Kuleba makes dramatic demands on allies
Von t-online, dpa, afp, Reuters
Updated on 05/13/2023 – 12:13 p.mReading time: 46 min.
Hard to beat in combat: However, the use of the M1 Abrams main battle tank poses enormous challenges, as a retired colonel shows in the video. (What: t-online)
Day 443 since the beginning of the war: Two rockets have landed in Luhansk. Volodymyr Zelenskyj calls for sanctions against Russia’s defense industry. All information in the blog.
The most important things at a glance
Embed
Borrell: Ukraine needs 1,000 artillery shells a day in Bakhmut
12:11 p.m.: EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has urged EU states to speed up deliveries of ammunition to Ukraine. The Ukrainian armed forces needed around 1,000 artillery shells a day just for the fight in the area around the town of Bakhmut, Borrell said on Saturday on the sidelines of an EU meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Sweden. This demonstrates the intensity of the fighting, but also the firepower of the Russian attackers.
Borrell welcomed the announcement of new German arms deliveries to Ukraine. “This is very good news”, said the Spaniard. He invites all Member States to follow this example.
According to Borrell, it is particularly important that Ukraine gets weapons and ammunition with a longer range. “The Russians are bombing from a great distance. Therefore, Ukrainians must have the ability to reach the same distance”he said.
Eleven injured after Russian drone strikes
11.40 a.m.: Ukraine has reported numerous new Russian drone strikes and several explosions in western Ukraine’s Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Critical infrastructure was hit and people were injured, said the mayor of the regional capital of the same name, Olexandr Symchyschyn, on Saturday.
The authorities spoke of eleven injured. According to reports, railway systems were also affected. After the shelling, the Ukrainian railways informed about delays in train journeys of up to twelve hours and about the use of rail replacement services.
Details of the specific damage did not initially exist. A huge ball of fire was seen on social networks rising into the sky. According to the Ukrainian military, a total of 17 out of 21 in the night attacks were Iranian “Kamikaze drones” of the Shahed-136/131 type were shot down. Russia has repeatedly launched massive drone attacks on Ukraine.
Zelenskyj confirms visit to Rome
10:37 am: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed his visit to Rome. The politician announced on Twitter that he would meet President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Francis in the Italian capital on (today) Saturday. He wrote about one “important visit to achieve victory of Ukraine”.
An Italian government plane had previously flown to Rome from the south-eastern Polish airport in Rzeszow near the Ukrainian border – it was assumed that Zelenskyj was on board. TV footage then showed a motorcade leaving Rome Ciampino Airport.
According to media reports, around 1,500 police officers and security guards are on duty this Saturday to ensure that the state visit runs smoothly. Airports, train stations and the subway are therefore particularly controlled. A no-fly zone has also been set up over the city for drones. Snipers are positioned wherever Zelenskyy is expected.
Kuleba makes dramatic demands on allies
10:32 a.m.: With a view to the new German package of arms aid for his country, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called for speed. Ukraine always needs everything as soon as possible, Kuleba said on Saturday at a meeting with colleagues from EU countries in Sweden. It would be appreciated if everything was done to expedite deliveries. Timetables can be discussed.
