Russia claims to have shot down four Ukrainian missiles over Crimea annexed by Moscow this Saturday, January 6. The attack came a day after Russia said it repelled a Ukrainian drone attack in Crimea, shooting down 36 of them over the peninsula.
Information to remember
⇒ Russia claims to have shot down four Ukrainian missiles flying over annexed Crimea
⇒ Ukraine releases images of suspected downed Russian hypersonic missile
⇒ Norway sent F-16s to Denmark for training Ukrainian pilots
Crimea: Russia says it shot down four Ukrainian missiles
Russia claimed this Saturday, January 6, to have shot down four Ukrainian missiles flying over annexed Crimea during the night. “Air defense intercepted and destroyed four Ukrainian missiles over the Crimean Peninsula,” the Russian Defense Ministry said. The day before, Moscow assured that it had foiled a new Ukrainian drone attack against the peninsula: 36 drones were shot down.
Strikes have increased on both sides in recent days, even though the conflict has lasted for almost two years. Crimea, annexed in 2014 by Russia, is a key region for the logistics of Russian forces which occupy part of southern Ukraine. This territory is regularly the target of Ukrainian missiles and drones.
Ukraine releases images of suspected downed Russian hypersonic missile
On Friday January 5, Ukraine published images of what it presented as a Russian Kinjal hypersonic missile, of which it claimed to have shot down ten examples during massive strikes on Tuesday using the American Patriot anti-aircraft system. Ukraine’s Emergency Situations Department published photographs on its Telegram channel showing a crane extracting the remains of a missile from the ground.
“In kyiv, engineers neutralized the warhead of an enemy Kinjal aerial hypersonic missile,” the government body said. AFP was not immediately able to verify the Ukrainian claims. Ukraine said on Tuesday it had shot down ten Kinjal missiles fired by Russia during a wave of massive strikes on Ukrainian towns, which left six people dead. It had already claimed in May and June 2023 to have destroyed other Russian Kinjals thanks to the powerful and expensive Patriot anti-aircraft system delivered by the United States.
Norway sent F-16s to Denmark for training Ukrainian pilots
“Norwegian F-16s land in Denmark, marking an important milestone in our continued support for Ukraine,” the Norwegian military said in a post on the social network X, Thursday January 4. “After more than forty years of service, these aircraft will now be used to train Ukrainian military personnel, reinforcing our commitment to the defense of Ukraine,” she continued.
Norway announced last year, like several other countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands, that it would give Ukraine refurbished F-16s after having been withdrawn from service and replaced by more modern F-35s. These devices are eagerly awaited by kyiv.
White House official warns of ‘disastrous’ Ukraine aid situation
US President Joe Biden’s top budget official stressed there is no way to help Ukraine outside of Congress approving additional funding, as negotiations between lawmakers Americans remain in an impasse. Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said that while the Pentagon has limited authority to help Kiev, without new funding from Capitol Hill, “it won’t deliver large chunks of money.” equipment to Ukraine.
Shalanda Young also detailed the impact a lack of additional U.S. aid would have on Ukraine, aside from its military capabilities, such as Kiev’s ability to pay its civil servants to ensure its government can continue to operate despite the dam of Russia.