African leaders were greeted in Kyiv by air raid sirens as they arrived on a peace mission. Meanwhile, Russian troops have been promised bonuses for destroying Western tanks. Follow DW for the latest.
Headed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the delegation visited a site of a mass grave in the town of Bucha
Air raid sirens sounded and at least two explosions shook Kyiv on Friday as African leaders arrived in the Ukrainian capital on a peace mission.
Ukraine says its forces downed 12 missiles, including six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, but images posted by the Ukrainian interior ministry showed damaged homes in the Kyiv region.
The attacks came as the president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, arrived in Kyiv via train, heading a delegation of African leaders who are seeking to mediate between Ukraine and Russia.
Ramaphosa, who is visiting Ukraine for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of the country, will hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday before traveling to St. Petersburg on Saturday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Accompanying Ramaphosa are Senegalese President Macky Sall and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, plus representatives of Egypt and the Comoros, as African leaders look to make the continent's voice heard in the conflict.
Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said that African leaders should take note of Friday's air raid on Kyiv, just as they arrived.
"Putin 'builds confidence' by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital," he tweeted. "Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace."
South African President Ramaphosa's office tweeted that the African leaders' mission was "proceeding well and as planned."
Germany to provide Ukraine with 64 more guided air defense missiles
German defense minister Boris Pistorius has announced the "immediate" delivery of additional missiles for Ukraine's Patriot air defense systems.
"The Federal Government has decided to immediately provide 64 further guided missiles," said Pistorius, speaking at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Friday.
He said it was "an important signal" of support for Ukraine's efforts to fend off Russian air attacks "in this particular phase of the war" – even as Russian cruise missiles targeted Kyiv.
The announcement came a day after the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark and the Netherlands had pledged hundreds of additional air defense missiles to Ukraine, with actual logistics already underway and delivery set for the coming weeks.
Earlier this year, Germany provided the Ukrainian Armed Forces with one of its US-made Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems.
Russian troops promised bonuses for destroying Western tanks
Meanwhile on the frontline, the Russian Defense Ministry has promised bonuses for Russian troops who have destroyed NATO-supplied armor, including German Leopard tanks and US Bradley fighting vehicles.
"Payments are currently being made to servicemen of the Russian Federation Armed Forces who in the course of military operations destroyed Leopard tanks, as well as armored fighting vehicles made in the USA and other NATO countries," the ministry announced.
The ministry claimed that, up until the end of May, a total of 10,257 Russian personnel had been rewarded for destroying 16,001 items of Ukrainian and Western military equipment, with armored vehicles valued at 50,000 rubles ($596; €546) and tanks at 100,000 rubles ($1,195; €1,091).
On Sunday, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu awarded the "Hero of Russia gold star" medal to soldiers who the Kremlin said had destroyed NATO-supplied equipment being used by Ukraine in its burgeoning counteroffensive.
mf/rs (AFP, Reuters)
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