Russia launches another Ukraine drone attack as Nato chief hits out at Pope ‘white flag’ comments as dangerous

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Russia has launched dozens of Iranian-made drones in its sixth attack in a month on the southern Ukrainian metropolis of Odesa – as the top of Nato grew to become the newest ally of Kyiv to reject a name from Pope Francis to have “the courage of the white flag” and negotiate an finish to Russia’s invasion.

Oleh Kiper, governor of Odesa Oblast, which runs alongside the Black Sea, stated Russia fired at least 25 Shahed kamikaze drones at the area, with air defences lively for nearly two hours within the early morning of yesterday. Mr Kiper stated roughly 15 have been shot down and infrastructure was broken as a end result.

“Another massive night-time drone attack by the Russians in the Odesa region,” Mr Kiper stated on the Telegram messenger service.

“Unfortunately, it was not possible to avoid the hits. In the Odesa district, an infrastructure facility was damaged, administrative buildings were damaged. A fire broke out on the spot, which was promptly extinguished. The shock wave knocked out the glazing of private houses around, the debris caused destruction to commercial buildings.”

Russia had already launched 175 drones in March previous to the attack, in keeping with an replace from president Volodymyr Zelensky late on Sunday, which means that the whole for the month is now 200. Roughly 165 have been downed, in keeping with Ukrainian estimates.

It got here as the Nato secretary basic, Jens Stoltenberg, stated that Pope Francis was flawed to recommend that Kyiv ought to elevate the white flag and enter peace talks with Russia. Asked concerning the pontiff’s remarks, Mr Stoltenberg instructed Reuters: “If we want a negotiated peaceful lasting solution, the way to get there is to provide military support to Ukraine.”

“It’s not the time to talk about surrender by the Ukrainians. That will be a tragedy for the Ukrainians. It will also be dangerous for all of us,” he added. “What happens around a negotiating table is inextricably linked to the strength on the battlefield.”

Ukraine has constantly rejected the suggestion that it ought to negotiate a peace take care of Russia, calling for the Kremlin to withdraw its forces again to the 1991 borders. Russia presently occupies almost 20 per cent of Ukraine.

President Zelensky accused the pontiff of partaking in “virtual mediation”, whereas his overseas minister stated Kyiv would by no means capitulate.

“In Ukraine, there were many once-white walls of houses and churches that are now scorched and ruined by Russian shells,” Mr Zelensky stated. “This speaks very eloquently about who has to stop for the war to end.”

Foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba stated: “The strongest is the one who, in the battle between good and evil, stands on the side of good rather than attempting to put them on the same footing and call it ‘negotiations’.

“Our flag is a yellow and blue one. This is the flag by which we live, die, and prevail. We shall never raise any other flags.”

Russia has intensified bombardments of Ukrainian ports, together with Odesa, and grain infrastructure after Moscow final summer time pulled out of a United Nations-brokered deal that allowed some meals exports to movement, regardless of the conflict, now in its third yr. Ukraine is a serious agricultural producer and exporter and Kyiv has since arrange an alternate hall to ship its merchandise through its Black Sea ports close to Odesa. Ukrainian officers have stated that exports of various cargo – together with grains and metallic – from Ukrainian Black Sea ports reached almost pre-invasion ranges final month.

Ukrlandfarming, considered one of Ukraine’s largest agrarian holdings, stated {that a} Russian missile attack on the jap Ukrainian Dnipro area over the weekend had destroyed a big grain silo. “On the evening of 9 March 2024, the enemy launched a missile attack on the Dnipro region. A 58-year-old man, our employee, was injured. The production facilities of our company were completely destroyed,” the corporate stated in a press release.

Analysts from the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) stated final month the Ukrainian agricultural sector has suffered virtually $80bn (£62bn) in direct and oblique losses linked to Russia’s invasion.

The determine included losses of $5.8bn from the destruction of kit, $1.8bn from harm to silos and virtually $2bn from ruined agricultural merchandise. At the start of January 2023, analysts estimated such losses at $38bn.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s intelligence companies launched an hour-long video discussing their varied assaults on occupied Ukraine, saying it amounted to preparation for a severe operation in Crimea.

The peninsula has been beneath Russian occupation since Moscow illegally annexed it in 2014 following the pro-European Maidan revolution in Kyiv noticed the ousting of the pro-Kremlin regime within the capital.

Ukraine’s intelligence company has been repeatedly attacking Russian ships and enemy forces in Crimea and across the occupied south.

“These are all preparatory measures for a serious operation in Crimea,” stated Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s intelligence chief. “This is a test of the correctness of our statements about the ways of approach and departure from there. In addition, it is a good message for the population that has been living under occupation for 10 years. Many of them believe that they have been forgotten.”