Britain plans to send Ukraine 300-kilometre-range missiles
The Biden administration announces it will not give Ukraine long-range weapons after the British government expressed its intention to send Kiev 300-kilometre-range missiles. However, the United States continues to train large numbers of Ukrainian soldiers at its training ground in Germany. At the same time, European Union countries will hold a first discussion today on new sanctions to be imposed in connection with Russian aggression.
Britain is ready to send missiles with a range of 300 kilometres, which could be launched from Ukrainian fighter jets and become the longest-range weapons in the arsenal of Kiev's forces. As a result, the United States no longer plans to deliver 150-kilometre-range missiles to Ukraine. Currently, the maximum range of HIMARS missiles in the Ukrainian military's arsenal is 80 kilometres.
At the same time, the US and UK have jointly called for an extension of the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, denouncing Russia's continued use of the food as a weapon. In this regard, a US official said that Russia has again blocked ships from entering Ukrainian ports to take grain. The 120-day agreement signed on 22 July by the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey helped alleviate the global food crisis caused by the war and was renewed for four months. It expires on 18 May and Russia has not agreed to a third renewal.
An AFP journalist was killed on Tuesday afternoon in Ukraine after Russian shelling. Arman Soldin, aged 32, was with four other colleagues who remained alive. Arman's family has been notified. The attacks took place near the town of Ceasov Iar, located near Bahmut, which is shelled daily by Russian occupiers.
The Russians have launched new large-scale bombings in Ukraine. Air alerts have been heard in all major cities in the country. The Dnipropetrovsk region was heavily bombed, but air defences managed to shoot down all the missiles. However, missile debris fell on blocks, causing damage. One woman was injured. Residents of the flats say their homes were left without ceilings and with collapsed walls.
"The first thing we heard was the sound of an incoming rocket, then in a split second it hit a woman who fortunately remained alive," one witness reported.
"There was a big noise. It wasn't clear what was happening. Then a neighbour ran out, I went to him and helped him. At first, I just asked if everyone was alive, then I let him in to wash up," added another resident.
690 Russian soldiers have died in the last 24 hours in Ukraine, and Wagner mercenaries are threatening to leave Bahmut if they do not receive the ammunition promised by the Russian authorities.
