The death toll from a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro has climbed to 18, officials said yesterday, while the UK said it would soon send a squadron of its main battle tanks to help Ukraine’s defense.
Britain said it would sent 14 Challenger 2 tanks, as well as other advanced artillery support, to Ukraine in the coming weeks.
The announcement came after new promises of weapons deliveries by France and Poland.
Photo: REUTERS
The first dispatch of Western-made tanks to Ukraine is likely to be viewed by Moscow as escalation of the conflict.
The Russian embassy in London said the tanks would drag out the confrontation.
Germany is now expected to come under pressure to follow suit, as Kyiv continues to plea for advanced military equipment.
Photo: AFP
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his advisers have “analyzed the military picture, looked at the strategic impact of the UK’s support and identified a window where he thinks the UK and its allies can have maximum impact,” a British government spokesperson said in a statement.
RUSSIAN STRIKE
Meanwhile, Dnipropetrovsk Governor Valentyn Reznichenko said that 73 people were injured in the attack on Dnipro, with 40 in hospital including four in intensive care.
Rescuers toiled through the night searching for survivors.
Emergency workers said earlier they had heard people screaming for help from underneath piles of debris.
“The rescue operation is ongoing. The fate of more than 40 people remains unknown,” Reznichenko said, adding that the attack had destroyed 72 apartments and damaged more than 230.
Ukraine’s top military command said Russia on Saturday launched three airstrikes, 57 missile strikes and carried out 69 attacks from heavy weapon rocket salvo systems.
Ukrainian forces shot down 26 rockets, it added.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow about the attacks, which represent Russia’s largest wave of strikes in two weeks and which came as Ukraine was observing the traditional Orthodox New Year’s holiday.
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