After the devastating impact of a Russian missile on a high-rise building in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro last weekend, the emergency services have stopped searching for victims.
Civil defense announced that 20 people were still missing. "Unfortunately, the chances of finding someone tend to zero," said Mayor Borys Filatow.
At least 45 people, including 6 children, were killed in the large city in the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk. About 80 people were injured.
Also with a view to the events in Dnipro, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj announced in his video address on Wednesday night that he would do everything possible at his forthcoming appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to further increase international pressure on Russia.
Moscow's UN representative blames Kyiv for rocket hit
Russia's UN representative Vasily Nebenzia again denied Moscow's responsibility for the deadly missile strike in Dnipro, blaming Kyiv. "Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense forces shot down a Russian missile aimed at a power infrastructure object," Nebensia said at the UN Security Council meeting in New York on Tuesday evening. The Ukrainians' anti-aircraft defenses were located in a residential area, which violates international norms. That's why the rocket fell on a residential building, said the top diplomat. Kyiv denies shooting it down.
Power plant units damaged by Russian missiles
In other parts of Ukraine, too, people continue to suffer from the consequences of the most serious wave of Russian attacks since the beginning of the year. According to Ukrainian sources, the Russian rocket attacks on Saturday last week were among the most devastating since the beginning of the war, also with regard to the energy supply. Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal said the attack damaged eight blocks of thermal power plants in the west of the country and one in the east. In addition, three substations and a high-voltage line were hit. The consequences are emergency shutdowns due to an increased energy deficit.
The region around the capital Kyiv and Kharkiv in the east were affected by the most violent wave of attacks so far this year last weekend. At least 45 people died when a Russian rocket hit a house in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro.
Pistorius: Germany "indirectly" involved in the war
According to Defense Minister-designate Boris Pistorius, Germany is "indirectly" involved in the war in Ukraine. "The Ministry of Defense is a major challenge even in civil times, in times of peace, and in times when the Federal Republic of Germany is involved in a war, indirectly, even more so," said the SPD politician in Hanover, with a view to his future task.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier promised Ukraine further help in the fight against the Russian aggressor. "We support Ukraine politically, humanitarian, financially, militarily - with what we can and what is necessary, in coordination with our allies," Steinmeier said in a video call to Zelenskyy.
Netherlands wants to send Patriot system to Ukraine
In addition to Germany and the USA, the Netherlands also want to make the Patriot air defense system available to Ukraine. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said this during a visit to US President Biden in Washington. On January 5, the German government announced that it would make several dozen Marder infantry fighting vehicles and a Patriot anti-aircraft system available to Ukraine after consultation with the US government.
Biden and Scholz on the phone again because of the Ukraine war
Biden also spoke to Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the phone about further support for Ukraine. On Friday, a meeting at the US air force base in Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate is said to be about additional deliveries, including battle tanks.
With a view to the Ramstein meeting, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk called for a German delivery of Leopard battle tanks. In view of the increasingly ruthless Russian actions against Ukrainian civilians, there should be "no longer any red lines that we drew ourselves," said Melnyk, who had previously been ambassador in Berlin, to the Funke media group.
Putin wants to declare treaties with the Council of Europe over
Not only militarily, but also politically, Russia is continuing on a confrontational course. President Vladimir Putin wants the termination of treaties with the Council of Europe to be anchored in law. This applies, for example, to the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Convention to Combat Terrorism and the European Social Charter. Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe months ago because of its war of aggression against Ukraine. As a result, the largest country in the world in terms of area is no longer a member of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Flowers for Dnipro: Arrests in Moscow
According to civil rights activists in Moscow, several people have been arrested while trying to lay flowers in memory of the victims of the Russian missile impact in Dnipro. In total, there were four arrests in the center of the Russian capital in the evening, the civil rights organization OVD-Info said.
The small memorial was erected by unknown persons on Monday evening at the foot of a monument to the Ukrainian poet Lessja Ukrajinka in a park. In the hours that followed, more and more people brought flowers - some in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag. Public anti-war actions have become very rare in Russia due to the massive repression of the state authorities.
What will be important on Wednesday
The war also dominated Wednesday's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In the afternoon, both Chancellor Scholz (3:45 p.m.) and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy (5:00 p.m.) want to speak to the entrepreneurs and heads of state and government.
