Nearly two years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, attacks are increasing on both sides of the border. kyiv claims to have shot down 15 of the 35 explosive drones launched overnight against the country by Moscow. This war will also be at the heart of Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Sweden this Tuesday.
Information to remember
⇒ 15 of 35 Russian explosive drones were intercepted overnight, according to kyiv
⇒ Macron travels to Sweden to discuss European defense
⇒ New Ukrainian strike kills three in Donetsk
Russia says it shot down 21 Ukrainian drones
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that it had shot down a total of 21 Ukrainian drones launched against its territory and the annexed Crimean peninsula overnight, according to state news agencies.
In detail, 11 drones were intercepted over Crimea, five around the Belgorod region, three in Bryansk, one in Kaluga and one in Tula. For the moment, the ministry has not mentioned any damage.
Ukraine says it shot down 15 of 35 Russian explosive drones launched overnight
The Ukrainian air force said on Tuesday that it had shot down 15 of the 35 explosive drones launched overnight against the country by Russia. They were intercepted over southern, central and northern regions of the country. At least two civilians were killed overnight in Ukraine in air and artillery attacks carried out by Russia, which for its part was targeted by around twenty Ukrainian drones.
The Ukrainian army said it had shot down only 15 of 35 Russian explosive drones and none of the two missiles that targeted the north, east, center and south of the country.
European defense at the heart of Macron’s visit to Sweden
French President Emmanuel Macron begins a two-day state visit to Sweden on Tuesday, which is on the verge of joining NATO. This trip will be largely devoted to the future of European defense and support for Ukraine.
“Faced with new threats on European soil, France and Sweden will take concrete measures to strengthen their defense relations, particularly in the industrial sector, and by becoming allies within NATO as soon as possible, underline the head of the Swedish government Ulf Kristersson and Emmanuel Macron, in a column in the daily newspapers The echoes And Dagens Nyheter.
Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine shook things up in Sweden. Long neutral on a military level, Stockholm has decided to join the Atlantic Alliance. Hungary remains the last obstacle to this accession.
Furthermore, Sweden announced that it wanted to reach the milestone of 2% of GDP devoted to defense spending “as soon as possible”.
Blinken urges Congress for new support for Ukraine
This Monday, the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, considered it crucial that Congress approves a new budget envelope for Ukraine, otherwise everything that has been accomplished “will be compromised”.
Antony Blinken spoke alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference. The latter, who is in Washington for a series of interviews, also pleaded for continued aid to Ukraine, stressing that “the brutal war waged by Russia against Ukraine was approaching its second anniversary ” and that a “Russian victory would only embolden Iran, North Korea and China.”
After delivering tens of billions of dollars in weapons to Kiev since the start of the war, Joe Biden’s administration exhausted its appropriations at the end of 2023. The president has asked Congress to approve an additional $61 billion, but negotiations with the Republicans bogged down.
A new Ukrainian strike in Donetsk
At least three people were killed in a Ukrainian strike on Donetsk, the head of the Russian occupation of the region, Denis Pushilin, said on Monday.
According to the official, “three other civilians” were “slightly injured” in this attack which “damaged two residential buildings and at least three civilian infrastructures.”
Located around twenty kilometers from the front line, the city of Donetsk came under the control of pro-Russian separatists led by Moscow in 2014. It has since been regularly bombarded by the Ukrainian army.