France condemns in the strongest possible terms the massive Russian missile and drone strikes conducted against numerous civilian targets in Ukraine over the past couple of nights. During the night of March 20-21, 31 Russian missiles targeted the capital city of Kyiv, injuring 15 people. During the night of March 21-22, 87 missile and 63 drone attacks throughout the country left at least 3 dead and 22 injured. Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was specifically targeted in this attack and a number of sites were damaged, including the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station and several electrical substations, causing interruptions in the supply of electricity and water in several regions.

These strikes, which followed last week’s tragic events in Odesa, Sumy, Kryvyi Rih and Myrnohrad, are yet another violation of international law by Russia, which is relentlessly pursuing its strategy of intimidation against Ukraine and its supporters, with total disregard for the lives of Ukrainian civilians.

As European leaders reiterated at the EU Council meeting, it is essential to ensure that Russia does not prevail in its war of aggression against Ukraine. France will therefore continue to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to ensure its legitimate defense through European channels, and we will also continue to provide it with military aid on a bilateral basis, in keeping with the commitments set forth in the February 16th agreement on security cooperation signed by President Macron and President Zelensky.