US Defense Minister Calls Russian Attacks Rescaling The International Community To Support Ukraine

JAKARTA - Russia's missile attack on Ukraine has exposed Moscow's hatred and atrocities, bringing together the international community to support Ukraine's military efforts to defend itself, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting discussing Ukraine's issue at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters, Secretary Austin praised Ukraine's military progress since September, calling them extraordinary and having changed the dynamics of war.

"This victory belongs to the brave Ukrainian army. But security assistance, training, and contact group support efforts are essential," he said at a meeting of the Defense Ministers, including from Ukraine.

Russia rained down on Kyiv and major cities in Ukraine on Monday and Tuesday with dozens of cruise missiles to drone attacks, in what it called a "retaliatory" to the explosion on the Crimea bridge last weekend.

Monday's attack killed 19 people, injuring more than 100 and crippling electricity across the country, Ukrainian officials said. Meanwhile, as the attack took place on Tuesday, at least seven people were killed in the southeastern city of Zaporizhia, causing the western part of the city of Lviv to be powerless.

Separately, Russia denies targeting civilians in its military operations in Ukraine, accusing the West of escalating and prolonging the conflict by supporting Kyiv.