live blog
Germany has delivered Ukraine, among other things, a new anti-aircraft system, additional tanks and ammunition. Ukraine says it attacked a Russian command post in Crimea. All developments in the live blog.
John Kirby, the US government’s national security spokesman, has called North Korean missile deliveries to Russia “a significant and worrying escalation.” The White House declined to comment on which missiles North Korea was supplying to Russia. However, Kirby told reporters they had a range of about 900 kilometers.
John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator at the National Security Council, speaks during a press conference at the White House. According to the US government, Russia used missiles from North Korea in its war of aggression against Ukraine.
A graphic presented by Kirby appeared to show KN-23 and KN-25 missiles. These are new solid-fuel rockets, said Ankit Panda from the US Foundation Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The deployment to Ukraine would be the first known combat use of these North Korean missiles. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied any arms deals.
Katrin Brand, ARD Washington, tagesschau, January 5th, 2024 5:21 a.m
Germany has supplied Ukraine with a new anti-aircraft system, additional tanks, ammunition and other military equipment for its defense against the Russian war of aggression. Like the federal government on Thursday in an updated overview on their website announced that Ukraine received, among other things, the Skynex air defense system with ammunition, new missiles for the Iris-T SLM air defense system and two TRML-4D air surveillance radars.
Ten more “Marder” armored personnel carriers with ammunition and spare parts, two more Wisent mine-clearing tanks and another Biber bridge-laying tank with spare parts were also delivered. There were also artillery ammunition, handgun ammunition, winter camouflage nets and winter camouflage ponchos.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj thanked Germany in the online service X for the new military aid package. It comes “in a timely manner and puts the focus on our priorities, especially air defense,” Zelensky explained. “The advanced Skynex system and additional Iris-T SLM missiles will strengthen our air defense and save more lives,” he added.
According to President Volodymr Zelensky, Ukraine is expecting new foreign arms aid soon. “I am grateful to all of our partners who are already putting together new support packages,” said the head of state in his evening video speech on Thursday. There will be “a lot of relevant announcements” in January. Zelensky did not give any details.
What Ukraine most urgently needs is anti-aircraft weapons and ammunition, Zelensky said after the heavy Russian bombardment from the air at the turn of the year. Artillery ammunition, electronic warfare equipment and drones are also required.
The Ukrainian Air Force says it has attacked a Russian command post near the occupied city of Sevastopol. In addition, a Russian military unit on the Crimean peninsula was hit in another attack. A social media video posted by Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk on the online platform Telegram purports to show smoke rising after an explosion near Sevastopol. The Crimean port serves as the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
The Moscow-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvoshayev, described the Ukrainian attack as “the most massive in recent times.” Parts of a projectile landed in a village. At least one person was injured and taken to hospital. The Russian Defense Ministry reported the downing of 36 drones over Crimea and another drone down over the southern Russian region of Krasnodar.
Conflict parties as a source
In the current situation, information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian parties to the conflict cannot be directly verified by an independent body.
From the perspective of most Germans, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine will not end in 2024. Only one in ten Germans (nine percent) believes that an end to the war this year is likely, as can be seen ARD GermanyTrend emerges. This corresponds to a decrease of 23 percentage points compared to January 2023. 87 percent of Germans assume that the war will not end in 2024.
According to US findings, Russia also used missiles from North Korea in its recent attacks on Ukraine. The Russian army reports that it has repelled a Ukrainian air attack on Crimea. Thursday’s developments to read.