Russia hits Ukraine with missiles, drones as 'dear friend' Xi departs

[u/morenewsat11]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-meets-dear-friend-xi-kremlin-ukraine-war-grinds-2023-03-20/

[u/things_U_choose_2_b]

KYIV/ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine, March 22 (Reuters) - Russia blasted an apartment block in Ukraine with missiles on Wednesday and swarmed cities with drone attacks overnight, in a display of force as President Vladimir Putin bid farewell to his visiting "dear friend" and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Firefighters battled a blaze in two adjacent residential buildings in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, where officials said at least one person was killed and 33 wounded by a twin missile strike.

In Rzhyshchiv, a riverside town south of Kyiv, at least six people were killed after a drone struck two college dormitories, regional police chief Andrii Nebytov said.

"Right now, residential areas where ordinary people and children live are being fired >at," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tweeted, with security camera video showing one >building exploding.

"This must not become 'just another day' in Ukraine or anywhere else in the world. The world needs greater unity and determination to defeat Russian terror faster and protect lives."

A playground and a car park at the scene in Zaporizhzhia were littered with glass, debris and wrecked cars. Emergency workers carried out the wounded or escorted those who could walk.

An elderly woman with scratches on her face sat alone on a bench, wiping tears and whispering prayers.

"When I got out, there was destruction, smoke, people screaming, debris. Then the firefighters and rescuers came," said Ivan Nalyvaiko, 24.

During the night, sirens blared across the capital and swathes of northern Ukraine, and the military said it had shot down 16 of 21 Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones.

In an apparent reference to the Chinese president's visit to the Russian capital, Zelenskiy tweeted: "Every time someone tries to hear the word 'peace' in Moscow, another order is given there for such criminal strikes."

Zelenskiy visited troops near the front line. His office released video of him handing out medals to soldiers, which it said was filmed near Bakhmut, the eastern city where Ukrainian forces are mounting a defence in what has become Europe's deadliest infantry battle since World War Two.

International bodies estimate rebuilding Ukraine will cost $411 billion - 2.6 times Ukraine's 2022 gross domestic product.

CHINA-RUSSIA UNITY

Hosting Xi in Moscow this week was Putin's grandest diplomatic gesture since he launched the war a year ago and became a pariah in the West. The two men referred to each other as "dear friend", promised economic cooperation, condemned the West and described relations as the best they have ever been.

Xi departed telling Putin: "Now there are changes that haven't happened in 100 years. When we are together, we drive these changes."

"I agree," Putin said, to which Xi responded: "Take care of yourself, dear friend, please."

But the public remarks were notably short of specifics, and during the visit Xi had almost nothing to say about the Ukraine war, beyond that China's position was "impartial".

The White House urged Beijing to pressure Russia to withdraw. Washington also criticised the timing of the trip, just days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges.

China has proposed a peace plan for Ukraine which the West largely dismisses as vague at best, and at worst a ploy to buy time for Putin to regroup his forces.

Ukraine says there can be no peace unless Russia withdraws from occupied land. Moscow says Kyiv must recognise territorial "realities" after its claim to have annexed nearly a fifth of Ukraine.

After Ukraine recaptured territory throughout the second half of 2022, Moscow launched a massive winter offensive using hundreds of thousands of freshly called-up reservists and convicts recruited as mercenaries from jail.

Despite the bloodiest fighting of the war, which both sides describe as a meat grinder, the front line has barely moved for four months.

WAR FATIGUE?

Russia's only notable gains have been around Bakhmut, but Kyiv has decided in recent weeks not to withdraw there, saying its defenders were inflicting enough losses on the Russian attackers to justify holding out.

In an intelligence update, Britain's ministry of defence said that while there was still a risk the Ukrainian garrison in Bakhmut could be surrounded, Russia's assault on the city could be running out of steam. Ukraine's military General Staff agreed, saying Russia's offensive potential in Bakhmut was declining.

A Ukrainian counterattack in recent days west of Bakhmut was likely to relieve pressure on Ukraine's supply route, the British ministry added.

With Ukraine urging more support and more powerful weapons, the president of NATO alliance member Czech Republic said that Western zeal may wane over time, especially given the impending U.S. election next year.

"We have to take war fatigue into account and what it means for support from Western countries. This will decrease over time," German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung quoted Petr Pavel as saying in one of the first such warnings from an ally of Kyiv.

Britain rejected accusations from Moscow that providing Ukraine with ammunition made from depleted uranium created a risk of "nuclear collision".

"There is no threat to Russia, this is purely about helping Ukraine defend itself," Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.

The shells Britain is supplying Ukraine are used by many militaries to penetrate armour due to the metal's high density.

Depleted uranium is a by-product of making enriched uranium for nuclear reactors and weapons.

It is less radioactive than naturally occurring uranium, but campaigners want to limit its military use due to concerns about lasting risks around impact sites, where dust can get into people's lungs and vital organs.

Reporting by Reuters bureaux Writing by Peter Graff and Frank Jack Daniel

Editing by Philippa Fletcher and Andrew Cawthorne

[u/____DEAFPOOL____ → u/things_U_choose_2_b]

Russia is such a flaccid penis of a country now. They fail at fighting military so they attack students and women and children.

I look forward to the day when the news report that Putin has been crushed under his giant table. Such a little man, soft and weak.

[u/lexxi_cox]

Even though I am aware of how powerful some drones can be as weapons, this just seems like such a pitiful "display of force."

[u/Knotloafin]

21 missile salute…

[u/FM-101]

The two men referred to each other as "dear friend", promised economic cooperation, condemned the West

.

Xi had almost nothing to say about the Ukraine war, beyond that China's position was "impartial".

These are two conflicting statements. You cant be impartial to the Ukraine war while also supporting the Ukraine war.

[u/ionian-hunter → u/FM-101]

Chinas trying to keep the heat off themselves and keep taking advantage of russias weakness. Putin has to ride meat hard to keep their only “ally” from turning around and walking away

[u/[deleted] → u/FM-101]

The only real difference between Xi and Putin is one will have you thrown out a window, while the other one will have you thrown of a roof with your limbs bound. These guys grew up on the murderous side of communist purges, and thus don't comprehend why it isn't working.

[u/George1793]

Winnie the Pooh isn't going to do anything in Ukraine. He knows better. But it's time people started protesting at the Chinese embassies nonetheless.

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[u/notouchpepe]

A show of force to impress the king???

King of the who? The Britons Well, I didn’t vote for ya.

[u/artiechokes1]

Putin has turned Russia into China’s gimp

[u/kingofpotatopeople92 → u/artiechokes1]

As I recall, that didn't work out too well for Zed, did it?

[u/SRM_Thornfoot]

Xi must have promised Russia more ammo, so Putin feels free to use up the last of his.

Now if Biden can lay the thumbscrews to China like Trump did we may get them to renege on aiding Russia. Xi does not want to lose the US as a trading partner.

That will leave Russia sitting in their trenches with nothing but shovels and bayonets at about the same time that the western heavy armor shows up.

[u/Wwize → u/SRM_Thornfoot]

Trump didn't do shit against China. It was all theater. Ivanka even went to China to get trademarks approved. Trump and his family do business with China while lying about how much he does against China.

[u/Pissflaps69 → u/SRM_Thornfoot]

Bless your heart, you believe trump was tough on Gina.