Kyiv: Kyiv residents woke up to air raid sirens as Ukraine celebrated its Independence Day on Wednesday, which also marked exactly six months since the start of Russia’s military offensive. Authorities in the capital banned mass gatherings until Thursday, fearing a national holiday could lead to an especially heavy Russian missile strike. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the public to be vigilant.
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“There is the potential for Russian provocation and brutal attack,” Zelensky said in a statement. “Please strictly follow the safety rules. Please follow the curfew. Pay attention to the air sirens. Pay attention to the official announcements. And remember: We must all win together.”
A small number of residents gathered in Kyiv’s central square, where destroyed Russian tanks and mobile artillery were displayed over the weekend, and the national anthem is played every day at 7 a.m. local time.
“I can’t sleep at night because of what I see and hear about what is happening in Ukraine,” said Tetyana, a retired man who identified himself only by his first name, His voice was trembling with emotion.
“This is not a war. This is the destruction of the Ukrainian people,” she said. Wednesday’s holiday commemorates Ukraine’s 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.
“Six months ago, Russia declared war on us. On 24 February, explosions and gunfire were heard throughout Ukraine. On February 24th, we were told: You have no chance. On August 24, we say Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!” Zelensky said in an Independence Day message. A car bombing outside Moscow on Saturday killed the 29-year-old daughter of right-wing Russian political theorist Alexander Dugin, making it Fears grew that Russia may intensify attacks on Ukraine this week.
Russian authorities have blamed Ukraine for the death of nationalist Russian TV commentator Daria Dugina. The car bombing happened when she attended a patriotic ceremony with her father, which was widely believed to be the target.
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The Ukrainian government has denied any involvement. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24. Moscow’s army met unexpectedly harsh Ukrainian resistance, and six months of fighting changed life in Ukraine and sent shock waves through the world economy.
As the war reached its 182nd day, there was no sign of an early end to the conflict, which NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described on Tuesday as a “disgraceful war”.
Russia now has large parts of the country’s east and south, but its advantage has gradually accumulated. No country has disclosed how many soldiers it has lost during the six months of conflict. US officials said on Wednesday the United States expects to announce nearly $3 billion in additional aid to train Ukrainian forces and fight for years to come.
Officials told The Associated Press that the package would fund contracts for three types of drones and other weapons, ammunition and equipment that may not see the battlefield for a year or two. According to officials familiar with the matter, the new funding is aimed at helping Ukraine secure its medium- to long-term defense posture.
The earlier shipments focused on Ukraine’s urgent needs for arms and ammunition and included materials the Pentagon already had in stock that could be shipped quickly. Several officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the aid package before the public announcement.
At the forefront of the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine was the base of the conflict. According to the regional administration, Russian forces attacked several towns and villages in Donetsk province in 24 hours, killing one person and injuring two others.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region on the southern front, Russian forces again opened fire on the cities of Nikopol and Marhanet, damaging several buildings and injuring two people, according to Governor Valentin Reznichenko. Russian troops also opened fire on the city of Zaporizhzhya, damaging many buildings and infrastructure but causing no casualties.