UKRAINE UPDATE
Russia launches major missile barrage, Kyiv and Lviv hit
Russia has launched another large-scale missile barrage against Ukraine, with major cities including the capital Kyiv and Lviv in the west near Poland coming under attack, according to officials and witnesses.
Ukraine’s Air Force command said on Facebook that Russia had fired cruise missiles from ships and strategic bombers, and officials reported missiles incoming across the country, including in Kharkiv in the east, Odesa in the south and Sumy to the north. Russia had launched more than 120 rockets in the latest assault, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said in a tweet.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, meanwhile, ruled out talks with Ukraine to end the war. The Kremlin won’t discuss demands that it withdraw from occupied lands and pay reparations, Lavrov said in an interview with state-run news service RIA Novosti. Ukraine should cede sovereignty over territories annexed by Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered the 24 February invasion, he said this week.
On the ground
Overnight, Russian forces hit energy infrastructure in Kharkiv with Iranian-made Shahed drones, Ukraine’s General Staff said on Facebook, adding that 11 of 13 unmanned aerial vehicles had been shot down by Ukrainian troops.
Read in Daily Maverick: “Zelensky sees gains on Russia in the east; Austria warns of blackout threat to Europe”
Several buildings, a gas pipeline and a power line were damaged in an attack on the Zaporizhzhia suburbs, Oleksandr Starukh, the regional governor, said on Telegram. Three Russian missile carriers are now on combat duty in the Black Sea, according to the Ukrainian southern command.
Residential buildings struck in Kyiv
Debris from downed missiles damaged two residential buildings in eastern Kyiv, as well as an industrial compound and playground in the centre, the city’s military administration said on Telegram.
Two people were rescued from a residential building and treated for injuries, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko, who warned that the city may experience problems with power supply and urged residents to charge their phones and stock up on water.
JPMorgan to extend refugee programme
JPMorgan Chase & Co’s Warsaw office is planning to extend a work and training programme for Ukrainian refugees for another year after hiring about 50 this summer.
Read in Daily Maverick: “Zelensky sees gains on Russia in the east; Austria warns of blackout threat to Europe”
The Wall Street firm expects to recruit a similar number – depending on the war situation – into its 1,200-person Warsaw office, following positive feedback from employees, Paul Brazier, a managing director in the Warsaw office, said.
French minister visits Kyiv
Sebastien Lecornu, France’s minister of armed forces, met Zelensky and other top Ukrainian officials in Kyiv on Wednesday to discuss additional military support and strengthening Ukraine’s air defences. DM/Bloomberg
Since putin appears intent on disabling Ukraine energy, it is time Ukraine responds by blowing up the gas pipelines that transport 40 million cubic meters PER DAY of putin gas to Europe. That is over a billion dollars a month that funds the Russian army. It might also focus the EU’s attention a bit more on giving Ukraine hardware that can take out the Russian sites attacking Ukraine from ten horizons away inside Russia.
Are you not forgetting that the EU is still (despite cut-backs !) mostly dependant on Russian gas for their energy ? It may explain their reluctance to really put their shoulder behind the wheel, in protecting Ukraine from a thug . The report about a French minister visiting Kyiv to “discuss” additional support is a perfect example … almost 9 months after Putin declared war … masquerading a special military operation ! Instead of having their nuclear facilities on alert (and setting up the others that do not have them yet) for a possible strike from the lunatic in Moscow … they are still DISCUSSING !