Russian forces say Ukraine killed 20 civilians in Bakhmut
KYIV: Russian-backed forces in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region said on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces had blown up four residential buildings in the city of Bakhmut two days ago, killing 20 civilians, the TASS news agency reported.
In response, Serhiy Cherevatyi, a military spokesperson,accused Moscow of a “provocation.”
“This is another Russian information provocation with the goal of ... distracting (attention) from the crimes of the Wagner terrorist organisation,” Cherevatyi told Reuters, referring to the Wagner private military company fighting alongside Russian forces.
“Ukrainian service members absolutely adhere to all rules and doctrines of war fighting (and) never violate either national nor international law, especially regarding civilians.”
On Wednesday, the White House announced a new package of artillery ammunition for Ukraine as the pro-Western country gears up for an expected counter-offensive against Russian invasion.
Press Secretary Karine JeanPierre said the package will include ammunition for the HIMARS multiple rocket system and artillery rounds. Details were to come later from the Pentagon.The package, “as part of our ongoing efforts to help
Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s brutal invasion,” will “include more ammunition for US-provided HIMARS rocket systems and anti-armor systems, as well as additional artillery rounds,” Jean-Pierre said.
The United States is leading an unprecedented effort by NATO and other allied countries to supply Ukraine with weaponry and other aid as the country pushes back against a Russian onslaught that began in February 2022.
American-made Patriot missiles, which the US agreed to send in October, arrived in Ukraine, the country’s defence minister said on Wednesday, providing Kyiv with a longsought new shield against the Russian airstrikes that have devastated cities and civilian infrastructure.
The surface-to-air systems can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles such as those that Russia has used to bombard residential areas and the Ukrainian power grid.
The missiles are the latest contribution from Western allies, who have also pledged tanks, artillery and some types of fighter jets as Ukraine gears up for an expected counteroffensive.
“Today, our beautiful Ukrainian sky becomes more secure,” defence minister Oleksii Reznikov said in a tweet.
Reznikov thanked the United States, Germany and the Netherlands, without saying how many missile systems had been delivered or when they arrived.
Germany’s federal government website on Tuesday listed a Patriot system as among the military items delivered within the past week to Ukraine.
German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock confirmed that to lawmakers Wednesday in Berlin.
Germany has also delivered the second of four mediumrange IRIS-T air defense systems that it pledged last year, Baerbock said.
Kremlin critic Yashin loses appeal in widening crackdown
Kremlin critic Ilya Yashin on Wednesday lost an appeal against what his supporters say was a politically motivated decision to jail him for eight and a half years for criticising Moscow’s assault on Ukraine.
The former Moscow councillor’s appeal was rejected as authorities take a crackdown on freedoms in Russia to an unprecedented new level, with independent media shut down and key opposition figures behind bars or in exile.
Speaking in court, Yashin said he had been put behind bars for “speaking the truth” over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine and Russia.
“The sentence delivered against me is amazing: eight and a half years for a 20-minute speech on the internet,” he said.
“In prison, I met murderers, rapists, and robbers who have received lesser sentences for their crimes.”