War in Ukraine - Rocket attack on Kiev: more than 40 injured, children's hospital damaged
According to Ukrainian reports, at least 45 people were injured as a result of a Russian missile attack on Kiev on Wednesday night. 18 of them were hospitalized, including two children, wrote the mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, on his Telegram channel. Fifteen people, including four children, were evacuated from a damaged residential building. Cars had caught fire in the courtyard of the building. At least two other houses were also on fire and a children's hospital was damaged.
In addition, the water supply network in one district was damaged by the impact of the rocket debris on the road, Klitschko continued. Emergency services were on site to repair the damage quickly.
On Wednesday night, explosions from anti-aircraft missiles could be heard in the center, as a correspondent reported to the German Press Agency. Only then was an air alarm triggered, which was lifted again after around 40 minutes. According to the authorities, houses in the eastern part of the metropolis were damaged by falling missile fragments.
Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for over 21 months. The Ukrainian hinterland is attacked almost daily by Russian drones and missiles. The Ukrainian air defense system has now been massively reinforced with Western aid.
Ukrainian military reports heavy fighting around Avdiivka
Ukraine is still under pressure in the fighting in the east of the country. According to the military, the situation around the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, which has been embattled for weeks, has intensified once again. "It is very hot. In fact, it is even hotter today than yesterday and the day before yesterday," said the head of the local military administration, Vitaly Barabash, on Ukrainian television. According to him, the new wave of attacks by the Russians is due to the ground having become hard as a result of the recent frost, which allows the attackers to use armored vehicles. According to him, the defenders have shot down dozens of vehicles. However, the pressure from the attackers remains high, also due to the use of the air force.
Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for over 21 months. The Ukrainian hinterland is attacked almost daily by Russian drones and missiles. The Ukrainian air defense has now been massively reinforced with Western aid.
Biden dampens Zelenskyi's expectations regarding US aid
Zelenskyi was in Washington for talks on further US military aid. It was his third visit to the US capital since the start of the Russian war of aggression in February 2022. He also met members of the US Congress - including leading Republicans. They are standing in the way of the approval of new aid because they are demanding more funding from Biden in return to protect the US southern border and stricter rules on migration policy. Selenskyj said that the signals from the talks were "more than positive". "But we know that we have to separate words from concrete results." However, the Republican Chairman of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, made it clear after the meeting that his party's line had not changed.
In concrete terms, this means that a possible approval of further aid is likely to be further delayed. Johnson maintained that he would soon be sending his MPs on their Christmas break. This is particularly problematic because, according to the White House, the US aid approved so far will be used up by the end of the year. It is noteworthy that Biden apparently deviated from his administration's previous language. He said: "We will continue to provide Ukraine with essential weapons and equipment for as long as we can." Previously, he had always emphasized that the US would support Ukraine "as long as it is necessary".
However, the US President never tired of warning in no uncertain terms against an American withdrawal. "Ukraine will emerge from this war proud, free and firmly rooted in the West, unless we leave." The topic of air defense was particularly close to Selensky's heart during his visit. He discussed this with Biden. "We want to win the air battle and break Russia's air superiority," said the Ukrainian President. Whoever controls the airspace controls the duration of the war. In response to criticism of the conduct of the war, Selensky said that there was a clear plan.
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, expressed gratitude to Vitali Klitschko for the quick response of emergency services after the rocket attack on Kiev, which targeted the city and damaged a children's hospital. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue their relentless attacks on Ukraine, with Vitaly Barabash, the head of the local military administration in Avdiivka, reporting intense fighting in the region. The region has been under siege for weeks, and the recent frost has allowed Russian troops to utilize armored vehicles in their attacks.
Source: www.stern.de
