Ukraine: Massive attacks by Russia again – Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also sees Germany threatened

Kyiv/Berlin. According to media reports, Ukraine was once again the target of massive Russian attacks overnight into Sunday. Air raid warnings were issued throughout the country, even in regions far from the front lines in the west, according to reports from "The Kyiv Independent." Injuries and damage were reported. Already on Saturday evening, the Air Force had warned of new drone attacks in most of the country. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) sees the Russian war of aggression as a direct threat to life in Germany.

The danger to Germany from Russia should not be underestimated, warned Wadephul in the newspapers of the Funke media group: "Russia also directly threatens our lives in peace and freedom in Germany." The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is and remains the greatest threat to security in Europe and the most important issue of German foreign policy.

The NATO resolutions from The Hague – the alliance agreed to increase defense spending to five percent of the member states' respective national economic output – were "right and necessary," Wadephul said. Russian President Vladimir Putin was "attacking the morale of the Ukrainian people with indiscriminate bombing terror. Ukraine's freedom is the most important test of our steadfastness as Europeans."

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) at the Bundeswehr air base in Jagel

Source: David Hammersen/dpa

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) also warned against a false sense of security in Germany with regard to Russia. During a visit to the Bundeswehr's Operational Command in Schwielowsee, he pointed to the ongoing war and said: "We must not take our security for granted. We must do more to ensure that we can live in freedom, peace, and security." Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) recently made similar comments, warning against underestimating Russia's war aims.

Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv late in the evening. However, according to military observers, the majority of the Russian combat drones were flying westward. Explosions and impacts also occurred in Zaporizhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and the Cherkasy region.

According to reports, the governor initially reported at least three injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure in attacks around Cherkasy. Damage was also reported in other areas. Citing official sources, "The Kyiv Independent" reported, for example, a fire following an impact in Kremenchuk, central Ukraine.

Citing the Polish armed forces, the reports said that in response to the attacks in the west of the neighboring country, which borders Poland, fighter jets were gathered and air defenses were activated from the ground.

RND/dpa/janp