Russia hits Ukraine’s Kharkiv after German minister visit

KHARKIV (MNP) – Russian strikes hit eastern Ukraine s city of Kharkiv late Tuesday, the regional governor said, just hours after a surprise visit by the German foreign minister with her Ukrainian counterpart.

Annalena Baerbock vowed further German support for Kyiv on her unannounced trip, but Ukraine s top diplomat Dmytro Kuleba said Berlin s refusal to send his country battle tanks was costing lives.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently agreed to provide to Ukraine Marder infantry fighting vehicles long sought by Kyiv in its battle against Russia s invasion.

But Berlin has so far declined to supply Ukraine with more advanced Leopard battle tanks. Kuleba, accompanying Baerbock during her visit to the eastern city of Kharkiv, pressed Germany again to send them.

The “longer it takes to make the decision, the more people will die”, he said.

“I have no doubt that Ukraine will receive German Leopard tanks. I think the German government somewhere deep down understands that this decision will be made and the tanks will be transferred to Ukraine.”

Kharkiv has faced heavy bombardment during the war, but the frontline has moved east since a Ukrainian counter-offensive last year retook territory from Russian forces.

“Stay in the shelters. The occupiers are bombing again!” regional governor Oleg Synegubov warned on Telegram. An AFP journalist heard several explosions in the city.

Baerbock, who on Tuesday became the highest-level Western official to visit Kharkiv, had pledged further German support for Kyiv.

“In all parts of Ukraine, from Kharkiv to Kherson to Kyiv, people should know they can rely on our solidarity and support,” she said.

She stressed that Germany will keep supplying weapons “that Ukraine needs in order to free its citizens who are still suffering under the terror of Russian occupation”.