the slow delivery of Western arms. He expressed that while Russia has made advances in eastern Ukraine, particularly around Pokrovsk, the support from allies has not kept pace with the military's needs. "We need 14 brigades to be ready. Until now, from these packages, we didn't equip even four," he stated during an interview with CNN.
He emphasized that the only thing Russian President Vladimir Putin fears is the potential backlash from his own citizens if the costs of the war begin to weigh heavily on them. He urged Western nations to bolster Ukraine's defenses, suggesting that a stronger Ukraine would compel Putin to engage in negotiations.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced on Saturday that the U.S. is working on a substantial new aid package for Ukraine. In light of this, Zelenskiy is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden later this month, where he will outline a plan aimed at bringing an end to the war through a foundation of security, diplomatic support, and intensified military and economic aid.
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