Washington: The United States is providing Ukraine with additional military equipment worth $350 million (over Rs 26 billion) to fight Russia’s “brutal and unprovoked attack”. Foreign Minister Antony Blinken made this announcement on Saturday. “The package will provide more lethal defensive aid to help Ukraine respond to armored, aerial, and other threats,” Blinken said in a statement.
Blinken said the last time Russia began gathering troops along the border with its pro-Western neighbor, President Joe Biden authorized $60 million in immediate military aid to Ukraine, then in December last year, President Vladimir Another $200 million in aid was delivered in the form of Putin’s threat.
Curfew time extended in Kyev
Meanwhile, the curfew period has been extended in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv after night blasts and street riots. Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klichsko said a missile hit a high-rise building on the city’s southwest outskirts near one of Kyiv’s two passenger airports, damaging the building. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured. The mayor has extended the curfew period due to an attack by Russian troops in the city. He said that a strict curfew will be in force in Kyiv from 5 pm to 8 am.
Russia attacks Ukraine with cruise missiles
On the other hand, Russia’s military has said that it has attacked Ukrainian military bases with cruise missiles. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday that the army attacked several Ukrainian military installations with long-range Kalibr cruise missiles. Since the start of Russia’s offensive on Thursday, the military has targeted 821 military bases in Ukraine, including 14 airbases and 19 military command centers, he said. Along with this, 24 air defense missile systems, 48 radars, seven warplanes, seven helicopters, nine drones, 87 tanks, and eight military ships have been destroyed.
Konashenkov did not say how many Ukrainian soldiers were killed and did not mention any casualties on the Russian side. Ukraine also claims its military has killed thousands of Russian soldiers. The claim of either of the two countries could not be independently verified. Konashenkov claimed that Russian forces had taken full control of the southern city of Melitopol, about 35 kilometers from the Azov Sea coast, and said Russian-backed separatists had made significant advances in the area east of the Donbas.
