At least six individuals have been killed throughout Ukraine Saturday when Russia launched greater than 620 drones and long-range missiles, whereas Kyiv introduced it was nearing a deal to amass further Patriot air protection techniques.
“The Russians continue to use their specific tactics of terror against our country, striking concentrated blows at one city or another, at one region or another,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned in his night deal with.
Moscow has stepped up aerial strikes over latest months as U.S.-led cease-fire talks have stalled.
“Twenty-six cruise missiles and 597 attack drones were launched, of which more than half were ‘Shaheds,'” Zelenskyy mentioned, referring to Iranian-made drones.
The Ukrainian air pressure mentioned it had downed 319 Shahed drones and 25 missiles, including that one missile and about 20 drones had hit “five locations.”
Zelenskyy mentioned the strikes had killed at the very least two individuals and wounded 20 within the southwestern Chernivtsi area, removed from the entrance strains of the east and south.
Twelve individuals have been wounded in Lviv, additionally within the west, whereas within the east, two individuals died in Dnipropetrovsk and three have been wounded in Kharkiv, native officers mentioned.
Russia additionally “dropped two guided aerial bombs on the homes of civilians” within the northeastern Sumy area, killing two, the native prosecutors’ workplace mentioned.
‘Deliberate and despicable’
Zelenskyy mentioned that a few of the drones despatched by Russia had been “simulators” supposed to “overload the air-defense system and make it more difficult to shoot down the ‘suicide drones.’ This is their deliberate and despicable terror.”
The Russian Defense Ministry mentioned it had focused firms in Ukraine’s military-industrial advanced in Lviv, Kharkiv and Lutsk and a navy aerodrome.
In a video message, Zelenskyy mentioned “we are close to reaching a multi-level agreement on new Patriot systems and missiles for them.” Ukraine was stepping up manufacturing of its personal interceptor techniques, he added.
U.S. particular envoy Keith Kellogg is because of start his newest go to to Ukraine on Monday as a Washington-led peace effort flounders. U.S. President Donald Trump additionally mentioned he would make a “major statement … on Russia” on Monday.
On Friday, the Kremlin restated its opposition to a European peacekeeping pressure in Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned Kyiv’s allies had a plan “ready to go … in the hours after a cease-fire.”
Trump referred to as Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin final week however mentioned afterwards that there had been no progress towards ending the conflict.
The Kremlin mentioned Putin wouldn’t hand over on Russia’s conflict objectives however would nonetheless proceed to participate in negotiations.
Moscow says its goal in Ukraine is to do away with the “root causes” of the battle and has demanded that Kyiv hand over its NATO ambitions.
Weapons, sanctions
Washington’s announcement earlier this month that it might pause some armament deliveries to Ukraine was a blow to Kyiv, which is reliant on Western navy assist.
On Saturday, Zelenskyy urged his Western allies to ship “more than just signals” to cease the conflict launched by Russia in February 2022.
“The pace of Russian air strikes requires swift decisions and it can be curbed right now through sanctions,” he mentioned on social media.
Zelenskyy particularly demanded penalties for many who “help Russia produce drones and profit from oil.”
Oil exports are essential for the Russian economic system, particularly within the face of present Western sanctions.
Sanctions imposed on Russia – the world’s largest fertilizer producer – after the invasion spared its grain and fertilizer exports.
But costs skyrocketed, fueling fears of meals insecurity.
The United Nations signed a cope with Russia in July 2022 to facilitate exports of meals and fertiliser to restrict international value will increase.
But on Friday, it mentioned the accord wouldn’t be renewed when it expires on July 22.
Russia has repeatedly complained that the settlement does little to guard it from secondary sanctions.
Source: www.dailysabah.com