Due to the launch of “Caliber” missiles from the Black Sea and the launch of missiles from Russian Tu-95ms bombers, an air attack warning was announced throughout the entire territory of Ukraine this week, Ukrainian media reported.
Officials in Kyiv reported an overnight offensive on the capital, with missiles approaching from “different directions” and air alerts sounding for two hours. No casualties were reported.
Ukraine’s air force said it destroyed 13 of 26 missiles launched by Russia in a Thursday morning attack
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, said that the sounds of explosions were heard in the capital and that air defense is activated in Kyiv. The mayor asked the residents of the capital not to leave their shelters.
Ukrainian media said loud explosions were also heard in Dnipro, Zaporizhia and Lviv.
According to the information available at time of going to press, urban infrastructure was hit in Zaporizhia and one person was confirmed injured, while other injuries are yet to be confirmed.
Ukraine’s air force said it destroyed 13 out of 26 missiles launched by Russia in a Thursday morning attack, including one Iskander ballistic missile and 10 cruise missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address Wednesday that he had held a meeting with top military brass, manufacturers and intelligence officials on countering the threat from Russian drones.
Around half of the country’s electronic air defense and warfare systems are produced domestically, he noted, adding that a ramp-up of production is needed. He touted the impact of the international drone coalition, which the Netherlands said it would join.
Addressing the Wednesday report from the Ukrainian military that it sunk a Russian landing ship in the Black Sea, Zelensky said that Kyiv’s forces had increased security on the waterway, which is one of Ukraine’s key trade routes.
“This is important. Step by step, we will clear the Black Sea of Russian terrorist objects,” he claimed.
Russian oil depot hit in drone attack, Kursk governor says
A fire erupted in Russia’s iron-ore-rich region of Kursk, after a Ukrainian drone struck a local oil depot, according to a Google-translated update from regional Governor Roman Starovoit on Telegram.
There were no casualties as a result of the incident, he said, citing preliminary information.
Russian and Ukrainian energy infrastructure has been increasingly targeted in recent weeks, raising concerns about global hydrocarbon security, which have already been stoked by the war in the Middle East.
US Defense Secretary Austin pledges continued support for Ukraine
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday said Washington would continue to support Ukraine, amid uncertainty over whether the House of Representatives will pass a bill to provide Kyiv with $61 billion worth of aid.
“The United States continues to stand foursquare with Ukraine. And America will continue to support Ukraine’s principled fight against Putin’s imperial aggression,” Austin said.
Austin was speaking virtually at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which was formed in April 2022 to coordinate support for Ukraine and discuss developments in the war.
David Cameron urged US lawmakers to vote for the $95bn security aid package for Ukraine and other countries
Supporting Ukraine is “the right thing to do” and just standing by was “not an option” for “people of principle and governments of conscience,” Austin said.
It comes as tensions over funding for further aid for Ukraine have reached boiling point in the US, with various Republican lawmakers opposing a bill that would provide monetary support to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Austin also said supporting Ukraine was central to national security interests and that the outcome of the war would “define global security for decades.”
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, urged the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives to pass a “vital” military aid package for Ukraine, warning lawmakers that China would be emboldened if Russia won its war.
The British foreign secretary, David Cameron, also urged US lawmakers to vote for the $95bn security aid package to Ukraine and other countries. “Britain has announced its support package for the next year, the European Union has announced their package for the next year. And I urge members of Congress in the United States who will be looking at this today to vote for the package.”
Ukraine military posts video of purported hit on Russian warship
Ukraine’s military said it sank a Russian landing ship in its latest sea drone attack against Moscow’s Black Sea fleet. Ukrainian military intelligence released video on Wednesday that it said showed several naval drones approaching the Ropucha-class large landing ship Cesar Kunikov off the coast of Crimea, before the damaged ship was shown turned on its side and sinking.
Compiled by Ana Dumbadze
