(BRUSSELS) – NATO says more than two thirds of its members have now committed financial and military support towards a major programme designed to improve Ukraine’s defence capabilities. It follows continued Russian attacks across Ukraine that have killed at least seven civilians in the past day.
Ukrainian officials say Russia launched more than one hundred kamikaze drones overnight, with eighty three intercepted by Ukraine’s air force. Several regions came under attack, including Ternivka in Dnipropetrovsk region where two people were killed. Homes were damaged, roofs were torn off, and windows shattered. Local people and emergency workers cleared debris while volunteers delivered basic construction supplies for temporary repairs.
Nikopol city in the same region also came under artillery and drone fire, leaving two people injured and taken to hospital. In the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, regional authorities reported two civilian deaths and five others wounded after strikes that hit homes, schools, and energy facilities.
In Kherson region, where the front line remains close to populated areas, police say three civilians were killed and three others were injured. Dozens of communities face frequent shelling each day.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters in Brussels that member countries are adding further resources to the programme known as the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL. Rutte said that Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland were among the latest to join the effort. Australia and New Zealand will also contribute as NATO partners.
The total value of commitments now exceeds four billion United States dollars, moving NATO closer to a target of five billion for the full year.
Table: NATO PURL Programme Figures
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Number of contributing NATO members | More than two thirds of the Alliance |
| Current total support announced | Over 4 billion United States dollars |
| Target for the year | 5 billion United States dollars |
Ukraine continues to strike military targets inside Russia to disrupt fuel supplies supporting the invasion. The General Staff in Kyiv said an oil storage site in Russia’s Tambov region, around four hundred kilometres north of the Ukrainian border, was hit by Ukrainian forces. The strike caused a fire that spread to several fuel tanks. Ukraine also reported a hit on a Black Sea observation position used by Russia.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry denied involvement in a recent incident involving a Russian oil tanker near the Turkish coast. The tanker, carrying sunflower oil and sailing under the Russian flag, was reportedly attacked one hundred and thirty kilometres from Turkey’s shoreline. Turkish maritime officials say the thirteen crew members were unharmed and did not request assistance.
The incident follows drone strikes on two other vessels recently in what analysts believe is part of Ukraine’s effort to reduce supplies reaching the Russian dictator’s war machine. The ministry spokesperson suggested the latest incident could have been staged by Russia to blame Ukraine.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed maritime security in the Black Sea during a meeting in Brussels, as attacks on Russia linked shipping increase pressure on Moscow’s fleet.
Ukraine continues to rely on international support while resisting Russia’s full scale invasion launched by the Russian dictator in February 2022. NATO leaders say the latest funding commitments will help Ukraine protect civilians and maintain its defence operations.
