Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed that Ukraine will strike Russian oil refineries again as bombardments continue in Kyiv amid what he described as 'animalistic' air assaults. The Ukrainian president said Vladimir Putin is attempting to weaken his country's resistance by escalating attacks on the capital, after Kyiv's Northern Bridge was struck for a second time today.
Zelensky said he is sickened by the strikes, which he says are geared at forcing residents to leave. He says retaliation should be expected, but the Russian Defence Ministry responded to his remarks, vowing to increase attacks on military facilities should Ukraine attempt to respond.
Retaliation and warnings
Zelensky said in an interview Saturday that the nation would double down on attacking Russian refineries with a new policy of airstrikes. Ukraine last attacked a Moscow oil refinery two weeks ago.
“The Russian armed forces will intensify strikes against military and military-industrial facilities, as well as related infrastructure in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine,” the Ministry said on Telegram. The comments come a day after its foreign ministry warned that foreign diplomats in the city were in “mortal danger” and must leave as soon as possible.
Zelensky's response
Zelensky told reporters: "They strike bridges, do they really think we will not respond? I am simply astonished by this animalistic desire to escalate the situation every day."
Ukraine has been boosted after the German chancellor, who was paying a surprise visit, pledged £850m in military aid as critical bridges were again struck. Friedrich Merz's show of support for President Zelensky amid the escalating Russian attacks saw the nation announce a package of measures including the release of money for repairs in the energy sector.
Merz's support and NATO tensions
“I traveled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks,” Merz said, adding that Russian forces were bombing towns and residential buildings. “If Russia is not stopped, sooner or later its war machine will turn against us. I will tell President Zelensky today: 'You can continue to count on our help'.”
Merz said the partnership between the two countries was “not a one-way street”, pointing to German and Ukrainian companies jointly developing technologies that benefit both sides. “This makes us safer and stronger,” he said.
On Thursday, NATO appeared to call Russia's bluff after being sent an ominous nuclear attack warning as tensions escalate. Putin dispatched a letter threatening to unleash the weapons should it feel its Baltic territory is coming under threat. In the diplomatic memo, Moscow said it has been made aware of 'information that NATO is preparing an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad'.
In the alarming letter sent to Brussels, the Kremlin warned it "will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, in order to defend its territory", according to a document sent to member states. NATO has responded, dismissing the threat as "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric" with Secretary General Mark Rutte stating he doesn't believe Putin will follow through on the latest threat.
Andy Burnham said days before that he will “stand up to” Russian and Iranian “threats”, adding that his economic and social plans will improve the UK’s security. He told the Labour party conference: “A country which invests in people’s success, rather than abandoning them and paying for failure. A country like that will be much more resilient to the shocks we will undoubtedly face in the rest of this century, and more able to meet its Nato obligations on defence. I will be steadfast in my support for Ukraine and stand up to threats wherever they come from, whether Russia, Iran, or anywhere.”
