Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday Saturday he repeated his appeal to the Western allies of his country for the delivering more and faster air defense systems; after the Russian attacks that claimed the lives of eleven people, eight of them in Odessa.

One of Kiev’s key partners, Germany, is facing a crisis after the defense ministry confirmed “interception” of conversations between German military officers discussing classified issues regarding the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile in Odessa, a Russian strike against a nine-story apartment building caused the death of eight people on the night of Friday to Saturday, aamong them two children aged three years and four months, according to a local official. In addition, eight people were injured, two of whom are children.

“These attacks do not make any sense from a military point of view (….) this is intimidation aimed exclusively at destroying lives, instilling fear,” Zelensky complained.

“It’s scary,” said Natalya, a resident of the neighborhood where the strike took place. “The damage is extensive, there are broken windows, cars…”.

Images posted on social media show a high-rise building completely destroyed.

“Strengthening anti-aircraft defense”

Alongside three people were killed by Russian shelling in the regions of Kherson, Kharkiv and Zaporizhia, according to Ukrainian authorities.

“The delay in the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, air defense systems for the protection of our people, unfortunately leads to such losses. Ukraine does not ask for anything other than what is necessary to protect lives,” the Ukrainian president underlined, adding that “it is impossible to understand” “the internal political games or differences between (Kiev’s) partners that limit its defense against Russia.

After more than two years of war, Zelensky calls on his Western allies to provide Kiev with military aid, mainly ammunition, anti-aircraft defense systems and fighter jets, more quickly.

However, American aid remains blocked in Congress, while the Europeans, whose weapons production capabilities are limited, are slow to deliver to Ukraine the shells they promised in recent months.

Victory over Russia “depends on you”, Zelensky had emphasized a few days ago addressing his Western allies.

In this context of great pressure, Berlin announced yesterday Saturday the start of an investigation after the publication in Russia of secret conversations of German army officers regarding arms deliveries to Ukraine, a “very serious matter”, according to Chancellor Olaf Solz.

A member of the government coalition estimated that Moscow, by publishing the intercepted conversations, seeks to “intimidate” Germany in order to refuse to deliver long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, which it is requesting.

Russian advance

According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, half of the western weapons are delivered to Kiev with delay.

This problem is compounded by the fatigue of the soldiers at the front after two years of war and against a more numerous Russian army.

However, Ukraine regularly carries out drone attacks in areas controlled by Russia. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it prevented an “attack of 38 drones” on the night of Saturday to Sunday, which were destroyed “all” over Crimea.

Last night, the Russian National Guard indicated that “a drone crash” was “probably” responsible for a fire that broke out in a St. Petersburg neighborhood that forced “about 100 people” from their homes.

Saint Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city, is located about 1,000 kilometers from the border with Ukraine.

On the front Russian forces have gained ground in recent days, seizing several small villages in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, and forcing the Ukrainians to reorganize their defense line in the region.

“The situation at the front remains difficult, but under control,” Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Shirsky commented yesterday after visiting troops at the front.