Ukrainian emergency services have raised the death toll to 23 in Kiev following the massive attack launched by Russia on Tuesday with missiles and drones in the capital. The latest statement released on Wednesday states that 18 of the victims were located in a 9-story residential building in the Solomianski district.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that their defenses neutralized 30 of the 58 drones launched by Russia into their territory overnight, a much less intense attack than the previous night. The drones were intercepted over nine regions of the country.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that their Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 48 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over eight regions of the country, two of them near Moscow.
On the other hand, the governments of South Korea and Japan condemned on Wednesday the dispatch of thousands of North Korean sappers and military operatives to Kursk, a measure announced the day before by the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, after his visit to Pyongyang.
Kallas calls for increased EU defense spending because "Europe is under attack"
The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, urged member states to commit to increasing military spending to 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) during the upcoming NATO summit because "Europe is under attack."
"Every European country, every NATO partner, must think about defense," Kallas said in a debate in the European Parliament on the upcoming ministerial summit of the Atlantic Alliance, to be held in The Hague, Netherlands on June 24 and 25.
The High Representative stated that "we are living in very dangerous and difficult times" in which Russia "is already a direct threat" as it violates European airspace, maneuvers on its borders, attacks planes, trains, energy infrastructure, and internet cables, and "recruits criminals to carry out sabotage."
Gerasimov visits troops near Pokrovsk
The Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army, Valery Gerasimov, inspected troops fighting near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk on Wednesday and wished them good luck in taking control of the entire Donetsk region, as reported by the TASS news agency. The state news agency quoted Gerasimov wishing success to the troops in what he called the "total liberation" of the Donetsk region.
Zelensky highlights G7's willingness to "explore all options" to pressure Russia
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday, after participating in a G7 summit held in Canada that did not produce concrete results on the Russia-Ukraine war, that the leaders of the seven most industrialized democracies in the world reaffirmed their readiness to seek ways to increase pressure on Russia.
"The G7 leaders expressed support for President Trump's efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They acknowledged Ukraine's commitment to an unconditional ceasefire and agreed that Russia must do the same," Zelensky wrote on his social media.
The Ukrainian president added that the G7 leaders "are determined to explore all options to maximize pressure on Russia, including with financial sanctions."
Death toll in Kiev rises to 23
Ukrainian emergency services have issued another statement expanding the death toll to 23 in various locations in Kiev as a result of the massive Russian missile and drone attack early Tuesday.
Eighteen of the deceased were found in a 9-story residential building in the Solomianski district of Kiev. The statement indicates that there are 134 injured.
Russia shoots down 48 Ukrainian drones
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 48 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over eight regions of the country, two of them near Moscow, as reported on Wednesday by the Russian Ministry of Defense on their Telegram channel.
According to the military report, 30 of the drones shot down the previous night were destroyed in the border regions with Ukraine in Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod. The remaining drones were intercepted over the territories of the regions of Oryol (10), Tula (3), Kaluga (2), and Lipetsk (1).
Additionally, Defense indicated that two drones were destroyed in the Moscow region, near the capital.
The previous night, Ukraine launched the largest aerial attack on Russian territory in recent weeks. According to the Russian military command, on the night from Monday to Tuesday, Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down a total of 198 fixed-wing drones over ten regions.
Ukraine neutralizes 30 of the 58 drones launched by Russia
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that their defenses neutralized 30 of the 58 drones launched by Russia into their territory. The drones were intercepted over various regions in the north and east of Ukraine.
Twelve drones were shot down, and another 18 were diverted with electronic interference. The Ukrainian Air Force recorded drone impacts in 9 locations.
Last night's attack was much less intense than the one launched by the Russians early Tuesday morning when they used over 400 drones and more than 30 missiles.
Seoul and Tokyo condemn the sending of North Korean military technicians to Russia
The Governments of South Korea and Japan condemned on Wednesday the dispatch of thousands of sappers and military operatives from North Korea to the Russian region of Kursk, a measure announced the day before by the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, after his visit to Pyongyang.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea told EFE that Pyongyang's decision to send more military personnel abroad is "a clear violation" of UN Security Council resolutions, especially resolution 2397, which requires repatriation of North Korean citizens generating income abroad.
"The Government expresses serious concern about the continued illegal cooperation between Russia and North Korea and urges an immediate halt," the Ministry stated.
Canada to allocate 1.270 million euros in aid to Ukraine
The G7 reiterated its support for Ukraine, but without hardening its stance against Russia during a summit marked by the early departure of Donald Trump. The war was one of the central topics of the meeting in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, attended by Volodymyr Zelensky, but no joint statement was issued.
The departure of the US president closed the door to a meeting with the Ukrainian to unlock negotiations between Moscow and Kiev. Zelensky was able to meet with the rest of the leaders and secured new military aid from Canada amounting to 1.270 million euros, particularly for drones and armored vehicles.
Death toll from Russian attack on Kiev rises to 21
Ukrainian emergency services have raised the death toll to 21 in various locations in Kiev as a result of the massive Russian missile and drone attack early Tuesday.
"The bodies of 5 more deceased individuals have been recovered from the rubble of a nine-story building," states the statement released on Wednesday, raising the number of injured to 134.