live blog
According to the military, several energy supply systems were damaged in air strikes on southern Ukraine. The USA warns China of the consequences of Russian territorial gains in Ukraine. All developments in the live blog.
According to the Kiev military, several energy supply systems in the south of Ukraine were damaged in Russian air strikes during the night. An unspecified power supply object was hit in the port city of Odessa on the Black Sea. A fire broke out at an energy facility in the Mykolaiv region, the military press office for southern Ukraine said on its Telegram channel. How severe the damage is still needs to be determined. The information cannot currently be independently verified.
Hatched: territories occupied by Russia
According to a media report, the federal government wants to support Ukraine in setting up a type of development bank based on the model of the German Credit Union for Reconstruction (KfW). According to the “Rheinische Post”, this emerges from a key points paper with 15 measures “to mobilize the private sector for the reconstruction of Ukraine”, which is to be decided in the cabinet today. Accordingly, the Ukrainian “Business Development Fund”, the central state instrument for supporting small and medium-sized businesses in the country, is to be further developed into a full national funding institution for Ukraine.
Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) told the newspaper that very good experiences have been had with the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau in Germany, referring to the economic miracle in the 1950s and 1960s. “We can also bring this experience into the reconstruction of Ukraine. We are already in discussions with the Ukrainian government about such an institute.”
According to its military, Ukraine was attacked again with drones by Russia during the night. 14 of a total of 17 drones fired by the Russian armed forces were shot down and destroyed, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said on the short message service. The anti-aircraft forces also destroyed two Ch-59 guided missiles that Russia fired at the port city of Odessa on the Black Sea.
Conflict parties as a source
In the current situation, information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian parties to the conflict cannot be directly verified by an independent body.
The US has warned China that it will hold the country responsible for Russian territorial gains in Ukraine. US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell warned that Russian territorial gains could change the balance of power in Europe “in a way that is frankly unacceptable.” The US will see this not just as “Russian activities, but as a joint set of activities supported by China, but also by North Korea,” he said.
“We’ve told China directly that if this continues, it will impact U.S.-China relations. We’re not going to sit idly by and say everything’s fine,” Campbell said. “This is contrary to our interests.”
The US State Department has given the green light for foreign arms deliveries to Ukraine worth 138 million dollars (a good 127 million euros). This is intended to make important spare parts for repairs to “Hawk” missile systems possible, as the government announced. This maintenance is urgently needed to keep the system operational. “Hawk” is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system used for air defense. Ukraine urgently needs to improve its defense capabilities against Russian missile attacks, the Foreign Ministry said. “Hawk” could help defend the Ukrainian population and protect important national infrastructure.
In March, the US Department of Defense announced $300 million in ammunition aid to Ukraine. Both the State and Defense departments are looking for ways to continue support for Ukraine while a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine sits on hold in Congress.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyj visited the Kharkiv region, which has recently been particularly heavily attacked by Russia. Another drone attack on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has been reported.