x
After the heaviest wave of Russian attacks for some time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is putting pressure on the western states. Further sanctions are needed to curb the fatal attacks - even the largest nuclear power plant in Europe was affected by the hail of rockets, he argued. According to Ukraine, hypersonic missiles may also have been used in the strike, which was primarily intended to hit the energy supply.
Zelenskyy calls for sanctions against Russia's nuclear industry after Thursday's rocket attacks© AFP/UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE
After the first sirens sounded in the early hours of the morning, an air alert was maintained throughout Ukraine for many hours on Thursday. As the local authorities finally announced, the wave of attacks hit energy plants in particular - in addition to Kiev, the regions of Kharkiv in the east and Odessa in the south of the country then complained about power outages.
Kyiv's military chief Serhiy Popko said the Russians also used the Kinzhal hypersonic missile in the attacks.
Related video: Moscow calls new attacks on Ukraine "revenge" (dpa)
Zelenskyj: Russians use nuclear plants for "terror" There must be more pressure on Russia, said Zelenskyj in his video message distributed every evening in Kiev on Thursday evening. He also criticized the fact that the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which was occupied by Russia, was again temporarily cut off from the power grid due to a rocket attack. "This is a critical situation," said Zelenskyj. Russia can therefore no longer be a reliable partner in the nuclear sphere.
“This means the faster Russia's nuclear industry is targeted by sanctions, the safer the world will be. A terrorist state cannot be allowed to use nuclear facilities anywhere in the world for terror,” said Zelenskyy, referring to Zaporizhia. The nuclear power Russia builds and operates nuclear power plants in numerous countries (e.g. in Hungary).
Power, heating and water failuresThe Ukrainian head of state complained that Russia's attacks on civilian infrastructure on Thursday caused power, heating and water supply failures in some regions and cities. Six people were also killed, Zelenskyj said. The situation is most difficult in Kharkiv and in the Zhytomyr region west of Kiev.
“It is not easy in Odessa, in the Dnepropetrovsk region, in Kiev and in Zaporizhia. Repair units, engineers, local authorities, the central services - everyone will work until the energy supply of the cities and regions is restored," he said. "No matter how insidious Russia's actions are, our state and people will still not be put in chains. Neither missiles nor Russian abominations will help,” Zelenskyy said.
Von der Leyen pledges support The head of state also informed about a phone call with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who had once again pledged support for Ukraine. Accordingly, Selenskyj also called for the expansion of sanctions against Russia during the conversation. At the same time, he once again emphasized that he was already expecting the start of accession negotiations for Ukraine's EU membership this year.
