KIEV/MOSKAU (dpa-AFX) – With another wave of attacks, Russia hit important infrastructure facilities and other targets in Ukraine on Thursday. The Presidential Office in Kiev reported 36 rockets and cruise missiles during the night. According to media reports, the leadership there now wants to relocate parts of the energy infrastructure to underground bunkers and thus protect them from rockets. The European Parliament called on the 27 EU member states to seriously consider the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine. More weapons for Ukraine will also be a topic at the top-class security conference in Munich, which begins this Friday.
“Unfortunately there were hits in the north, west and in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovohrad regions,” said the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, after the Russian attacks. The Russian military has changed its tactics and is also using “false targets” to mislead the air defense. It remained unclear whether missiles without a warhead or balloons to deceive the radar were meant. The Ukrainian army command counted 16 missiles intercepted. The information could not be independently verified.
According to the authorities, at least one person died and several were injured in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region, and damage was caused to 50 houses and an industrial plant. Three rockets damaged infrastructure in the western Ukrainian region of Lviv. According to the Ukrainian Security Council, it expects another massive rocket attack on Thursday or Friday next week. February 24 marks the first anniversary of the beginning of the Russian war of aggression.
Since October, the Russian military has been using massive rocket attacks against substations and other power and water supply facilities in Ukraine – so-called critical infrastructure. In a pilot project, two of the country’s 90 large substations are to be moved underground by winter, according to the Ukrainian “Forbes” edition. According to estimates, relocating all the systems would take up to five years and cost billions.
On the part of the allies, arms aid for Kiev is currently the main reason for discussions. “Ukraine must not only be able to defend itself, but also regain full control over all of its internationally recognized territory,” the European Parliament said in a resolution. In addition, serious considerations are needed about the delivery of helicopters, missile systems and more ammunition. MEPs also called for accession talks between the EU and Ukraine to start later this year.
The US-based Institute for War Studies (ISW) says the Kremlin is unlikely to announce any major mobilization plans or other military initiatives in the coming days. From a Speech to the Nation, the President Wladimir Putin on February 21, the announcement of such steps should not be expected. The annual security conference begins this Friday in Munich. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), French President Emmanuel Macron and US Vice President Kamala Harris are expected. On March 3, Scholz will then visit US President Joe Biden in the White House.
Biden is already traveling to Poland, which borders Ukraine, next week. In addition to meetings with President Andrej Duda and representatives of other Eastern European NATO countries, Biden is planning a speech there in which he once again wants to assure Ukraine of long-term support. Last year alone, around 1.1 million people came to Germany from the Ukraine. The Federal Statistical Office announced that net immigration from the attacked country amounted to 962,000 people./mk/ast/jac/mfi/bk/ctt/jro/DP/jha