The Ukrainian military reportedly became aware of the location due to the high level of data traffic from cell phones. According to unconfirmed reports, the building was adjacent to an ammunition depot, causing devastating explosions.
For its part, Russia attacked Ukraine with combat drones on Monday night for the fifth consecutive night. There was an air alert in many parts of the country. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that the power infrastructure in the capital Kyiv was damaged again. There are power outages in the city, which also affected the heat supply.
International reactions of the day
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the BBC that NATO must be prepared to provide Ukraine with long-term support. Russia mobilized new forces. “It indicates that they are ready to continue the war and possibly try to launch a new offensive,” Stoltenberg said. Maintaining the weapons systems delivered to Ukraine is at least as important as the debate over other weapons.
“We need a huge amount of ammunition. We need spare parts.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the European Union’s long-term support for Ukraine. In a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, she “send my unreserved support and best wishes to the Ukrainian people for 2023,” the German politician wrote on Twitter. The payment of the 18 billion euros foreseen for 2023 will begin shortly.
According to former Bundeswehr and NATO general Hans Lothar Domrose there may be a ceasefire later this year. “I expect a stoppage at the beginning of the summer, when both sides will say: it’s no use now,” the German told newspapers of the Funke media group. Most likely, between February and May, a situation will arise “where both sides realize they are getting nowhere.”
Armistice is not peace
But that doesn’t mean peace for long. “A ceasefire means: we stop shooting. Negotiations are likely to take a long time, you need a mediator: perhaps UN Secretary General Guterres, Turkish President Erdogan or Indian President Modi – although no one is really imposing.”
foreign minister Alexandre Schallenberg (ÖVP) has high expectations of the new G20 presidency, India, as a possible mediator for the Ukraine peace talks. “I believe that India has an important role to play in this context,” Schallenberg said on Monday during a visit by Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Vienna. Jaishankar called for a return to dialogue and diplomacy. “We’re not that far away yet,” Schallenberg said.