According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine needs faster deliveries of weapons and new types of weapons in order to be able to withstand Russian attacks. The situation in Donetsk is very difficult given the ongoing attacks, Zelensky said in his evening audio message on Sunday. In particular, the cities of Bachmut and Wuhledar are still exposed to constant Russian shelling. Meanwhile, there were also attacks on the metropolises of Kharkiv and Cherson.
There are constant attempts by the Russians to break through the Ukrainian defense lines, the Ukrainian President said. Russia wants to prolong the war and exhaust Ukrainian forces. “So we must make time our weapon.” Kyiv must accelerate events. The speed of delivery of Western military goods must be increased, said Zelenskyj, who at the same time was optimistic. “2023 must and will definitely be the year of our victory!” he emphasized.
Zelenskyj had said the previous day that Ukraine needed longer-range missiles. Kyiv wants to forestall Russian attacks on Ukrainian settlements and civilians. Ukraine needs US-made ATACMS missiles that have a range of 185 miles (298 kilometers). Washington has so far refused to supply such weapons to Ukraine.
According to the authorities, a Russian rocket hit a residential building in the eastern city of Kharkiv. “According to current information, one person died when a Russian missile hit a residential building,” Gov. Oleg Synehubov wrote on Telegram on Sunday. Any other injuries would be treated. The rocket hit the central district of Kyiv. According to initial indications, it is a C-300 rocket. Information on injuries and damage is not yet available. According to a Archyde.com photo, the apartment building is on fire. Three people had previously been killed in Cherson by Russian airstrikes. Cherson was recaptured by Ukrainian forces in mid-November but continues to come under fire from the left bank of the Dnipro River by Russian forces.
The US, Germany and other Western countries want to strengthen Ukraine in its fight once morest Russia by supplying battle tanks. US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he would send 31 Abrams M1 tanks to Ukraine, correcting his government’s previous refusal. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in turn, decided that Germany should initially send 14 Leopard 2-A6 main battle tanks.
Immediately following the decision, however, a debate began regarding the supply of fighter jets to the beleaguered country. While Scholz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) ruled this out, SPD leader Saskia Esken did not want to commit. “It is very important that Germany and NATO do not become a party to the war,” she said on Sunday on the ARD program “Report from Berlin”. The German government is in very close coordination with the USA. It is crucial to keep evaluating the current situation, said Esken.
