Ukraine sounds country-wide alarms amid Russian drone strikes; Western tank training to begin
Ukraine raised a nationwide alarm on Thursday after Russia launched a wave of missile and drone attacks, officials said.
Sirens were also heard in the country’s capital, Kyiv, where missile defense systems successfully shot down 15 targets.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Ukrainian military general Serhiy Popko said the missiles were fired “in the direction of Kyiv”, but did not reveal whether Russia intended to target government buildings or something else.
A man walks past a sign that reads “Go to Moscow” placed on an old tank displayed at a war museum in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023.
(AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Ukraine-Russia war: After heavy pressure, Germany agreed to send 2 leopard battalions, 2 tanks
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko similarly said that explosions were heard in Kyiv’s Dnieprovsky district on the eastern side of a river that divides the city.
Pictures from Kyiv showed residents trapped in the subway system.
The attacks come at a time when Ukrainian military officers are being trained to use Western tanks.
Germany and the United States announced on Wednesday that they would send advanced battle tanks to Ukraine and train Ukrainian troops to help Kyiv make a breakthrough in the combat standoff, as the Russian offensive nears its one-year mark.
Germany’s defense minister said training would begin within days.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Ukrainian troops would learn to operate German-made Leopard 2 tanks at a training site in Germany by the end of the month.
People gather at a subway station being used as a bomb shelter during a rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023.
(AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
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People gather at a subway station being used as a bomb shelter during a rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023.
(AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry took to Twitter on Wednesday to celebrate the start of the training.
The department tweeted, ‘Finally free’ along with a picture of the leopard. “He is coming to Ukraine to work. Our land will be free!”
Pistorius said the tanks are expected to arrive in Ukraine before the end of March.
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Germany is initially sending 14 Leopard 2 tanks, although it may send 88 tanks to Ukraine. The United States will send more than 30 Abrams M1 tanks, the Pentagon announced.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
