A missile strike on Kryvyi Rih injures eight as the city mourns victims of the previous day’s attack. NATO stresses commitment to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses. Putin could mount a counteroffensive in Kursk region, but Russian forces will encounter “a difficult fight,” a top CIA official said.
Missile strike on Kryvyi Rih injures eight as city mourns victims of previous day’s attack
A Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih on Wednesday struck civilian infrastructure, wounding eight people, just as the city was observing an official day of mourning for an attack the previous day that killed four civilians at a hotel.
More than 230 cars, an auto repair facility and administrative buildings were damaged in the attack. Six of the eight injured were taken to hospital in fair condition. Men between 18 and 64, and a 54-year-old woman were among the wounded. The injuries include those from debris, contusions, and concussions.
NATO stresses commitment to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses
The NATO-Ukraine Council met on Wednesday following recent heavy Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. Allies strongly condemned Russia’s indiscriminate strikes and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen Ukraine’s defenses, NATO said in a statement.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who chaired the meeting, said: “Ukraine continues to intercept Russian missiles on a daily basis, saving countless lives. But Ukraine’s ability to maintain their defences requires increased supply and more support.”
“In the wake of the latest Russian assault, Allies today reaffirmed they are stepping up their military aid to Ukraine. We must continue to provide Ukraine with the equipment and munitions it needs to defend itself against Russia’s invasion. This is vital for Ukraine’s ability to stay in the fight,” Stoltenberg said.
Wednesday’s meeting was held at ambassadorial level and was convened at Ukraine’s request. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov briefed Allies via video-link on the current security situation and priority capability needs.
The NATO-Ukraine Council was created at the NATO Summit in July 2023 and serves as a forum for joint consultations, decision-making and activities between NATO and Ukraine. Ambassadors from NATO’s member countries and Ukrainian officials normally attend meetings of the council.
Putin could mount counteroffensive in Kursk region, but Russian forces will encounter “difficult fight,” says top CIA official
Russian leader Vladimir Putin will mount a counteroffensive to try to retake territory in the Kursk region captured by Ukrainian troops, but Russian forces will encounter “a difficult fight,” Deputy CIA Director David Cohen said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
Putin, he said, “is not only going to have to face the fact that there is a front line now within Russian territory that he’s going to have to deal with, he has to deal with reverberations back in his own society that they have lost a piece of Russian territory.”
Ukraine’s success in Kursk “has the potential to change the dynamic” of the conflict “a little bit going forward,” he continued without elaborating.