EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Russia was pursuing a “deliberate strategy of terror”.
The funding is part of the €90 billion loan facility previously promised by the European Union . The announcement came after Russian missiles and drones struck Kyiv and around a dozen other Ukrainian regions overnight into Wednesday, killing at least 19 civilians, including four children, and injuring around 60, according to Ukrainian officials. A Russian strike destroyed an apartment block in Pryluky, in the northern Chernihiv region, killing 13 people, including four children, and injuring about 50, Interior Minister Ihor Vyhivskyi said.
EU president Ursula von der Leyen said Russia was pursuing a “deliberate strategy of terror” as the European Commission announced it had disbursed €1.24 billion ($1.4 billion) to Ukraine for drones, drone interceptors, drone ammunition and missiles. Others must step up their support too,” von der Leyen said in a statement. Ukraine had anticipated the attack, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning a day earlier that intelligence indicated Russia was preparing a “massive” strike. In Kremenchuk, in the Poltava region, two people were killed and seven injured, according to regional officials, while rescue operations continued. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces carried out a massive overnight strike targeting Ukrainian facilities involved in the production and storage of missiles and drones. It also said port and ship-repair facilities in the southern Odesa region and ships carrying cargo for the Ukrainian military were hit.
“Russia is pursuing a deliberate strategy of terror. To protect people and infrastructure, Europe is stepping up.