It was learned that the Russian air attack against Chernihiv left 18 dead. While, from Washington, the Ukrainian prime minister said that if his country “falls” to Russia there could be World War III, and in Germany two suspects were arrested for an alleged military sabotage plot on behalf of Russia.
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Russian airstrike in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, left 18 dead and 78 people injured after three missiles hit the city center on Wednesday, April 17, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The balance will be announced on Thursday, April 18, at the end of the search and rescue operation, according to Governor Viacheslav Chaus, via Telegram.
Civil infrastructure in this northern city was affected by this attack, which has been Russia's deadliest in recent weeks, so top Ukrainian officials requested additional air defense support.
Russia denies targeting civilians in the war, which is now in its third year.
Meanwhile, on Thursday morning, explosions were heard in the western Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine, Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne reported.
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russian drones were flying over the region and that it shot down 13 used in Russia's night attack.
Ukraine warns of possibility of “World War III” if it loses against Russia
In February, Volodymyr Zelensky attributed the withdrawal from Avdiivka, a city near occupied Donetsk, to “weapons deficits,” his heaviest loss since his troops withdrew from Bakhmut in late April and early May 2023.
Due to situations like this, Ukraine depends on the support of the United States and the West to continue the war, so it is essential that the US House of Representatives finally votes this Saturday on the aid package for Ukraine that is awaiting approval.
Precisely in this context, in a statement to the British BBC, the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denis Shmihal, stated on Thursday, April 18, that If his country loses the war with Russia it could lead to “World War III” and he reiterated the request for “funds” to protect Ukraine.
From Washington, Shmihal urged the US Congress to pass a long-stalled bill and expressed “cautious optimism” that the US House of Representatives would give way to the $61 billion. of dollars (about 71 billion euros) for kyiv.
“We need this money yesterday, not tomorrow, not today. If we do not protect Ukraine… Ukraine will fall. The global security system will be destroyed and everyone will have to find a new security system,” he warned.
This is not the first time that Ukraine has made this type of warning related to its possible defeat. Volodymyr Zelensky last year said that if Russia won the conflict it could invade Poland; However, Russia has never attacked a country that is part of NATO, such as Poland.
For now, President Joe Biden committed on Wednesday, April 17, to immediately sign the measure that Ukraine is waiting for so long if legislators authorize the funds, after several months of delays in Congress.
And the German government pressured Washington to continue supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock declared to the press on Thursday, April 18:
In these turbulent times, it is a sign of hope that Republicans in the United States are signaling that support for Ukraine can continue strongly.
Germany arrests two sabotage suspects
Meanwhile in Germany there is also news related to the war in Ukraine.
Two Russian-German citizens were arrested in Germany, accused of planning sabotage attacks, including against US military installations, to allegedly undermine military support for Ukrainesaid the German prosecutor.
In the prosecutor's statement they are accused of working for a foreign secret service, for which the authorities searched their homes and workplaces.
The suspect Dieter S., since October 2023, would have been linked to a person from the Russian secret service, to carry out bomb attacks and set fires against military installations.
According to Spiegel magazine, the facilities included the Grafenwoehr military base in the state of Bavaria, where Ukrainian soldiers receive training to use American Abrams tanks.
The Russian embassy in Berlin has not commented.
With EFE, Reuters and local media
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