Ukraine declared, this Tuesday, November 26, that it had been targeted during the night by a record attack by Russian drones, in the midst of an escalation of the war and threats from Vladimir Putin, after its use of a missile capable of carrying a nuclear charge and strike all over Europe. It is in this very tense context that the ambassadors of NATO and Ukraine meet in Brussels.
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Ukraine announced that it had been the target of a Russian attack overnight with a record number of 188 combat drones which, according to kyiv, damaged residential buildings and “ critical infrastructure », without causing any casualties. Four Iskander-M ballistic missiles were also fired, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Moscow and kyiv have intensified their attacks drones and missiles in recent weeks. Ukraine having recently fired long-range Western ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles at Russia, which continues to shell its territory since the start of its neighbor’s invasion almost three years ago.
THE November 21Moscow for its part struck Ukraine with a latest generation ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear charge and Vladimir Putin also threatened to strike Europe and the United States.
Ukraine has already indicated that it will not give in to these demands, but has not said whether it has reused its ATACMS, particularly in the Kursk region of Russia partially occupied by Ukrainian forces since August. The Kremlin refused to comment, while once again blaming the United States for “ climbing ” in progress.
An air alert that lasted more than five hours
During the night from Monday to Tuesday, “ critical infrastructure sites were affected ” And ” in several regions, houses and residential buildings were damaged », indicated the Ukrainian air force without giving further details.
Russia has been waging a campaign targeting Ukrainian energy sites for months, plunging millions of Ukrainians into darkness, a tactic described in kyiv as intended to terrorize the civilian population.
As of dawn Tuesday, air defense managed to shoot down 76 drones in 17 Ukrainian regions and another 95 aircraft likely fell due to electronic jamming by the Ukrainian military, according to the Air Force.
In kyiv, AFP journalists heard explosions during the air alert which lasted more than five hours. According to the military administration, “ more than 10 drones » Russians targeting the city were destroyed.
Meeting between kyiv and the Atlantic Alliance
Later in the day, the Ukrainian ambassador to NATO is due to meet her Alliance counterparts in Brussels at the request of kyiv, a meeting following the firing of the Russian experimental missile.
Ukraine has asked its Western allies to provide it with new, latest generation air defense systems, although Moscow has assured that these missiles, called ” Oreshnik », hazelnut tree in Russian, are impossible to intercept.
Russia, for its part, promised to increase this type of attacks if kyiv continued to use Western missiles on Russian territory. Vladimir Putin also threatened to strike the countries supplying these weapons to the Ukrainians. And the Kremlin, via spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, brushed aside the scope of the meeting: “ Important decisions are unlikely to be made at the ambassadorial level. »
Crucial US military aid
This renewed tension comes at a time when Europeans and kyiv fear an end to American military support for Ukraine with the return of Donald Trump to the White House, and the conclusion of an agreement to the detriment of Ukraine.
And the intensification of Russian attacks appears to be an attempt by Moscow to strengthen its position before possible negotiations. Russia also received reinforcements from thousands of North Korean soldiers who should, according to Washington, fight “ Soon » Ukrainian forces.
Military aid from Washington is crucial for Ukraine, whose exhausted army has been retreating for months against Russian troops, who are more numerous and better armed.
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