HANDOUT – After the Russian rocket attack on the apartment building in Dnipro, firefighters from Ukraine’s civil protection rescue survivors from the rubble. People are still missing. Photo: Pavel Petrov/State Emergency Service of Ukraine/AP/dpa – ATTENTION: For editorial use only in connection with the current reporting and only with full naming of the above credits
This was announced by the Ukrainian authorities. The military governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Valentyn Resnichenko, had previously spoken of 35 dead. More bodies were recovered from the rubble during the night. Dozens of people are still missing. Part of the nine-storey house collapsed after a rocket hit on Saturday.
While in Berlin there was puzzling over the successor to the previous Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for more German weapons for Ukraine during a visit to Berlin. During a visit to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke out in favor of bringing Russian President Vladimir Putin before a special tribunal over his war of aggression.
75 injured in hit block of flats
Saturday’s wave of Russian missile attacks had devastating consequences in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Because there was frost, hardly any survivors were suspected in the ruins of the collapsed block of flats. “The search for the people under the rubble continues,” said military governor Resnichenko. He put the number of injured at 75, including 14 children. More than 100 people survived the collapse of the house.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said on Sunday that the fight for every human life would continue. “And the rescue work will continue as long as there is even the slightest chance of saving a life.” From the EU’s point of view, the attack shows Russian barbarism and brutality, said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brussels.
Kremlin denies guilt
The Kremlin denied any responsibility for the many deaths. “Russia’s armed forces are not attacking residential buildings or objects of social infrastructure,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Russian news agency. Kiev officials said themselves that the tragedy was caused by Ukrainian air defenses, Peskov said.
Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Oleksiy Arestovych said the Russian missile may have been shot down and fell on the house. But this is only one possible explanation, he clarified. The Ukrainian Air Force stated that it was unable to intercept the type of missile used. Despite Moscow’s protestations, Russian shells have already killed many civilians in the nearly 11-month war of aggression.
Morawiecki wants approval for Leopard 2 tank
In Berlin, Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki called for German support for further arms deliveries to Ukraine. “A defeat in Ukraine could be the prelude to a third world war,” he said at an event organized by the Union faction. There is therefore no reason to block aid for Kyiv.
Before the trip, he had announced that he wanted to hold talks about the delivery of Leopard 2 main battle tanks. Poland and several other EU countries are ready to help Ukraine with German-made tanks. However, Berlin has so far blocked itself from sending Leopard 2 or allowing other countries to deliver it. Morawiecki said he couldn’t imagine Berlin’s approval not being granted quickly.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, has criticized Britain’s announcement that it would give Ukraine 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks. “We take it very negatively,” said spokesman Peskow. Moscow repeatedly claims that Western arms shipments only prolong the suffering in Ukraine. Ukraine, on the other hand, sees foreign military aid as the only way to defend its sovereignty against the Russian invaders.
Baerbock wants a special tribunal against Putin
Foreign Minister Baerbock wants to hold the Russian leadership to account for the war of aggression in Ukraine with an international special court. The court outside Ukraine should derive its case law from Ukrainian criminal law, the Green politician made clear in a keynote speech at the Hague Academy of International Law. The tribunal should be able to investigate and try the Russian leadership. Even before a possible trial, the threat of a special tribunal is intended to deter Russian politicians and the military from committing further crimes in Ukraine.
New billions in aid for Kyiv from Brussels
Ukraine will receive a new EU aid loan of three billion euros this Tuesday. As announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he is part of a loan program totaling 18 billion euros. It was agreed by the EU member states in December for this year. Helping Ukraine deal with its financing needs is essential and urgent in the face of Russian aggression, von der Leyen commented. With the new financial aid, the EU wants to enable the Ukrainian state to continue paying wages and pensions.