Ukrainian MP: “More surprises to come for Putin’s army”
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Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik has promised “more surprises” to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army and the world as her country battles an ongoing invasion.
Rudik spoke to Fox News on Saturday about the ongoing advance on Kiev as Russian troops advance on the Ukrainian capital. The defensive forces have managed to keep the military invaders – which include columns of tanks – at bay, at least for now. Ukraine’s continued efforts have surprised officials around the world, many of whom did not expect the tiny nation to stand up to superpower Russia.
“I got messages from all the political leaders around the world saying, ‘Yeah, Kyiv will fall tonight’ and watch us. We didn’t,” boasted Rudik. “We have more surprises ahead for Putin’s army and the world on how Ukrainians can defend their country.”
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The city experiences a lull in the onslaught. Rudik spoke to Fox News about the prevalence of air raid sirens and evacuation orders.
People take shelter in the basement of a building as sirens sound, announcing further attacks in the city of Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, February 25, 2022.
(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
“For three or four hours there have been no sirens and no access to bomb shelters, which is a rare case in Kyiv these days,” Rudik said. “Since parliament announced martial law, in total there have been more than 13 attacks on Kyiv, where sirens were on and people had to go to bomb shelters.”
Martial law powers have placed Ukraine’s military under full control of the country’s government, led by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The reshuffle of power gave parliamentarians time to draft legislation for after the end of the war.
“Because I’m an optimist, I’m working on things that will be related to road reconstruction, building reconstruction, etc. And different programs that will help Ukraine return to peaceful times,” Rudik told FoxNews.
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The United States will further strengthen Ukraine’s defense against Russian invasion with an additional $350 million in aid, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced it on Saturday.
Several buildings in Starobilsk, in the Ukrainian region of Luhansk Oblast, show significant damage from shelling, according to footage shared by the National Emergency Service of Ukraine.
(National Emergency Service of Ukraine)
Defense assistance will include anti-armour, small arms and various ammunition, as well as body armor and related equipment, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Saturday.
“I have authorized, pursuant to a delegation from the president, an unprecedented third presidential drawdown of up to $350 million for immediate defense support to Ukraine,” Blinken said on Saturday. “This brings the total security assistance the United States has provided to Ukraine to over $1 billion over the past year.”