The toll of a Russian strike on a residential building in Dnipro in Ukraine, one of the highest since the start of the war, is likely to increase further on Tuesday, January 16, after having climbed to 40 dead the day before.
Vladimir Putin for his part denounced the increasing deliveries of Western weapons to Ukraine, the Kremlin swearing that the tanks promised to Kiev will "
burn
" on the battlefield.
Moscow has denied being responsible for the carnage at Dnipro and blamed the Ukrainians.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke of
a "tragedy
" that could be due to a shot by the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense.
The European Union reaffirms its unwavering support for the Ukrainians.
Strike in Dnipro: 44 dead, 79 injured, 22 wanted
At this stage, "
39 people have been rescued (including 6 children), 44 people have died, including 4 children, and 79 people have been injured, including 16 children
," Ukrainian relief said on Tuesday in its latest report on the subject of the strike on Saturday against an apartment building in Dnipro.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: questions about the transfer and adoption of children from Donbass in Russia
The toll could rise further, with the rescue teams still busy finding under the huge slabs of concrete more than twenty people whose fate remains unknown.
“
22 people are still wanted
,” said Ukrainian relief on Telegram at the end of the morning.
Gestures of comfort in front of the destroyed building in Dnipro, January 16, 2023. VITALII MATOKHA / AFP
Rescue operation still in progress
"
The rescue operation, the demolition of the rubble, will not end until the bodies of all the dead are found
," said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, adding that "
several (injured) are in serious condition, including a child
.
Read alsoIn the midst of the destruction, the Ukrainians begin to shiver: the story of the special envoy of Figaro
In this place of desolation, people laid flowers and stuffed animals in memory of the victims.
Other residents of Dnipro brought clothes or duvets to a collection point set up by humanitarian workers.
Around 40 people were rescued from the ruins of the building.
“
More than 200 apartments have been destroyed, and our most important task is to resettle all the people and help rebuild this building
,” assured Kyrylo Tymoshenko.
Tributes laid at the site where a building was heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, as part of Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine, January 16, 2023. CLODAGH KILCOYNE / REUTERS
Germany in favor of the creation of a special court
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised that "
everyone guilty of this war crime would be identified and brought to justice
".
"
There is no doubt
," he said Monday in his evening speech.
In a speech in The Hague, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she was in favor on Monday of the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute the Russian leaders, assuring "
that a war of aggression would not go unpunished
".
Residents receive hot tea and food near the destroyed building two in Dnipro, eastern Ukraine, January 16, 2023. VITALII MATOKHA / AFP
EU will continue to support Kyiv '
as long as it takes
'
Europe will continue to support Ukraine “
as long as it takes
” in the face of Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged during a speech at the Economic Forum meeting on Tuesday. worldwide in Davos.
“
Our unwavering support for Ukraine will never let up.
Whether it is to help restore electricity, heat and water supplies, or to prepare for long-term reconstruction efforts
,” she insisted.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: these Western tanks, hoped for by kyiv, which could break through the Russian lines
The Swedish presidency of the European Union has denounced "
a Russian war crime
".
A new example of “
suspicion of violations of the law of war
”, reacted for his part the Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres.
Emergency personnel working on the building damaged by Russian fire in Dnipro, Ukraine, January 16, 2023. CLODAGH KILCOYNE / REUTERS
Denials and threats from Moscow
The Kremlin took two days to react to the strike on the Dnipro building.
"
The Russian armed forces are not bombing residential buildings or civilian infrastructure, they are bombing military targets
," said Dmitry Peskov, despite the strikes which have already hit a multitude of civilian targets since the start of the invasion, February 24.
Read alsoNear Zaporijjia, the crossover of civilians crossing the front line: the story of the special envoy of Figaro
Faced with this rain of missiles and the threat of a new major Russian offensive, Westerners have intensified their military aid to Ukraine.
A meeting on Western arms deliveries to kyiv is scheduled for January 20 at the American base in Ramstein (Germany).
Vladimir Putin and his spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, December 9, 2022. VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO / AFP
Vladimir Putin denounced, in a conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Erdogan, "
the destructive line adopted by the Kiev regime, which has bet on intensifying the fighting, with the support of its Western sponsors who are increasing their arms deliveries and of military equipment
" to the Ukrainians.
“
These tanks are burning and will burn
,” Dmitri Peskov had earlier told the press.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Astana, October 13, 2022. Handout / TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP
Russian troops decorated for their commitment
This Tuesday, January 16, the Russian army said, Sergei Shoigu went to the staff of the Vostok military group where he spoke with the commander of this group and those of other units and seen presenting a report on the situation on the ground and "
progress in carrying out combat tasks on the main directions
", according to the same source.
The army did not specify in its press release where the staff is located, which may be in Russia as well as in Ukraine.
Video released by the Russian Defense Ministry showed Sergei Shoigu holding a meeting with Russian commanders in person and via video conference.
Among those who participated by videoconference included the chief of the Russian general staff, Valery Gerasimov, who was recently placed at the head of the Russian operation in Ukraine.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: why did Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu disappear from screens for two weeks?
According to the video, Sergei Shoigu also presented decorations to servicemen.
"
You perform your service with dignity, protect our homeland, help those in need and do everything to approach the day which is called 'Victory Day'
", he declared, during this ceremony.
In December, Sergei Shoigu traveled twice to the area of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, in particular to inspect the army positions on the front line, according to the Ministry of Defense.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (left) and Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov (right) during a visit by the Russian President to the Joint Staff of the troops involved in the Russian military operation in Ukraine, at an undisclosed location.
Gavriil GRIGOROV / Sputnik / AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov during the annual meeting of the Defense Ministry Council in Moscow on December 21, 2021. Mikhail Kireyev / Sputnik / AFP
Washington renews its "strong and unwavering commitment"
United States Assistant Secretary of State Wendy Sherman traveled to Kyiv on Monday (January 15th) where she met with Volodymyr Zelensky, assuring him
of Washington's "
strong and unwavering commitment " to Ukraine.
A large delegation of Ukrainians, led by Olena Zelenska, is going to Davos (Switzerland) this week to convince Westerners gathered for the World Economic Summit to deliver more weapons to them.
Read alsoPutin denounces the increasing deliveries of Western weapons to Ukraine
"
That's why I'm
here," said the mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, on Monday, adding that it is "
essential to forge personal connections
" to achieve this.
On Saturday January 14, London announced the supply to kyiv of Challenger 2, which would constitute the first delivery of Western-made heavy tanks to Ukraine.
“
Tanks, armored vehicles and artillery are exactly what Ukraine needs to restore its territorial integrity
,” the Ukrainian President tweeted on Monday January 15.
Warsaw said it was waiting for a green light from Germany to deliver German-made Leopard tanks.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Ukrainian soldiers arrived on Sunday January 15 at a military base in Oklahoma, United States to train in the use of the Patriot air defense system, which Washington will provide in Kyiv.
A Polish Leopard tank in Nowogrod, Poland, May 19, 2022. Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman addresses the United Nations (UN) Security Council regarding the situation in Ukraine, March 29, 2022 in New York City.
SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP
The IAEA in Ukraine
For his part, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, arrived in Ukraine on Monday to install a new system which provides for the permanent presence of experts in the country's four nuclear power plants. in operation, as well as in Chernobyl.
Read alsoThe IAEA will deploy missions to “secure” nuclear power plants in Ukraine
The aim is "
to ensure that the facilities so important for the country, especially in these difficult times, continue to operate normally
", he said from the South Ukraine power station.
"The spirit of resistance" reaffirmed by the first lady of Ukraine
In an interview with CNN, the first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, assured that the Russians had not managed to break the spirit of resistance of the Ukrainians.
"
We lasted almost a year, we can last longer
," she said, stressing that now "
the country's children can tell the difference between the sound of a rocket, a drone and the anti-aircraft defence
.
Read alsoIn Paris, Olena Zelenska raises funds to rebuild the Izioum hospital
The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, listens to students during a visit to a classroom of a primary school for allophone students in Paris, December 13, 2022. JULIEN DE ROSA / POOL / AFP