Ukraine war: Selenskyj relies on new Ukrainian missile

After two days of devastating Russian air strikes on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky is giving his people hope that they will have their own defensive weapons. Ukraine has successfully tested a ballistic missile it has developed itself, Zelensky said in Kiev. He congratulated the Ukrainian arms industry on the success, but did not provide any details.

A few days ago, Zelensky presented another Ukrainian home-made aircraft, the jet-powered Paljanytsja combat drone. When it comes to the firepower of long-range weapons, Ukraine is far inferior to Russia.

According to Ukrainian authorities, the latest Russian bombardment cost the lives of at least five people. Two people died when a rocket hit a hotel in Kryvyi Rih. After drone attacks on Zaporizhia, first two, then three deaths were reported. “We will undoubtedly respond to Russia for this and all other attacks,” wrote Zelensky on the social network X. “Crimes against humanity must not go unpunished.”

Thousands seek shelter in the subway

According to media reports, 52,000 people in Kiev fled to underground stations, which serve as bunkers, because of the nightly air raid warning. Falling debris sparked grass fires on the eastern outskirts of the city of one million. All objects approaching Kiev were shot down, the military administration of the Kiev region reported. According to regional authorities, hits and damage occurred in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson and Khmelnytskyi regions.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 5 Russian cruise missiles and 60 of 81 drones deployed were intercepted. Three Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missiles and two Iskander missiles were not hit. The military figures cannot be verified in detail, but they give an overview of the extent of the attack.

According to observers, the attack was again primarily aimed at Ukraine’s energy system. On Monday, Russia launched an attack against Ukraine with 127 rockets and cruise missiles as well as more than 100 combat drones. This was the highest number reported by the Ukrainian military in two and a half years of war.

New wave of attacks: Stoltenberg convenes NATO-Ukraine Council

At the request of Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is calling a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council. According to alliance spokeswoman Farah Dakhlallah, the meeting on Wednesday will focus on the situation on the battlefield and the most important military needs of the country attacked by Russia. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is to take part in the consultations at ambassadorial level via video. The NATO spokeswoman cited Russia’s recent heavy waves of attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilians as the background to the meeting.

Selenskyj: Dialogue with Putin is pointless

Meanwhile, Zelenskyi reiterated the futility of a dialogue with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin under the current circumstances. “The world is waiting for Ukraine to present a compromise plan on how to end the war tomorrow,” he said in Kiev. “It’s not that there are no compromises with Putin, but the dialogue with Putin today is empty, meaningless, because he does not want to end the war diplomatically.” Putin is willing to enter into diplomatic negotiations, but he wants to keep 30 percent of Ukraine. “And we will not play along with him,” Zelenskyi stressed.

Zelensky said that the F-16 fighter jets supplied by the West were also used to fend off the heavy Russian attacks on Monday and Tuesday morning. At the same time, he continued to urge Western partners to lift restrictions on the use of the supplied weapons against military targets in Russia. “It’s like this: the Olympics are over, but the ping-pong continues,” he said, describing the talks.

According to its commander-in-chief, Olexander Syrskyj, the Ukrainian army has taken almost 600 prisoners of war since the beginning of its advance into the Russian region of Kursk. Ukraine has thus significantly replenished its fund for the exchange of prisoners, the general said at the conference in Kiev. After three weeks, his troops controlled 100 towns and almost 1,300 square kilometers on Russian territory. Military observers assume that the area is not quite that large.

Selenskyj: Kursk offensive is part of a victory plan

According to media reports in Kiev, Zelenskyj said the ongoing Ukrainian offensive in the Russian region of Kursk was part of this plan for victory. He described the advance into Russian territory as a success. The offensive is linked to a second peace summit that Ukraine plans to hold after the premiere in Switzerland in June.

According to Zelensky, the plan is about Ukraine’s strategic place in the world’s security infrastructure. He did not provide any details. However, he has repeatedly stated that he wants to make the country one of the largest arms producers in the world.

Ukraine counts 30,000 Russian soldiers at Kursk

To counter the Ukrainian advance, Russia has now sent almost 30,000 soldiers to the Kursk region, and more will be sent, said Syrskyj. In this respect, the plan for Moscow to move troops there is working. However, according to all reports, Russian attacks have not slowed down, especially in the Donetsk region, where the Ukrainian army is under heavy pressure.

Meanwhile, Russian authorities in the Belgorod region reported that Ukraine was attempting further advances across the border. The situation on the ground remains difficult but is under control, wrote the region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, on Telegram. According to unconfirmed media reports, there were clashes at the Nekhoteyevka crossing and at Shebekino. The Ukrainian side did not comment on the alleged attacks.