DNIPRO, UKRAINE/KIEV, Jan 17 (Reuters) – Ukraine is one step closer to acquiring a modern main battle tank, announcing it as the first item on his new Defense Minister’s agenda on Monday.
More bodies were pulled from the rubble of an apartment block in downtown Dnipro on Tuesday, leaving 44 dead in the deadliest attack on civilians in a three-month Russian missile bombing campaign.
Dozens more are missing. Local authorities said 79 people were injured and 39 people were rescued from the rubble.
Almost 11 months after Russia invaded, Kyiv says a Western fleet of main battle tanks will give its forces the mobile firepower needed to rout Russian forces in a key battle in 2023. increase. The German-made Leopard main battle tank is widely regarded as the main battle tank of armies across Europe and the only plausible option for providing the large armored forces Ukraine needs. However, it is not possible to ship from Berlin, which has hitherto been stagnant, without permission.
Tens of thousands have died and millions have been displaced from their homes since Russia launched a so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine last February.
Ukrainian forces drove back Russian forces in her late 2022, but both sides have suffered heavy casualties in constant fighting, even though the front has been largely frozen for the past two months. Ukrainian officials say tanks are key to breaking the stalemate. Russia claims to have taken the small mining town of Soledar on the outskirts of the eastern city of Bakhmut last week. Kyiv said it was still fighting there.
“The situation is the same as yesterday. Our units are in Soledar and are constantly firing at the enemy,” said Ukrainian military spokesman Serhiy Cherevati.
Moscow, meanwhile, has since October turned to a tactic of dropping missiles far from the frontlines of Ukrainian cities, primarily targeting power infrastructure. Russia wants to limit Ukraine’s combat capabilities. According to Kyiv, the attacks were intended to harm civilians, a war crime, not for military purposes.
In Dnipro, residents left flowers and stuffed animals at a makeshift memorial near an apartment block destroyed in Saturday’s Russian missile attack.
The soldier staggered away, wiping away his tears, after placing flowers on the seats of the transport shelter that served as a temporary memorial to the victims. Candles were lit next to a growing pile of toys and bouquets.
“We’re here to see and pay our respects. The loss of life is very unfortunate,” said 63-year-old Victoria.
Moscow denies intentionally targeting civilians and blames Ukrainian air defense systems for the missile that hit the apartment building, while Kyiv claims an inaccurate Russian anti-ship missile was hit. But Ukraine has no defense against this.
Russia’s attempt to seize the initiative in the attack and war on Dnipro stressed the need for the West to “speed up decision-making” on arms supplies, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video speech Monday night.
Russia attacked Ukraine last February, citing Kyiv’s close ties with the West as a security threat. Ukraine and its Western allies call it a one-sided war to conquer land and impose Russia’s will on its neighbors.
