Massive Russian Airstrikes Hit Ukraine
Written by worldOneFm on January 14, 2024
Russia launched a wave of missiles into Ukraine early Saturday morning, Ukraine’s air force said, adding that it was able to shoot down a handful.
In all, Russia launched 37 missiles and three drones, Ukraine’s air force said in a statement on social media. Most of the missiles were ballistic missiles that are harder to shoot down, the statement said.
“It should be noted that more than 20 of all the listed (weapons) which were not included in the number of the downed, did not reach their targets as a result of active countermeasures by electronic warfare,” the statement said.
The air force’s spokesperson said earlier this week that Ukraine is running out of air defense missiles, but it is not clear how much of a role that played in the low hit rate.
Ukraine’s air defenses shot down Russian missiles in at least five regions across Ukraine, according to local officials from those provinces.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed it was targeting factories that make shells, gunpowder and unmanned aerial vehicles.
“All designated facilities were hit,” it said. Ukraine provided no target details.
French official visits
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne visited Kyiv on Saturday, just hours after Russia’s attack. He said France will continue backing Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia and will support defense manufacturing cooperation between the two countries.
It was Sejourne’s first official visit since starting his new role this week.
“Russia hopes Ukraine and its supporters will get tired before them. We will not grow weaker,” Sejourne said during a news conference in the center of the Ukrainian capital.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak traveled to Kyiv on Friday to unveil nearly $3.2 billion in new military funding for Ukraine, Britain’s largest annual commitment since Russia invaded the country.
Sunak said he was sending a message to Ukraine on behalf of his nation and Ukraine’s allies around the world, that they will never be alone. He said the war in Ukraine is about the nation’s right to defend itself and to be an independent democracy.
“If [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wins in Ukraine, he will not stop there,” Sunak said. He said any wavering in support for Ukraine will embolden Putin and his allies in North Korea, Iran, and elsewhere.
National security advisers are to convene in the Swiss ski resort town of Davos on Sunday for another round of closed-door talks on Ukraine’s peace plan. The meeting on the eve of the World Economic Forum’s big annual gathering excludes Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will promote his 10-point peace plan at the convention.
“We are already preparing for the forum in Davos, presenting our position and joint opportunities for everyone in the world who strives to leave a world of stability and freedom for their children. Our values, not the madness of any dictator,” he said in his video address Saturday.
Zelenskyy also met Friday with Penny Pritzker, the U.S. special representative for Ukraine’s economic recovery.
“We are eagerly awaiting the decision of Congress regarding further support for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said, “support that matters not only to us, but also to every state whose stability depends on the strength of international law.”
Some members of the U.S. Congress are wavering on the continued support for Ukraine.
Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
