war | Russia: NATO is the USA’s “instrument of confrontation”.

The Kremlin makes serious allegations against NATO. Hundreds of thousands of people in Kharkiv and the surrounding area are cut off from electricity. More information in the news blog.

The most important things at a glance

Zelensky calls hesitation in military aid in the West unacceptable

10:05 p.m.: After the deaths of rescue workers in a Russian attack in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev criticized the West’s hesitation in providing military aid to the country as completely unacceptable. “A new anti-aircraft system could fundamentally change the situation,” said Zelensky in his evening video message broadcast in Kiev. He said he was grateful to every country that was looking for ways to help Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasizes: “It is completely unacceptable that so many countries in the world are still thinking about how they can counteract terror, even though all it takes is a few political decisions.”

In order to better protect its cities from Russian attacks, Ukraine is demanding more anti-aircraft systems, such as the US Patriot type, almost every day. Stronger air defense for Kharkiv and the region of the same name as well as the Sumy region and the southern regions is an “absolutely urgent need,” says Zelensky.

WHO: Numerous attacks on emergency teams in Ukraine

8:27 p.m.: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been numerous attacks on health workers in ambulances and other health transport in the past few months during the war in Ukraine. “Many emergency teams come under fire either on the way to a mission or at their bases,” Halyna Saldan, head of the Center for Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine of the Kherson region regional administration, was quoted as saying in a WHO statement. This means that these helpers would have a significantly higher risk of being injured or killed than other health workers.

According to the WHO, 68 attacks on healthcare facilities were counted in the first quarter, of which twelve attacks targeted emergency services. Four helpers were injured and two were killed. “This is a frightening pattern,” says Emanuele Bruni, WHO incident manager in Ukraine. In January and March there was almost one attack per day, mostly using heavy weapons.

NATO Secretary General warns of Ukraine’s failure

8:25 p.m.: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warns clearly that support efforts for Ukraine, which is being attacked by Russia, will fail. If it is not possible to mobilize more aid, there is a real risk that Russia will conquer even more Ukrainian territory, said Stoltenberg after a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels.

And then NATO will find itself in an even more dangerous situation. He was alluding to the fact that Russian forces would then be even further west and the risk of attacks on NATO states could also increase.

Finland extends border closure with Russia

7:05 p.m.: Finland has announced that it will keep its border with Russia closed indefinitely. “The decision remains in force until further notice, but not longer than necessary,” explains the government in Helsinki. In addition, “the maritime border crossings at Haapasaari, the port of Nuijamaa and Santio will be closed to recreational shipping from April 15” to prevent “the spread of instrumentalized migration to maritime traffic.”

Finland closed its 1,340-kilometer border with Russia in mid-December due to a rapid increase in migration. Helsinki accuses Moscow of deliberately smuggling refugees to the border in order to trigger a migration crisis in Finland. Russia denies the allegations. Finland has extended the border closure several times, the last extension would have expired on April 14th.

From April 15, asylum applications can only be submitted at sea or airport border crossing points other than those mentioned. According to Finnish authorities, opening the border could pose a threat to national security and public order.

Kuleba: NATO allies are looking for an air defense system for Ukraine

2:01 p.m.: According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, NATO allies have agreed to identify air defense systems in their arsenals that they will send to Ukraine for its self-defense. The allies would make these additional air defense systems available to Ukraine and thus “contribute to the defense of our skies,” Kuleba tells the press in Brussels, where he is taking part in a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.