Once again, people in large parts of Ukraine are roused from their sleep by explosions. There are dead and injured - even in the center of Kyiv. In addition to missiles, Moscow is apparently increasingly relying on combat drones this time. There are also Russian attacks in the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Odessa regions. The 236th day of the war at a glance.
Drones on Kyiv
A week after the heavy rocket attacks against Ukraine, Russia again attacked the neighboring country with airstrikes on Monday in the middle of the morning rush hour. Several people died, many were injured. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of state terrorism. His government called for the early delivery of Western air defense systems and a new package of sanctions against Russia. The attacks sparked international outrage. A total of five impacts shook the metropolis in the course of the morning. An explosion tore a large hole in a multi-story apartment building not far from the main train station. Stones flew through the air, thick smoke rose. According to official information, a total of four people were killed in the building, including a pregnant woman. Selenskyj and Klitschko called on people to continue to stand together in the difficult times. "The enemy can attack our cities, but he will not break us," Zelenskyy wrote on the Telegram news channel.
The new UN human rights commissioner Volker Türk called the new attacks "deeply disturbing". Civilian objects and civilians should not be attacked. But that is "very difficult" in densely populated urban areas, said the Austrian after taking office in Geneva.
Moscow reports missile strikes against energy infrastructure
After the explosions in Kyiv and other cities, Russia confirmed renewed missile attacks on the country. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that missiles launched from the sea and from the air were used to strike the neighboring country's energy infrastructure and military facilities. "All targeted objects were hit," said ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov. On the other hand, in the capital Kyiv, for example, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that most of the attacks had been intercepted by the Ukrainian air defenses. There were also reports of Russian attacks from the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Odessa regions on Monday. In Moscow, ministry spokesman Konashenkov said ammunition depots had been hit in some areas. The Kharkiv and Donetsk regions were also shelled. In the Mykolayiv area, a fuel depot and a repair shop with the military were destroyed.
Ukraine and Russia exchange prisoners
Both sides once again exchanged many prisoners. 108 captured Ukrainian soldiers and civilians returned to their homeland, according to the Presidential Office of Ukraine in Kyiv. "Ukraine is not letting anyone down," wrote Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak on Telegram. On the Russian side, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow and the separatists in Donetsk confirmed the homecoming of 110 prisoners. These included 72 Russian seamen from civilian ships who had been held in Ukraine since the war began in February.
Russian military plane crashes over residential area near Ukraine
At least two people were killed when a Russian military plane crashed over a residential area in the south-west of the country. The machine crashed over the city of Yeisk near the border with Ukraine, as reported by Russian news agencies, citing the Ministry of Defense in Moscow. The Sukhoi-34 machine crashed into the yard of a residential complex and the plane's fuel caught fire, the ministry said, according to the agencies. Images published on online networks showed a burning apartment building.
Melnyk successor remains true to line
The designated new ambassador of Ukraine in Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, expects his country to win in the defense against the Russian invasion. "The German people support Ukraine so strongly that I am sure that we will win the war together with Germany and all other European partners! The faster the better," he told the "Bild" newspaper. He and his embassy team would "contribute enormously to victory every day," he assured.
Government critic Ovsyannikova fled Russia with her daughter
The Russian television journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who became known for her live protest against the military operation in Ukraine, fled Russia with her daughter. "Ovzyannikova and her daughter have left Russia," her lawyer Dmitry Sakhatov told AFP. "They are in Europe now. They are fine." According to her lawyer, Ovsyannikova had left the apartment where she was under house arrest in Russia before fleeing abroad. Ovsyannikova will speak publicly about her escape at a later date, "but it's not certain at the moment," Sakhatov said.
Two weeks ago, Ovzyannikova was put on a wanted list in Russia, suggesting the 44-year-old had gone into hiding. Charges were brought against Ovzyannikova in August for "spreading misinformation" about the Russian army. You face up to ten years in prison.
EU foreign ministers decide on new Ukraine mission
The foreign ministers of the European Union decided on a military training mission for Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on the fringes of the Foreign Council in Luxembourg that she should help the Ukrainian armed forces to continue their "brave fight" against Russia. As suggested by Borrell, EU countries also increased military aid to Ukraine. According to him, a total of 3.1 billion euros is now available, around 500 million euros more than before.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had previously confirmed that around 15,000 soldiers from Ukraine should be trained on EU territory. According to reports, Germany wants to train around 5,000 soldiers. The EU wants "to give Ukraine the best possible support in exercising its right to self-defense," emphasized Baerbock.
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