Ukraine called on the international community on Friday to join all efforts to end the “Russian genocide of the Ukrainian people,” following an intense attack that left at least 18 people dead.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “no talk” about ceasefires, temporary ceding of territories, fatigue, negotiations and other concessions “will stop Russian aggression, but only increase its scale.”
“Russia is not considering any other scenario than the total destruction of Ukraine,” the department headed by Dmytro Kuleba said in the statement published on the ministry’s website.
Last Friday, Moscow carried out the biggest attack since it invaded Ukraine almost two years ago, killing 18 and wounding 132, according to a preliminary report.
Ukrainian authorities said Russia launched 122 missiles and 36 drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) at targets across Ukraine in an attack that lasted 18 hours.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have achieved “all objectives” planned during the intense attack launched at dawn.
“The crimes that Russia committed in Ukraine today are revenge for its failure to turn the tide of battle against the Ukrainian armed forces.” said the Kuleba ministry.
Ukrainian diplomacy thanked Ukraine’s Western allies for providing air and missile defense equipment.
“Today your help has saved many lives,” the ministry said.
The ministry emphasized that the only way to protect Ukrainians “is to provide Ukraine with all military and financial resources” necessary to defend itself.
“Russian terror must lose and Ukraine must win,” he added.
Ukraine’s Western allies have supplied weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces to fight Russian forces, who invaded the neighboring country on February 24, 2022.
After receiving new weapons, Ukraine launched a counter-offensive in June, but already acknowledged that the results were modest compared to the expectations raised.
Kiev has complained about the delay in decision-making on sending weapons, including air weapons, and has invested in the national defense industry to meet needs and prevent a possible drop in aid.
Source: DN
