According to Ukraine’s Defence Minister, the country is “to a large percentage” ready to launch its counteroffensive.
Oleksii Resnikov stated on Friday that “as soon as God’s will is met, weather conditions are favorable, and commanders make a decision, we will act.”
The Ukrainian minister said Western tanks, weapons and other military equipment would act like an “iron hand” in Ukraine’s attempt to reclaim its occupied territories.
He made his comments as 19 people died in a large group of Russian airstrikes, the first in almost two months.
Officials confirmed that 17 people died in Uman, a city located in central Ukraine. The deaths were caused by a series of Russian drone and missile strikes.
Two more people were also killed in Dnipro. This is a city located in southern central Ukraine, on the banks of Dnipro River.
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In the early morning hours, explosions also rumbled through the capital Kyiv , the cities of Kremenchuk, Poltava and Mykolaiv, located in the southern part.
Officials said that two people were injured in Ukrainka, a town located just south of Kyiv.
Firefighters in Uman battled an raging fire at a residential building which had been hit by a Russian missile on the upper floor.
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Officials reported that at least 15 people died, including two 10-year olds and a 2-year-old. Nine other people were hospitalized.
Serhii Lubyvskyi (58) was in the flat block when the missile hit.
He said, “My neighbours have all gone. No one remains… Only the kitchens remain.”
“My flat is at the seventh floor… We felt the impact and heard the explosion.”
Olga said that the first thing to happen was the blowing out of the windows, and then the explosion. “Everything flew out.”
During the 14-month conflict, Moscow launched many long-range missiles that often hit civilian areas without discrimination.
The Kremlin, however, has denied that it is targeting civilians with its military actions.
The Russian Defence Ministry said that the cruise missiles were launched over night to target places where Ukrainian military reserves were staying prior to their deployment on the battlefield.
The news comes as Ukraine is preparing to launch a much-discussed counteroffensive in order to reclaim the territory that Russia has taken.
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Tanks and weapons will be used by Western powers including the US, UK, and Germany.
Britain sent Challenger 2 tanks to Kyiv, and the US sent Abrams. German Leopard 2 tanks were also handed over by Kyiv.
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Russia has been fortifying the territory it occupies in Ukraine for months, anticipating Kyiv’s attack, which is expected to happen once the weather warms up.
Ukraine and its Western backers are hoping that a push from thousands of Ukrainian soldiers trained in Western bases will change the dynamic of the war, which has largely seen Russia on offensive all winter.
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