US President Joe Biden’s choice to permit Ukraine to target Russian territory using long-range missiles supplied by the United States may be a “game changer” for Kyiv, according to the country’s foreign minister, Andriy Sybiga.
“This could indeed change the game. The longer Ukraine is capable of striking, the shorter the conflict will be,” Mr. Sybiga stated to reporters before a UN Security Council meeting commemorating 1,000 days since Russia invaded its Eastern European neighbor.
He contended that Kyiv possesses the “full right to strike military targets within Russia’s borders.”
“This could significantly enhance the situation on the battlefield,” Mr. Sybiga further mentioned.
In response, Russia accused Mr. Biden of “escalating” the tensions with this decision.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, commenting on the green light given to Ukraine, remarked that “all parties must guarantee the safety and protection of civilians, no matter where they are located.”
Speaking on behalf of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Ms. DiCarlo also noted the “1,000 days of widespread death, destruction, and despair that continue unabated for millions of Ukrainians.”
She condemned the increase in civilian casualties and referenced Russia’s recent assault on Ukraine over the weekend, which involved 120 missiles and 90 drones, causing substantial damage to Ukraine’s power infrastructure.
“The targeted destruction of Ukraine’s energy systems might render the upcoming winter the most challenging since the onset of the war,” she cautioned.
Zelensky visits frontline
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his visit to the eastern frontline town of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
A video shared by Mr. Zelensky showcased his visit to troops defending the town from Russian forces positioned about 8km away.
Volodymyr Zelensky met troops on the frontline (Pic: @ZelenskyyUa)
“This area is under considerable tension. It is only due to the courage of the (Ukrainian) soldiers that the east is not completely overtaken by Russia. The enemy faces a response every day,” Mr. Zelensky wrote in a post on X.
This comes as reports indicate two children were among the 11 fatalities when a Russian missile struck a residential building in the northeastern city of Sumy, according to Ukrainian officials, with another missile strike causing the region’s administrative center to lose power.
Ninety people, including 11 children, were also reported injured in the attack on the city late yesterday, as relayed by Ukraine’s state emergency service via the Telegram messaging app.
Pokrovsk. I visited the 25th Separate Airborne Sicheslav Brigade, which is safeguarding the city. I spoke with the defenders and honored them with awards.
This area is challenging and tense. It is solely due to the resilience of our warriors that the East… pic.twitter.com/MJUiPgs7k0
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 18, 2024
The assault on Sumy followed a morning when Russia heavily bombarded Ukraine’s power grid in what Ukraine described as a “massive” attack, deploying 120 missiles and 90 drones, which resulted in at least seven fatalities.
“Sunday evening turned into a nightmare for the city of Sumy, a tragic occurrence that Russia has inflicted upon our land,” stated Volodymyr Artyukh, the head of the Sumy military administration, in a post on the administration’s Telegram channel.
The military administration reported that another missile targeted critical infrastructure, causing power outages in the city.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russian forces utilized two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and a Kh-59 guided missile during the overnight strikes.
Rescue teams and necessary services continued their efforts at the site, while psychologists were on hand to assist those affected, as reported by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine via Telegram.
A firefighter working at the site of a Russian missile strike in Sumy
More than 400 individuals were evacuated, the Service added.
Images shared on Telegram by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine demonstrated firefighters battling a blaze consuming vehicles and rescuers assisting individuals out of a building. One picture depicted a multi-storey structure with nearly all windows shattered and its facade severely damaged.
Sumy regional prosecutors stated that the strike led to damage of 90 apartments, 28 vehicles, two educational institutions, and 13 buildings.
Reuters independently verified the location, with the layout, position, and design of the buildings matching the files and satellite imagery of the area. The date was corroborated through reports from local prosecutors and emergency services.
Both sides have denied intentionally targeting civilians in their operations across each other’s territories. However, thousands have died since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022, with the vast majority being Ukrainians.
