'Putin's favorite present is war crimes': MFA strongly responds to Russia's attack
Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (Getty Images)
On the birthday of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian army launched a massive attack on Ukraine, using hundreds of missiles and drones, according to a statement by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
"On Putin's birthday, Russian generals presented him with his favorite gift - war crimes," Sybiha emphasized.
Russian forces attacked residential buildings and critical infrastructure in Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kremenchuk, and Pryluky, among other targets.
According to the minister, at least two people were killed in Kyiv and another four in other regions of Ukraine as a result of the attack.
The Foreign Minister noted that Russian generals are not telling Putin the main thing - Russia is not winning the war against Ukraine.
According to him, the advance of Russian forces has slowed, while Ukraine has begun liberating more territory than Russia manages to capture. The minister also said that the economic situation in Russia is deteriorating and its influence in the world is weakening.
"All of this because he refuses to end this war," the head of Ukraine's foreign ministry emphasized.
At the same time, Sybiha acknowledged that the situation is also extremely difficult for Ukraine. However, according to him, Ukrainians do not intend to surrender, as it is about the survival of Ukraine as a state and a nation.
"Russia's terror must not go unanswered," he emphasized.
Sybiha calls on partners to increase pressure on Russia
Following the new attack, the minister called on international partners to strengthen sanctions against Russia and increase support for Ukraine.
In particular, this includes additional restrictions against Russia's military-industrial complex, including companies producing ballistic missiles and the Rassvet satellite system.
In addition, Sybiha called on partners to provide Ukraine with all necessary air defense systems. He separately emphasized the need for energy assistance ahead of winter.
According to the minister, such steps should help force the Kremlin to choose diplomacy instead of continuing the war.
'Main gift' for Putin - The Hague
Sybiha separately mentioned preparations for the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
The minister said that Ukraine is preparing for its practical launch as early as next year. According to him, Putin and his accomplices must understand that accountability for the war they unleashed is inevitable.
"But his ultimate present will be a dock in The Hague," Sybiha said. "Putin and his friends should know that accountability is inevitable."
Attack on Ukraine on October 7
On the night of October 7, Russia launched a massive combined attack on Ukraine. According to the Air Force, the enemy used 130 attack drones, 48 cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Ukrainian air defenses destroyed 161 aerial targets.
The strikes hit Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kremenchuk and Pryluky, among other locations. Two people were killed in the capital and another two in Kremenchuk.
In Pryluky, a Russian missile hit an apartment building, killing four people and injuring another 20.
Read all the details of Russia's attack in the RBC-Ukraine material Russia launches massive overnight strikes on Ukrainian cities: What is known.
