Many regions in Ukraine are currently under constant Russian fire. People are running for their lives, like Nadja and her neighbors. Another deadly danger: Russian mines.
Sirens, Russian attacks, the sound of Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense, the screaming, crying or the shoveling away of rubble and rubble by helpers and the Ukrainian disaster service – that is the sound that accompanied people in Ukraine at the turn of the year.
More than 18,500 injured and around 10,000 dead – according to the UN, that is how many civilians have been wounded or killed since the start of the major Russian invasion almost two years ago. By Russian artillery – in towns along the front lines in the south and east, or in areas bordering Russia in the northeast such as Chernihiv and Sumy. There in Krolevets this week, a Russian drone of Iranian design also struck near Nadia’s house.
“We ran”
“We were standing outside with the police when the air alarm went off. We ran and I fell in the yard. I saw the drone flying lower above me and thought: This is the end.” Then she suddenly turned away. She heard it bang. “The neighbors are no more, I thought.” Black smoke rose. “I then got up and continued running and the next drone followed me. We are peaceful people.” There are no military facilities anywhere here. “I don’t even know why they targeted us so much,” says Nadja.
Hatched: territories occupied by Russia
It lacks at Air defense systems
Other regions of Ukraine are also under constant Russian fire. Be it the Kherson region in the south or the Kharkiv region in the east of the country. Unlike Kiev, there are no modern anti-aircraft systems in Kharkiv, among other places. This is the biggest deficit, said President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to Lithuania.
“We should take the Russian President’s rhetoric seriously. He will not stop, but wants to occupy the whole of Ukraine. If our partners show uncertainty when it comes to quick financial and military aid, then this encourages and strengthens the Russian Federation. And that is why this must not happen at all case will be delayed,” Zelenskyi warned.
Missiles hit Children’s Hospital
In the Kharkiv region, missiles and drones often strike before the siren can warn. From there it is just around 30 kilometers to the border with Russia. Shortly before New Year’s Eve, Moscow fired 20 missiles at the eastern metropolis, and in the first days of January drones and missiles destroyed more than 130 buildings.
S-300 rockets also hit Kharkiv on Tuesday evening. It hit a children’s hospital. The building is destroyed, but it was empty and no one was injured or killed. According to the regional military administration, the attack was launched from Russia’s Belgorod region.
Russia is mining the area
Meanwhile, the fighting continues. The Ukrainian General Staff said this week that things were difficult in the south and east. Also around Bakhmut or Avdiivka in the Donetsk region – a place that has now been completely destroyed and which the Russian attackers have been trying to encircle for months. Ukrainian positions and towns are under Russian fire from air strikes or multiple rocket launchers. However, numerous Russian attacks were repelled.
Russia would continue to mine everything heavily, said a minesweeper in the Ukrainian army. “We do this for the safety of people, to enable safe movement for both civilians and military operations. The mines are all insidious, but the most insidious are homemade explosive devices. Maybe luck, feeling, intuition is the best, you have to do all of that intuitively understand, see. That’s probably the best.”
Mobilization bill causes controversy
Many soldiers have been deployed since the beginning of the major Russian invasion and the army leadership wants to mobilize up to 500,000 men in the coming years. The topic of mobilization is causing heated debates and there are accusations that men are being drafted against their will.
The government has introduced a bill on mobilization and so has the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense. President Zelensky said: “As far as the people are concerned, I need concrete information here, because the question arises as to what will happen to such a Ukrainian army of millions. We have questions about rotation, we have questions about vacation, and this should be a “It should be a comprehensive plan. And in this mobilization law they must give me and, above all, society answers.”
The Ukrainian parliament wants to discuss the law this week.
Andrea Beer, ARD Kiev, tagesschau, January 10, 2024 4:00 p.m