Russia is attacking cities from eastern to western Ukraine, the largest attack in more than a month
Russian missiles struck cities across Ukraine early Thursday morning, setting fires, killing at least two people and trapping others under rubble, according to Ukrainian authorities. The early morning rocket attack was Russia’s largest in more than a month and came a day after reports of sabotage at a Russian military air base in Chkalovsk, near Moscow. (September 21) (AP video: Vasilisa Stepanenko)
AP
At least five people were killed and dozens injured in a spate of rocket and artillery attacks across Ukrainian cities early Thursday. This appeared to support President Volodymyr Zelensky’s claim at the United Nations that Russia is a “terrorist state.”
Moscow’s biggest salvo in more than a month came on a day when Zelensky sought to win support in Washington while losing military support from neighboring Poland due to a growing trade dispute.
The widespread Russian attack left five people dead and 10 injured in southern Kherson province, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Seven people were injured in Kiev and 11 injured in the central city of Cherkasy as damaged buildings, including a hotel, were turned into tons of rubble. Of the affected areas, only Kherson is close to the front line.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it hit military targets with precision-guided missiles and drones, but at least six attacks in the northeastern city of Kharkiv had an impact on civilian infrastructure, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
Marharyta Moldokova, 76, railed against Russian President Vladimir Putin after taking refuge in her home in Kiev, where a window shattered.
“God, we can’t wait for someone to shoot him,” she said. “Everything is not enough for him. … What does he need?”
Developments:
∎ Ukraine’s new Black Sea shipping corridor scored its first success as the cargo ship Resilient Africa, which left the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk earlier this week, arrived at Turkey’s Bosphorus on Thursday with 3,000 tons of wheat. Since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain agreement in mid-July, Ukraine has been looking for an efficient and safe export route.
∎ Russia said it repelled attacks from 22 drones overnight, 19 of them over Crimea.
∎ Belgium, which committed last week to training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft, said it would consider sending the fighters to Kiev for combat or training. So far, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway have agreed to provide the jets.
As he tries to persuade Congress to approve President Joe Biden’s $24 billion in military and humanitarian aid for his country, Zelensky is facing a significant problem closer to home.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland, a neighbor that has welcomed millions of Ukrainian refugees and has been a steadfast ally since the war began, said late Wednesday that his country would no longer send weapons to Ukraine.
Morawiecki said the reason was Poland’s desire to modernize its military because of fears of Russian aggression, but an escalating trade dispute and pressure from a rival party in upcoming elections were the backdrop for the decision.
Government spokesman Piotr Müller clarified on Thursday that Poland is now only supplying ammunition and weapons to which it had previously agreed, pointing out that “a number of absolutely unacceptable statements and diplomatic gestures have occurred on the Ukrainian side.”
After Poland, Hungary and Slovakia announced a new import ban on Ukrainian grain last week, saying they wanted to protect their farmers from a glut that drove down prices, Ukraine filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he believes Poland will continue to support Ukraine. Asked by a Polish reporter whether he was afraid of losing Poland as a friend, Zelensky said in English: “I would like to thank the Polish people and society for their support. That’s all.”
Contributor: Francesca Chambers
Zelensky’s second visit to Congress in less than a year was greeted with greater skepticism than the heroic reception he received in December, when Democrats still controlled the House of Representatives.
While right-wing Republicans are flexing their muscles in negotiations over a spending bill, they showed no interest Thursday in funding the U.S. military, let alone the Ukrainian one. A small group of Republicans prevented a Pentagon budget proposal from even getting to debate in the House of Representatives.
Despite Zelensky’s stop in Washington, which included a bipartisan meeting with a group of House Democrats and a meeting of all senators, President Joe Biden will face an uphill battle to get his $24 billion request for military and humanitarian aid approved Ukraine have.
Before meeting Zelensky, a coalition of 28 Republican senators and representatives signed a letter saying: “It would be an absurd abdication of Congress’s responsibility to grant this request.”
Asked after a meeting with Zelensky at the White House whether he was confident the package would be approved, Biden said: “I count on the good judgment of the US Congress. There is no alternative.”
− Ken Tran and Francesca Chambers
Contribution: The Associated Press