BB.lv: 97 percent of Russian strikes are against civilian targets,

97 percent of Russian strikes once morest targets on Ukrainian territory hit civilian infrastructure, and their total yield since the beginning of 2024 has exceeded nine kilotons, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Thursday, March 28, at an extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, which was held on initiative of the Ukrainian side.

“Only three percent of these Russian missiles, drones and guided bombs hit military targets,” Umerov wrote on his Facebook page. According to him, the main attention during the last meeting was focused on the massive airstrikes by Russian troops that have been taking place recently, and the need to strengthen Ukrainian air defense. Umerov “provided a detailed overview of the urgent needs of Ukraine’s air defense.”

The head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine cited data from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, according to which “712 of the 1,804 civilian casualties confirmed by the UN over the past three months were victims of missile attacks and loitering munitions.”

NATO confirmed that it seeks to strengthen Ukraine’s defense

“Allies strongly condemned the escalation of Russian airstrikes and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Ukraine’s defense,” said a statement published the same day on the NATO-Ukraine Council website. It is noted that the meeting was held at the ambassadorial level; Deputy Secretary General of the Alliance Mircea Joana was also present, and Rustem Umerov joined the meeting via videoconference.

According to Joana, “Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure demonstrate the urgent need for our continued support.” It is also indicated that, as part of its ongoing support for Ukraine, France will soon send there additional Caesar howitzers (their number is not specified. – Ed.), and “a number of allies have joined the Czech Republic’s initiative to purchase an additional 800 thousand units of artillery shells.”

The NATO-Ukraine Council was created at the alliance’s July 2023 summit and provides a forum for consultation, decision-making and joint activities between NATO and Ukraine.