EU gives Ukraine another $1.65B following latest Russian strikes

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – The European Union has disbursed €1.5 billion ($1.65 billion) to Ukraine following the latest Russian airstrikes.

"I firmly condemn the Russian strikes on Ukrainian grain storage and export infrastructure," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a tweet on Tuesday, adding that the EU continues to support Ukraine.

"Today we paid another €1.5 billion, to help keep the state running and repair infrastructure. More will come," she also said.

Russian missile strikes in Ukraine have intensified since last week, after an explosion at the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

At least one person was killed and 22 others injured in an overnight Russian missile strike in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, police said on Sunday.

The historical Transfiguration Cathedral was also damaged by the strikes, the Odesa City Council said. The building is said to be Odesa's largest Orthodox Christian church.​​​​​​​

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will retaliate.