The first toll from the Russian raid launched in recent hours on a hypermarket in Kharkiv, in north-eastern Ukraine, is at least two dead and 25 injured. A spokesperson for the fire brigade made this known, explaining that the two victims worked inside the affected shop. Four people are still missing, he said.
Zelensky: “We must strengthen air defense”
The news of the bombing of “a construction hypermarket in broad daylight in Kharkiv” was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a post on X, stating that “there are people killed and injured” and reiterating that “if Ukraine had sufficient air defense systems and modern fighter planes, Russian attacks like this would have been impossible”.
Zelensky returns to appeal “to all leaders, to all states: we need significantly improved air defense and sufficient capabilities to destroy Russian terrorists. This is a task that must be accomplished and can only be accomplished together with the world”. Furthermore, he concludes, “every day we ask the world to provide us with air defense and to save our people. Every decision not made to support us results in the loss of our people.”
28 officers involved in criminal investigation for failure to defend Kharkiv region
Meanwhile, around thirty Ukrainian officers have been involved in a criminal investigation following the failure of the country’s defense in the face of the offensive launched by Moscow’s forces in the Kharkiv region in the middle of this month. The officers, who are part of the command of the 125th brigade of the 415th rifle battalion, the 23rd mechanized brigade and other units, are accused of failing to organize the defense of the border with Russia appropriately. The fortifications ordered by the region’s governor, Oleh Syniehubov, were not built.
New 275 million military aid package from the USA
The United States has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine of 275 million dollars, which will include ammunition, missiles, mines and artillery shells, announced the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, specifying that the package “It’s part of our effort to help Kiev repel the Russian assault near Kharkiv.”
Putin announces: “Increased weapons production”
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced “a 14-fold increase in the production of ammunition, a four-fold increase in drones and a 3.5-fold increase in armored weapons”. This was reported by the Tass news agency. At the opening of a meeting with defense industry entrepreneurs, the Kremlin leader stressed that “we must always stay one step ahead of the enemy and victory will come.”
He asked defense contractors to be “always in contact with our guys who work on the front lines of the fighting, who fight without sparing themselves and protect Russia’s interests.”
