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 assault 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 braveness 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 a minimum of 25 Shahed kamikaze drones on 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 in consequence.

“One other huge nighttime drone assault by the Russians within the Odesa area.,” Mr Kiper stated on the Telegram messenger service.

“Sadly, it was not potential to keep away from the hits. Within the Odesa district, an infrastructure facility was broken, administrative buildings have been broken. A fireplace broke out on the spot, which was promptly extinguished. The shock wave knocked out the glazing of personal homes round, the particles triggered destruction to industrial buildings.”

Russia had already launched 175 drones in March previous to the assault, in response to an replace from President Volodymyr Zelensky stated late on Sunday, that means that the entire for the month is now 200. Roughly 165 have been downed, in response to Ukrainian estimates.

It got here because the Nato secretary basic, Jens Stoltenberg, stated that Pope Francis was unsuitable to counsel that Kyiv ought to increase the white flag and enter peace tealks with Russia. Requested in regards to the pontiff’s remarks, Mr Stoltenberg advised Reuters: “If we wish a negotiated peaceable lasting answer, the way in which to get there’s to offer navy assist to Ukraine.”

“It’s not the time to speak about give up by the Ukrainians. That will probably be a tragedy for the Ukrainians. It’s going to even be harmful for all of us,” he added. “What occurs round a negotiating desk is inextricably linked to the energy 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 at present occupies almost 20 % of Ukraine.

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

“In Ukraine, there have been many once-white partitions of homes and church buildings that are actually scorched and ruined by Russian shells,” Mr Zelensky stated. “This speaks very eloquently about who has to cease for the warfare to finish.”

Overseas minister Dmytro Kuleba stated: “The strongest is the one who, within the battle between good and evil, stands on the aspect of fine somewhat than making an attempt to place them on the identical footing and name it “negotiations”.

“Our flag is a yellow and blue one. That is the flag by which we reside, die, and prevail. We will by no means increase another 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 stream, regardless of the warfare, now in its third 12 months. Ukraine is a significant agricultural producer and exporter and Kyiv has since arrange another hall to ship its merchandise by way of 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, one in every of Ukraine’s largest agrarian holdings, stated {that a} Russian missile assault on the jap Ukrainian Dnipro area over the weekend had destroyed a big grain silo. “On the night of 9 March 2024, the enemy launched a missile assault on the Dnipro area. A 58-year-old man, our worker, was injured. The manufacturing services of our firm have been utterly destroyed,” the corporate stated in a press release.

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

The determine included losses of $5.8bn from the destruction of apparatus, $1.8 billion from injury to silos and nearly $2bn from ruined agricultural merchandise. In the beginning of January 2023, analysts estimated such losses at $38bn.

In the meantime, Ukraine’s intelligence providers launched an hour-long video discussing their numerous assaults on occupied Ukraine, saying it amounted to preparation for a critical operation in Crimea.

The peninsula has been below 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 critical operation in Crimea,” stated Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s intelligence chief. “It is a check of the correctness of our statements in regards to the methods of method and departure from there. As well as, it’s a good message for the inhabitants that has been residing below occupation for 10 years. Lots of them imagine that they’ve been forgotten.”