As a result of Russia’s attack on a building in Dnieper, the number of dead has reached 20
Rescuers tried to find survivors Sunday morning in the ruins of a building in Dnieper, eastern Ukraine, where the death toll rose to 20 as a result of a Russian strike a day earlier.
“Twenty innocent victims,” Valentin Reznichenko, head of the Dnepropetrovsk regional military administration, said on Telegram, adding that 73 people were injured.
“Rescue operations are ongoing. The fate of more than 40 people remains unknown,” he added.
In a video posted by the Ukrainian rescue services on Facebook and Telegram, it was shown that the rescuers were digging through the ruins of the building overnight.
An earlier report released overnight said at least 14 people, including a 15-year-old girl, had been killed and 64 injured in the bombing of the building. Later, rescuers were able to pull out 38 survivors from the rubble.
According to the Ukrainian presidency, as a result of this strike, 100-200 people became homeless, and approximately 1,700 residents of the city of Dnipro were left without electricity and heat.
In the south, in Kryvyi Rig, one person was killed and another injured when apartment buildings were destroyed by the strike, according to an official report.
The headquarters of the Ukrainian army said that on Saturday, “the enemy launched a total of three aerial and about fifty missile strikes during the day.” In addition, the invaders organized 50 attacks with multiple rocket launchers.
According to Ukrainian authorities, power outages have affected most parts of the country following these new Russian attacks on electricity generating facilities.
“Is it possible to stop Russian terrorism? Yes, it is possible. Can it be done other than on the battlefield in Ukraine? Unfortunately, no,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented. “The world must stop this evil,” he pleaded.
Neighboring Moldova claimed to have found rocket remains on its territory, near the village of Larga in the north. “Russia’s merciless war against Ukraine has affected Moldova again,” the country’s president, Maia Sandu, protested.
– Heavy tanks –
Great Britain on Saturday promised to deliver 14 heavy “Challenger 2” tanks to Ukraine “in the coming weeks”.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Mr Zelensky in a phone call that the delivery “reflects the UK’s ambition to increase its support for Ukraine”.
Thus, Great Britain became the first country to undertake to send this type of armored vehicle to Ukraine. Mr. Zelensky thanked London for its decisions “which will not only strengthen us on the battlefield, but also send the right signal to other partners.”
The announcement provoked a reaction from Russian diplomacy, which believed that the shipment of weapons “will in no way hasten the end of hostilities, but will intensify them and cause new victims.”
Kyiv has already received about 300 Soviet-designed heavy tanks from its allies, but not yet Western-made.
Poland had already indicated on Wednesday that it was ready to hand over 14 German-designed Leopard 2 heavy tanks, which required Berlin’s approval.
A number of Western nations have also recently announced deliveries of lighter infantry or reconnaissance tanks.
– Soledar holds, assures Kiev –
On the frontline, the eastern Ukrainian city of Soledar is still “under Ukrainian control,” with Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kirilenko saying on Saturday that “fighting continues inside the city and outside.”
He said on television that it and the region near Bakhmout remain the “hottest” points of the conflict.
AFP journalists saw rescue teams treating wounded Ukrainians near Soledar on Saturday.
“The situation is difficult, but the Ukrainians are holding their ground,” said rescuer Vadim, who helped evacuate a soldier who was shot in the leg.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that Soledar’s “release” took place “in the evening of January 12”.
Fighting in and around the city has been going on for several months, but the intensity has increased dramatically in recent days.
Its capture by Moscow forces would be a significant victory for Russia after the setbacks recorded by its troops in recent months.
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