Russian war of aggression
Ukraine wants to build more long-range drones
Ukrainian rescue workers in Odessa after a Russian attack. (Archive) Photo
© Uncredited/Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP/dpa
Ukraine has further developed its drones, some of which fly deep into the Russian hinterland – and serve a specific strategy. The most important things at a glance:
In the defensive fight against the Russian invasion, the… According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine is expanding its production of long-range combat drones. He spoke about this with the military leadership and government, Zelensky reported in a video speech on Friday. “The Cabinet of Ministers must do everything possible to ensure that even more technologically advanced long-range drones are designed and mass-produced,” he said in Kiev.
Ukraine has been resisting Russian invasion for more than two years. The 752nd day of the war will be counted on Saturday. The night began without the usual air alert over Ukraine due to incoming Russian missiles or drones. On the ground, Russian troops continue their attacks. The Ukrainian General Staff counted 68 attempted Russian attacks on the fronts in the east and south of the country on Friday. In Berlin, Germany, France and Poland, three important European allies, reiterated their support for the attacked country.
20 dead in rocket attacks on Odessa
The southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa on the Black Sea is mourning the deaths of at least 20 people in two serious Russian missile attacks. According to civil defense, more than 70 people were injured in the attacks on Friday morning. The rescuers themselves became targets: “Unfortunately, a medic and a civil defense employee died as a result of the Russian rocket attack,” said the region’s governor, Oleh Kiper. The rescue workers rushed to the site of the impact after the first explosions and were killed in a second rocket attack. According to the information, Russia used Iskander surface-to-surface missiles. “Our defense forces will certainly do everything so that the Russian murderers feel our just response,” Zelensky said.
Drone attacks on Russian oil industry
Regarding the importance of drone warfare, Zelensky said that the more intensively Ukraine uses such flying robots against targets in Russia, “the more difficult it will be for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to continue his sick rule and thus the war.” He spoke to his military officers about the targets of the attack, namely “Russian logistics and its system for financing the war.” Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities for several weeks. This is intended to hinder the supply of fuel to Russian troops. Revenue from the export of oil and gasoline is an important source of money for Moscow to finance the war.
Worldwide purchase of weapons for Ukraine
Despite differences, Germany, France and Poland vowed to stand together in supporting Ukraine at a three-party summit on Friday. “All three of us are serious about our support for Ukraine,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) after discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin. The three states of the so-called Weimar Triangle have a special task. “We share a conviction: Ukraine is also about our security and our future,” said Macron. There is a common will to support Ukraine for as long as necessary and not to let Russia win its war of aggression. Tusk also emphasized: “We spoke with one voice today, primarily about security issues for our continent, for our countries, and all of this, of course, in the context of the war.”
Scholz announced that they now want to buy weapons and ammunition not only in Europe, but worldwide to support Ukraine. “That’s a good improvement.” In a first step, the Czech Republic collected money in 18 countries to purchase 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine from so-called third countries outside the European Union. Germany wants to contribute around 350 million euros.
At the summit, the three politicians ignored the deep dispute over the possible deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine. Macron is not ruling this out – if only to keep Putin guessing. Scholz strictly rejects the use. There are different voices from the Polish government on this.
This will be important today
In Russia, Saturday marks the second of three days of presidential elections, with Putin – who has been in power for almost a quarter of a century – heading towards another six-year term. Although the opposition is excluded from the election, Russian authorities are nervously monitoring how two years of aggressive war against Ukraine and domestic repression will affect the Kremlin chief’s approval rating. Russian volunteer units fighting on Ukraine’s side have tried to disrupt the election in recent days by attacking the Belgorod border region. Putin said this would not succeed. Anti-government Russian forces are expected to continue their attacks.