War in Ukraine
Russia uses hypersonic missiles – Zelensky visits US Army in Germany
The Russian military also uses the Kinzhal hypersonic missile in the air strikes on Ukraine.
© Pavel Golovkin / DPA
Ukraine has achieved a success: the EU wants to talk to it about joining. But in Moscow, warlord Vladimir Putin is confident of victory and is continuing massive air strikes. The news at a glance.
Russia is attacking them Ukraine has been attacking Ukraine intensively from the air with missiles and combat drones for days. There was also an air alert over large parts of southern and western Ukraine during the night.
The Air Force reported swarms of Russian combat drones threatening the Odessa, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia and Cherkasy regions. On Thursday, Russian warplanes fired three Kinshal-type hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine, according to military sources. One of the state-of-the-art weapons was intercepted over the Kiev region.
Politically, Ukraine achieved a major success on Thursday: EU heads of state and government decided at a summit in Brussels to begin accession negotiations with the country attacked by Russia. “A victory that motivates, inspires and strengthens,” wrote head of state Volodymyr Selenskyj on the short message service
At the same time, it was a day on which Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared confident of victory in front of the press in Moscow. He reiterated the maximum goals in his war of aggression: disarmament and neutrality of the neighboring country and a different government.
Zelenskyj paid a short, unannounced visit to Germany at the end of a trip abroad and visited the European headquarters of the US armed forces in Wiesbaden. Today is the 660th day for Ukraine in its defense against the Russian invasion.
Moscow deploys hypersonic missile
On the day of Putin’s press conference in Moscow on Thursday, air alerts had to be sounded five times in the Ukrainian capital Kiev and across the country. In the afternoon, Russian MiG-31 fighter jets launched three Kinschal missiles, which can reach several times the speed of sound.
One target of the attack was apparently the Ukrainian air force base Starokostiantynivka. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ihnat confirmed on television that there had been at least one impact in the Khmelnytskyi region. Nothing was reported about any damage. A Kinschal was shot down while flying towards Kiev.
On Wednesday, the Russian Air Force fired ten ballistic missiles at Kiev, presumably converted from the S-400 anti-aircraft system. The Ukrainian air defense intercepted the rockets, but falling parts injured more than 50 people.
In the past few nights there have been attacks with Iranian-made Shahed combat drones. Last winter, Russia deliberately bombed Ukraine’s energy system. This winter, however, Ukrainian air defense is better equipped thanks to foreign help. The federal government in Berlin announced that a second Patriot air defense system with ammunition had been handed over to Ukraine from Germany.
Putin’s goals in the war
After a year’s break, the Kremlin leader held a press conference again, this time in conjunction with the nationwide public question time “Direct Wire”. He reiterated that the war in Ukraine would only end when the country was demilitarized and then had neutral status – i.e. did not join NATO. Putin once again spoke of the goal of “denazification” of Ukraine. Moscow assumes that Nazis are at work in the Ukrainian leadership. The intention is to install a government loyal to Russia.
All of this would amount to a capitulation of Ukraine, which is already one-fifth occupied by Russian troops. “Peace will come when we have achieved our goals,” said Putin.
Zelenskyj on a short visit to the US Army
During his unannounced flying visit to the Rhine-Main region, Zelensky visited the headquarters of the US Armed Forces in Europe. “Once again I was able to convince myself of the excellent quality of US military aid to Ukraine. We urgently need it for victory!” he wrote on to continue the help. On a trip lasting several days, Zelensky had previously visited Washington, where the hoped-for help was stuck in the dispute between Republicans and Democrats.
War in Ukraine
Cold, power outages, storms: the second winter of war is plaguing the Ukrainians at the front
No agreement on US aid this year
However, an agreement in the US Congress on new aid for Ukraine this year is unlikely. The Senate, led by the Democrats, wants to continue negotiating new aid to Ukraine over the weekend and next week. Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
But even if both parties in the Senate come to an agreement, a corresponding law could probably not be passed in Congress before the turn of the year. Because the second chamber of parliament, the Republican-led House of Representatives, is already on Christmas break.
This will be important today
Ukraine is bracing for further Russian air strikes in its hinterland beyond the front. At the same time, according to the Kiev General Staff, fierce fighting on the ground continues. A focus continues to be the city of Avdiivka, which Russian troops have been attacking for months with heavy losses.