“Relative elimination of tactical air superiority” – offensives stall
A Ukrainian soldier in a trench in Donetsk Oblast
Source: picture alliance/Anadolu/Diego Herrera Carcedo
British intelligence services assume that the counteroffensives of both parties are stuck in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The USA is meanwhile promising Ukraine an additional $425 million in military aid.
IAccording to British military experts, both sides are making little progress with their offensives in Ukraine. This emerged from the Defense Ministry’s daily intelligence update in London on Friday. The Ukrainian advance in the south is “relatively static” between two well-prepared Russian defensive positions. At the same time, a large-scale Russian attack near the town of Avdiivka in the eastern Donbass region came to a standstill in the face of strong Ukrainian defenses.
“A major factor in this phenomenon is most likely the relative elimination of tactical air superiority: both sides continue to have significant air defense capabilities that prevent fighter jets from providing effective air support for attacks,” the statement continued. Above all, the geographical conditions are also important, since with a front line of 1,200 kilometers to be protected on both sides there are hardly any troops available for a breakthrough.
USA pledges an additional $425 million in military aid to Ukraine
Meanwhile, the US has pledged $425 million in new military aid to Ukraine. As the US Department of Defense announced on Friday, Ukraine will receive, among other things, anti-aircraft missiles, artillery ammunition and anti-tank weapons from US Army stocks with a total value of 125 million dollars (118 million euros). For a further $300 million, Washington is ordering laser-guided ammunition to defend against drones from the defense industry in Kiev.
The $300 million comes from an interim budget passed by the US Congress in September, which ensures funding for government work until November 17th. The funds provided for in the interim budget have been used up with the $300 million order, as the Pentagon explained.
The ministry therefore called on Congress to release new funds for Ukraine so that the country can continue to defend itself against Russia’s “brutal” war of aggression. “Security assistance to Ukraine is a smart investment in our national security,” the Pentagon said.
Massive Russian drone strike
Also on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyj complained about the use of “almost 40” Russian combat drones against ten areas of the country. “Unfortunately there were also impacts. According to preliminary information, no victims,” the Ukrainian head of state said on social networks.
Firefighters extinguish a fire in Kharkiv after a Russian drone attack
Source: dpa/Uncredited
According to him, this affected three areas: Kharkiv in the east and Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west. Only about half of the drones were intercepted. The Ukrainian Air Force had previously reported 24 kills.
Russian authorities report nine deaths in Ukrainian attack
According to Russian authorities, nine people were killed in a Ukrainian attack in a Russian-occupied region in southern Ukraine. Nine victims were “recovered dead from the rubble,” Russian-appointed official Vladimir Saldo said on Rossiya 24 television.