President Volodymyr Zelensky during his evening address on March 10, 2024. (President’s Office) © Kyiv Independent
Published March 17, 2024
Recent successful Ukrainian drone strikes on targets in the Russian Federation demonstrate Russia’s vulnerabilities and Ukraine’s long-range capabilities, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on March 16.
Ukrainian forces struck multiple oil refineries in Russia this week, reaching targets in Samara, Ryazan, Kaluga, Nizhny Novgorod, and Leningrad oblasts. The strikes follow recent successes downing Russian war planes and hitting the Black Sea Fleet.
“These weeks have demonstrated to many that the Russian war machine has vulnerabilities that we can reach with our weapons,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky has long said that improving Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities is critical. At the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17, Zelensky urged allies not to give Russia the upper hand by allowing Ukraine’s “deficit” of long-range weapons grow.
While Kyiv continues to lobby Western allies for long-range missile systems, including German-made Taurus missiles and U.S. ATACMS, Ukraine has also been developing its own long-range weapons.
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SOURCE: www.kyivindependent.com
RELATED: Zelensky vows ‘just response’ to latest Russian missile strike on Odesa
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany, Saturday Feb. 17, 2024. (Tobias Schwarz/Pool via AP)
Published March 16, 2024
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed his nation would serve Russia a “just response” in retaliation for the latest Russian missile strike on Odesa that left at least 20 dead Friday.
Russia attacked the Black Sea port city with ballistic missiles that killed at least 20 people and injured at least 70. The missiles were launched from the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula.
The attack damaged Odesa’s electric supply and infrastructure. It left 10 people seriously injured along with killing a rescuer who was assisting people on the scene, regional governor Oleh Kiper said, according to Reuters.
Zelensky said Ukrainian forces will do “everything” to make the Russians “feel” their response to the missile attack. He said the rescue operation is ongoing, but called the attack an act of “cowardice.”
“It’s a despicable act of cowardice: two missiles, with the second one hitting when rescuers and doctors arrived at the scene,” Zelensky said in a statement Friday. “Among the casualties and injured are emergency paramedics and rescuers from the State Emergency Service. My condolences go out to all their families and loved ones.”
“Our Defense Forces will do everything to make Russian killers feel our just response.”
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SOURCE: www.thehill.com
RELATED: Zelensky: Every day we are amassing more of much-needed, long-range strength
Published March 16, 2024
Everyone who directs their will to protect the entire nation makes themselves a part of the great history of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his video address to Ukrainians, Ukrinform reports.
Below is the full text of the president’s address:
“I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!
Today is one of those days when we are especially grateful to all our people who have chosen the path of defending Ukraine and our independence. Those who are fighting at the front, those who are working for defense, and thanks to whom Ukraine lives and achieves its goals. Moreover, it clearly and effectively brings this war back home to Russia, where the true cost of war must be felt. Today, on Ukrainian Volunteer Day, it is important to remember the bravery and dedication of all those who became defenders of Ukraine in 2014, who withstood the confrontation of that time, who preserved Ukraine in 2022 and who are now preserving and strengthening our positions and our entire state. Everyone who directs their will to protect the entire nation makes themselves a part of the great history of Ukraine, a nation and a state that will never disappear and will always be able to inspire the world from now on. I am proud of all our people who are fighting for Ukraine’s opportunity to live normally and freely. I thank each and every one of them. Today, I honored our warriors with awards – orders, the title of Hero of Ukraine, and the medal “For Military Service to Ukraine”. As of today, a total of 73,750 Ukrainians have been honored with state awards. Of course, this is only a part of the heroism of our people. Today, I had the opportunity to express gratitude to our defense industry workers – the people who have dedicated their lives to Ukrainian strength, who manufacture our weapons, which show results on the battlefield, at sea, and in air strikes on Russia’s war machine. I thank them for Ukrainian artillery shells, cannons, drones, for our missiles and electronic warfare systems. For everything that helps our warriors fight and saves Ukraine’s life and the lives of Ukrainians. We will have more weapons, shells, drones, and EW systems. Today, I met workers from one of our defense facilities. We do not talk about it officially. And now, during wartime, we cannot openly demonstrate our capabilities. We will, of course, openly express our gratitude after the war. These are the people who have found a way to significantly strengthen our country. And each day we are amassing more and more of this strength. The strength we need so much. The long-range strength.
