More and more missiles and combat drones with components from the West that are actually subject to sanctions are hitting Ukraine. Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyj is therefore calling for more consistent implementation of sanctions against Russia in order to stop the neighboring country's attacks.
"Unfortunately, aid to Ukraine is still limited, and the Russian state still has access to important components needed for the production of missiles and drones," Zelensky said in his evening video address. Every missile that hits Ukraine contains many chips or electronics that Russia obtains from abroad and imports via neighboring countries.
The Ukrainian president is also once again calling for active support from the West in defending against Russian attacks against his country and refers to Western help for Israel against Iranian attacks. It is now clear that not all Ukrainian facilities can be protected from attacks, Zelenskyj wrote on Telegram. “But the intensity of the Russian attacks requires greater unity,” emphasized Zelensky.
Zelenskyj with a view to Israel: Defense is possible
“The whole world sees what real defense is and sees that it is possible,” Zelensky said. The world also saw that Israel was not alone in defense and was supported by allies. "And when Ukraine says that its allies should not turn a blind eye to Russian missiles and drones, that means they must act, and act forcefully."
There was no more time to waste, he appealed to the West. “It is not the rhetoric that protects the skies, it is not the thoughts that limit the production of missiles and drones for terror,” Zelensky said. The longer the help waits, the more confidence the Russian military will gain. "Ukraine, the Middle East and all other parts of the world equally deserve a just and lasting peace."
London: Russia continues to recruit foreigners for its army
According to British information, Russia continues to recruit foreign soldiers in its war of aggression against Ukraine. The British Ministry of Defense announced that an English-language brochure would encourage foreigners to join a special unit. A bonus of 2,000 US dollars (1,880 euros) and 2,200 dollars per month as well as a Russian passport, free medical care and training would be offered.
It is likely that many of those recruited are not professional soldiers, but migrant workers, it said in London. They were forced to serve in the Russian army with false claims or lured with financial incentives. The number of foreigners in the Russian armed forces is quite small. They would be integrated into existing structures; there are no foreign special forces.
"Russia probably wants to avoid further unpopular mobilization measures at home," the British ministry commented. Given the significant losses of an average of 913 soldiers per day, Russia is exploring options to add large numbers of personnel to the armed forces.
Scholz warns China against military support for Russia
Before his political talks in Beijing, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) warned China against any military support for Russia. He will point out that Russia is waging a war of conquest against Ukraine, "and insist that no one is allowed to help make this happen," Scholz said in Shanghai.
"Hence the request to everyone not to circumvent sanctions (...) and the demand not to deliver arms." This also applies to goods that can be used for both civil and military purposes, emphasized Scholz. China is considered Russia's most important ally and is suspected of supplying such goods.
Four dead in Donetsk region
At least four people have been killed as a result of Russian rocket fire in the eastern Ukrainian city of Siversk. The dead were men between the ages of 36 and 86, the military governor of the Donetsk region, Vadym Filaschkin, said on Telegram. He called on the remaining residents to flee the area near the front. The front line between Russian and Ukrainian troops runs about ten kilometers east of the small town. Before the war, Siversk had over 10,000 inhabitants.
Russia has declared the entire Donetsk region to be its territory, but only has partial control there. Moscow's declared war goal is to bring the annexed areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson completely under Russian control.
Many injured by rocket debris
At least 15 people have been injured by falling debris from a downed Russian cruise missile in the Dnipro region in southeastern Ukraine. In addition, around 30 residential buildings were damaged, as the regional military administration announced on Telegram. Further south, at least four people were injured by Russian artillery fire in the city of Nikopol.
Several houses caught fire. The information cannot yet be independently verified. Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for over two years. In addition to military targets, Russian units repeatedly attack civilian targets.
At least two people have died in a Russian airstrike on the village of Lukyanke in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine. Another four people were injured in the attack, regional military administrator Oleh Sinegubow said on Telegram. According to initial, officially unconfirmed reports, the guided bomb hit a school building.
Further south, Russian units shelled the city of Slovyansk, Ukrainian media reported. Two multi-storey residential buildings were severely damaged when a short-range Grom missile hit.
Kyiv fears Russian sabotage of nuclear power plant
The Ukrainian military leadership fears a so-called false flag operation in the coming days at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant occupied by Russian troops. The general staff in Kiev wrote on Facebook that responsibility for the occupiers' unspecified action should then be blamed on Ukraine.
"Russia is the only terrorist in the world holding a nuclear power plant hostage and using it to blackmail Ukraine and the entire world." No one but Russia has ever brought the world so close to the brink of a deliberate nuclear catastrophe.
With an output of almost six gigawatts, potentially the largest nuclear power plant in Europe was occupied by Russian troops shortly after the start of Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine - and later mined. It came under attack several times, and international concerns about a nuclear catastrophe grew. Both warring parties repeatedly accuse each other of wanting to provoke an incident at the nuclear power plant. All six reactors are now cold.
EU Commission approves Ukraine's reform plan
The EU Commission has approved Ukraine's necessary reform plans for the disbursement of further funds from an aid program worth billions. The Brussels authority assesses Ukraine's comprehensive reform and investment strategy positively for the next four years, it announced in the evening.
This will pave the way for regular and predictable support to the country attacked by Russia. EU countries now have a month to give the green light to the plan. According to the information, up to 1.89 billion euros could then flow as pre-financing until the regular payouts begin.
