Die Classification of the famine in Ukraine, which was deliberately brought regarding 90 years ago, as genocide by Germany was expressly welcomed by the Ukrainian government.
“This is a decision for justice, for truth,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky in his daily video address on Wednesday evening. “And this is a very important signal for many other countries in the world that Russian revanchism will not succeed in rewriting history.”
With a large majority, the German MPs accepted a motion from the traffic light coalition and the Union faction on Wednesday, which spoke of an “inhuman crime”. Under the responsibility of the Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, up to four million people fell victim to the so-called Holodomor (“murder by hunger”) in 1932 and 1933 in Ukraine alone.
Selenski’s adviser Michajlo Podoljak also welcomed the Bundestag’s decision. “Germany, 2022. Openly names Russia as the murderer who is waging the war in Europe, recognizes the 1932-33 Holodomor as a genocide once morest the Ukrainian people, talks regarding the impossibility of an “unjust peace” on Russian terms,” Podoljak tweeted in German in the evening.
“We thank you for this strong German leadership position and hope for Leos.” In doing so, he confirmed Ukraine’s desire to receive German Leopard-type main battle tanks. In the Ukrainian version of his tweet, he also expressed hope for missile defense systems.
Selenski hopes for Patriots from Germany
The Ukrainian head of state continues to rely on the transfer of Patriot air defense systems from Germany. Such a decision by Berlin would be “historic”, said Selenski on Wednesday evening. “Generations of Ukrainians” would thank Chancellor Olaf Scholz for that. So far, the German Chancellor has only offered Patriot anti-aircraft systems to neighboring Poland to secure its airspace. However, Warsaw believes it makes more sense to be stationed on Ukrainian soil.
Kyiv: Russia prepares new attacks during “missile break”.
According to the Ukrainian armed forces, the Russian military has taken a “missile break” following the heavy attacks of the past few weeks. However, the Russian military is using this interruption to prepare new massed attacks, Vadim Skibizki, a representative of the Ukrainian military intelligence service, said on Wednesday. On the one hand, the Russian side is checking which targets are to be attacked, and on the other hand, the effect of previous attacks is being evaluated.
In addition, new missiles are being prepared for use, Skibizki said. “This will need time.” Since Russia has used up a large part of its combat-ready missiles, projectiles that were still being built in Soviet times are now being taken out of the arsenals and processed. Nevertheless, Russia is also using some modern missiles from the strategic reserve. The information might not be verified.
Rescue workers in front of the rubble of a destroyed house in Zaporizhia.
Photo: Keystone
For some time now, the Russian armed forces have been targeting objects of the energy infrastructure in order to put pressure on the Ukrainian population with the loss of electricity and water supplies.
Zelensky: Six million Ukrainians still without electricity
Despite feverish repairs to the electricity grid, around six million people in Ukraine are still without electricity. “Technicians and utility companies are doing everything they can to stabilize the system and give people more energy for longer,” said Selenski in the evening. But: “The situation in the capital and in the areas of Vinnytsia, Lviv, Odessa, Khmelnytskyi and Cherkassy remains very difficult.”
US government hopes to release more billions in spending
The US government is hoping that Congress will soon approve billions in additional spending to support Ukraine. National Security Council communications director John Kirby said Wednesday the government is detailing to members of Congress what the money will be used for. The government has asked Congress for an additional $37.7 billion to help Ukraine fight aggressor Russia.
Washington has mobilized huge sums of money to support Ukraine in recent months. In May, the US Congress approved funds totaling almost $40 billion, which were gradually distributed to Kyiv in various packages. The USA also delivered weapons and ammunition from its own military stocks, which now have to be increased.
