Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, in a speech on the evening of March 12, reacted to the Russian strike on Krivoy Rog and said that Ukraine would carry out retaliatory strikes.
The Russians fired an X-59 guided aircraft missile in Krivoy Rog, its fragments fell on a high-rise building, a fire broke out, and three people died, said the head of the Dnepropetrovsk regional military administration, Sergei Lysak. The number of victims continues to grow, there are already 36 of them, including seven children.
Many victims
“Including a direct hit on a nine-story building. There are dead and wounded civilians. The State Emergency Service is putting out the fire. The ambulance is working,” said Alexander Vilkul, Chairman of Krivoy Rog Defense Council.
The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces clarified that the Russians fired an X-59 guided missile at Krivoy Rog from a tactical aircraft. The missile was shot down by air defense systems, but, unfortunately, the debris fell on a tall building.
As of 20:54, 10 children are known to have been injured as a result of an enemy attack in Krivoy Rog. A total of 38 were injured.
Zelensky’s reaction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an evening speech on March 12, responded to Russia’s strike on Krivoy Rog, his hometown, and said Ukraine would retaliate.
“Currently, the rescue operation in Krivoy Rog is still going on after a Russian missile attack. The destroyed part of a nine-story building, the ceiling between the floors, there was a fire. Many the injured. Everyone is receiving the help they need. There is, unfortunately, dead. My condolences to all the family and friends.
We will impose retaliatory losses on the Russian state – quite rightly. They in the Kremlin should know that fear does not go unpunished for them. Nothing can cure these patients from evil, but they will feel the loss. The Russian state will be defeated, and only this can save its neighbors. Not only for Ukraine, but for various countries, our actions today are saving lives,” Zelensky stressed.
The situation at the front is better
Zelensky also noted the improvement in the situation on the front. According to him, he has been “better than the last three months.”
“Russia’s advance has been halted,” Zelensky told French reporters.
Although Ukraine experienced difficulties with shells, mobility, and the large number and density of Russian drones, the Ukrainian Armed Forces “worked well against Russian aviation and leveled the situation,” the president said about the situation in the east.
He added that the Ukrainian operation in the Black Sea continues, there are results there, but he could not say the details.
Zelensky made it clear that we need to be realistic and understand that even if the Russian advance has stopped, “tomorrow or in a week or a month they may have another million artillery pieces.”
Having occupied Avdeevka, the Russians began to advance rapidly, capturing several villages nearby. When asked by journalists if the Ukrainian defense lines were sufficiently strengthened, Zelensky said that there are three such lines in Ukraine, and they stretch for thousands of kilometers.
But, according to him, the Russians have more weapons, including long-range ones.
“The guided aerial bombs are being dropped, the artillery is working, (their range) is 20 kilometers more, and ours is up to 20 kilometers. This is not a powerful Russian army, they had enough weapons to first destroy (Avdeevka ) completely and then enter there,” explained the president.
French journalists asked Zelensky what he thought about the words of President Macron, who will soon visit Kiev, that he does not rule out sending Western troops to Ukraine.
“We will discuss everything in detail when he arrives,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine has long cooperated with allies in the field of cyber defense, intelligence sharing and training missions for the Ukrainian military on the territory of European states.
“But when our men returned from training, they had to adapt to Ukraine and study here for several months. The process became twice as long. Therefore, (Macron’s) proposal is that we reduce the time and conduct of a training mission directly to Ukraine,” Zelensky said, clarifying that he considers it completely normal for instructors and trainers to come from France to Ukraine.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.