DNIPRO/KYIV, Ukraine, Jan 16 (Reuters) – The death toll from a Russian missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro rose to 40 on Monday with dozens more missing, making it the deadliest civilian incident of Moscow’s three-month campaign of hurling missiles at cities far from the front. Germany’s Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht resigned on Monday after remarks over the war criticised as tone deaf, setting the stage for what is expected to be one of the most important weeks in outlining Western military support for Kyiv.
Heavy diplomacy is expected over the next week to secure additional weapons for Kyiv, focusing on Germany’s reluctance to supply tanks and shipments from allies. France, the United States and Germany pledged to provide armored fighting vehicles this month, but Western countries have so far stopped offering main battle tanks.
Britain broke that taboo by offering the Challengers relay over the weekend. Moscow accuses the West of escalating the conflict, but Russia says its supply of tanks will not affect the course of the war.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that British tanks “will burn like any other tank”.
Eastern and Central European NATO allies rely primarily on German Leopards. It is considered the most suitable Western tank to form the core of the new Ukrainian armored forces. Poland and Finland said last week they wanted to send them, but that would require Berlin’s approval. But despite heavy fighting in which both sides are believed to have suffered heavy casualties, the front line has largely frozen over the past two months. , would give its troops a chance to breach Russia’s defenses.
Moscow claimed last week to capture the eastern salt-mining town of Soledar in what would be its biggest battlefield success since last August. Kyiv said it still had a presence in the city and continued fighting. Ukraine’s Western allies say the battle for Soleda, with its pre-war population just below his 10,000, is unlikely to have much greater impact. it’s ahead. Ukraine has warned that Moscow may be planning new attacks in the coming weeks, including allowing Russia to use its territory as a base. Russia and Belarus launched joint military air exercises on Monday. Minsk said the exercises were defensive and did not participate in the war.
