Tag: Air Force Command of Ukraine

  • Russia claims to have shot down five military balloons from Ukraine in Kiev

    Russia claims to have shot down five military balloons from Ukraine in Kiev

    Russian air defenses shot down five Ukrainian balloons overnight, according to the defense ministry in Moscow. The conflict between the two sides continues with long-range strikes playing a big role. This has become a war of attrition.

    Russian and Ukrainian officials haven’t given any information about the mysterious balloons that the media in Moscow have reported on the battlefield. Ukraine’s military has been coming up with new ideas since the war started in February 2022. They have been using drones a lot to fight against the larger Russian forces.

    Russian news says Ukrainian balloons have a GPS and carry explosives. They are said to be more difficult to find and could carry a larger load than regular small drones. We don’t know if the balloons are filled with helium, hot air, or something else.

    The GPS module is probably used to control the release of explosives when the balloon flies over a specific area. This is done to cause fear on the ground and divert Russian air defense attention.

    The Russian defense ministry said that three Ukrainian balloons and one drone were shot down over the Voronezh region, which is near the Moscow-occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine. Two balloons were also stopped in the Belgorod region of Russia next to Ukraine.

    In addition to the balloons, Russia says it stopped two Ukrainian missiles, 19 rockets from rocket launchers, and 16 drones during the night.

    The defense ministry said three drones were destroyed in southern Russia’s Rostov region.

    According to Russian news reports, balloons with mortar mines were shot down by Russian air defences earlier this week in the Lipetsk and Kursk regions.

    Ukraine is having trouble in the war because its army is smaller and not as well-equipped as the other side. Western help for Kyiv’s military has decreased. More American help is stuck in Congress. Ukraine is getting ready for a big attack from Russia, possibly as soon as next month.

    Ukraine has been targeting far-away places behind enemy lines, hitting Russian bases and infrastructure.

    Kyiv officials are asking Western countries for more air defense systems because Russian missile and drone attacks are hitting cities and causing power outages.

    According to officials, 18 people died and 78 were hurt in a Russian missile attack on downtown Chernihiv, Ukraine.

    Ukraine’s President and Foreign Minister are asking European and G7 leaders for more equipment to defend their country’s airspace. They are mainly focused on getting air defense equipment.

    Ukraine’s air force shot down 13 drones that Russia launched at Ukraine overnight.

  • Embassy of Ukraine opened in Accra

    Embassy of Ukraine opened in Accra

    In a momentous step towards strengthening international relations, the Embassy of Ukraine has been formally established in the vibrant city of Accra.

    This historic event, attended by dignitaries and representatives from both nations, underscores a renewed dedication to promoting cooperation and mutual understanding between Ukraine and Ghana on the global platform.

    Against the backdrop of the newly constructed embassy building, adorned with the flags of both countries, diplomats from Ukraine and Ghana convened to commemorate this significant occasion.

    Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Middle East and Africa, Dr. Maksym Subh, expressed appreciation for the warm welcome extended by the Ghanaian hosts and underscored the embassy’s pivotal role in enhancing bilateral relations.

    “In opening our resident embassy in Accra, we aim to forge stronger ties between Ukraine and Ghana across various domains, from political engagement to economic collaboration and consular services,” remarked Dr. Maksym Subh, reflecting the shared aspirations of both nations for deeper engagement and partnership.

    “In the face of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ghana stands firm in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and upholding global peace and security,” affirmed Kwaku Ampra-Twum Sarpong, highlighting Ghana’s commitment to international norms and principles.

    The spirit of cooperation and solidarity was echoed by Kwaku Ampra-Twum Sarpong, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, who reaffirmed Ghana’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.

    The official establishment of the Ukrainian embassy not only signifies a physical presence in Accra but also marks the initiation of a new era in diplomatic relations between the two countries.

    With shared aspirations for economic prosperity, mutual cooperation, and peace, Ukraine and Ghana are poised to embark on a journey of collaboration and camaraderie that transcends geographical boundaries.

    As the ceremony concluded with optimism and anticipation, delegates from both nations reiterated their commitment to deepening bilateral ties and exploring avenues for mutual benefit, heralding a promising future of partnership and mutual respect.

    The inauguration of the Embassy of Ukraine in Accra represents a significant milestone in international diplomacy, reaffirming the commitment of both Ukraine and Ghana to fostering closer ties and cooperation.

    With the embassy serving as a beacon of friendship and collaboration, the stage is set for Ukraine and Ghana to embark on a journey of mutual prosperity and understanding, contributing to a more interconnected and harmonious global community.

  • Russia to rescue 9,000 kids out of border area targeted by Ukraine

    Russia to rescue 9,000 kids out of border area targeted by Ukraine

    9,000 children in a Russian border area are being relocated in response to the harm caused by shelling from Ukraine according to official on Tuesday. Kyiv’s soldiers are now attacking places far away from the war’s main area. The front line has not moved for over two years.

    The governor of a Russian border area, Vyacheslev Gladkov, said that the children will be taken to a place further east, away from the border with Ukraine.

    The news came one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said the government wants to make a safe area to protect the border from attacks coming from Ukraine.

    Ukraine is using its long-range weapons to attack oil facilities and storage areas in Russia. They are also trying to make Russia’s border areas uneasy, to put pressure on Putin.

    Also, people from Ukraine who are against Putin and the government in Russia have been carrying out attacks across the borders.

    Putin talked about the attacks with FSB leaders at a meeting on Tuesday.

    Three people were hurt in an attack from Ukraine on the Belgorod region on Tuesday, according to Gladkov. One of them was a 14-year-old who had to have part of their arm or leg removed. He said his mother was also very injured in the attack.

    Yesterday, four people from one family were killed in an attack in the village of Nikolskoe in Belgorod, according to Gladkov. A missile hit their house and killed a grandmother, mother, mother’s partner, and 17-year-old son.

    “We couldn’t check if the claims from both sides about the battle were true. ”

    The Russian defence ministry said they shot down two Ukrainian drones over Belgorod and one over the nearby Voronezh region. It didn’t say anything about any damage or injuries.

    Russia attacked the city of Selydove in Ukraine using S-300 missiles. Four people got hurt and houses and cars got broken, the regional prosecutor’s office said.

    Russian attacks on Monday killed one person and injured another in Donetsk, according to the regional governor Vadym Filashkin.

    Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked Western countries to send more air defence systems to Ukraine as soon as possible. He also showed how difficult the situation is for Ukraine’s forces. He said that Russia used 130 missiles, over 320 drones, and almost 900 bombs to attack different parts of Ukraine this month.

    Ukraine is working harder on its own defense industry and wants to achieve the same levels as it did in 1991. But it still needs a lot of help from Western countries, and that help has been getting less.

  • Russia claims Drone attacks by Ukraine against targets located far within its borders

    Russia claims Drone attacks by Ukraine against targets located far within its borders

    Officials from Russia have stated that Ukrainian drones successfully hit two oil buildings located deep inside Russia on Tuesday. At the same time, a group of armed people, said to be against the Russian government and based in Ukraine, caused concern in a border area just before Russia’s presidential election.

    The drones attack in eight parts of Russia shows that Kyiv is getting better with technology as the war goes on for three years. The attack across the border made President Putin’s claim that the war hasn’t affected Russia seem less believable. Despite this, he is likely to win another six-year term because he has gotten rid of all opposition.

    The news about fighting at the border was unclear, and it was impossible to be sure about what was happening in Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions. Attacks have been happening on and off in the area since the war started. People have been making different claims about who is responsible for the attacks, and there has been a lot of false information and propaganda spread about it.

    Russian volunteers who are fighting for Ukraine, according to Kyiv officials, say they have crossed the border. The Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalion posted videos and statements on social media, saying they were in Russia. They said they wanted “Russia free from Putin’s control. ”

    The videos couldn’t be checked by someone else to see if they were real.

    Ukrainian fighters tried to reach the town of Tetkino near the border, said the governor of Kursk region in Russia, Roman Starovoit. He said Tetkino was being attacked with bombs.

    A group tried to sneak in and cause damage. He said in a video message on Telegram that there was a shooting battle, but no progress was made.

    The Russian Defense Ministry said the Tetkino attacks were stopped, but didn’t give any more information.

    It also said that Ukrainian soldiers tried four times to go into the Belgorod area, but all the attacks were stopped by warplanes, guns, and missiles.

    Andrii Yusov from Ukraine’s intelligence agency said that the military groups are made up of Russian citizens.

    “He said they do their own thing without anyone telling them what to do in Russia. ”

    In May, Russia said that many Ukrainian fighters went into a town on its border in the Belgorod region. They attacked and made people leave, but more than 70 of the attackers were killed or sent back by a operation to stop terrorism. Ukrainian officials say they are not connected to the group.

    At the same time, a drone from Ukraine hit and started a fire at an oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region, as reported by the governor, Gleb Nikitin. That area is about 775 kilometers (480 miles) from the border of Ukraine.

    In another attack, a small flying robot was shot and destroyed in the area around Moscow. The mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, said this. The drone was close to Zhukovsky Airport, one of Moscow’s four international airports, even though it was brought down far south of the city center.

    Another flying robot crashed into a place where they store oil in Oryol, which is 116 kilometres away from Ukraine.

    Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last year that his country had made a weapon that can reach a target 700 kilometres (400 miles) away, which seems to be talking about drones.

    The Russian military said they stopped Ukrainian drones over several areas in Russia on Tuesday.

    Kyiv has been carrying out more aggressive attacks across a 1,500-kilometre (930-mile) front line in eastern and southern Ukraine. It has also been using more sea drones in the Black Sea, saying it has sunk Russian warships.

    Kyiv’s soldiers want more weapons and help from Western countries. But right now, they’re having a tough time fighting against the larger and better-equipped Russian army in some parts of Ukraine.

    Zelenskyy said that Russian progress has stopped and the fighting is now in a much better position than it was three months ago.

    “We had some problems because we didn’t have enough weapons and the sky was full of Russian drones,” Zelenskyy said in an interview with France’s BFM TV and Le Monde published late Monday on the Ukrainian presidential website.

    On Tuesday, a big Russian military plane called Il-76 crashed while trying to take off from an air base in western Russia. There were 15 people on board. The statement didn’t say if anyone lived through it. The ministry thinks that a fire in the engine when the plane was taking off probably caused the crash.

  • Russia launches widespread offensive against Ukraine with variety of cutting-edge weapons

    Russia launches widespread offensive against Ukraine with variety of cutting-edge weapons

    On Thursday morning, Moscow intensified its assault on the entire nation while a lethargic ground conflict dragged on in the east, showering Kyiv, Lviv, and other significant cities across Ukraine with what officials described as an unprecedented assortment of missiles.

    Six Kinzhal ballistic missiles, which can avoid Kyiv’s air defenses, were among the 81 missiles launched in the “massive strike” against Ukrainian infrastructure, according to the Ukrainian military.

    “The attack is really large-scale and for the first time using such different types of missiles. We see that this time as many as six Kinzhal were used. This is an attack like I don’t remember seeing before,” Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Air Force Command of Ukraine, said on Ukrainian television Thursday.

    “So far, we have no capabilities to counter these weapons,” he added, referring to the Kinzhals, plus six X-22 air-launched cruise missiles that were also launched by Russian forces.

    “It’s been a difficult night,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday in a Facebook message.

    “The enemy fired 81 missiles in an attempt to intimidate Ukrainians again, returning to their miserable tactics. The occupiers can only terrorize civilians. That’s all they can do. But it won’t help them. They won’t avoid responsibility for everything they have done,” Zelensky said.

    He listed 10 regions across Ukraine where aerial attacks took place, including Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, and said the attacks hit “critical infrastructure and residential buildings.”

    “Unfortunately, there are injured and dead. My condolences to the families,” he added.

    Russia used the nuclear-capable Kinzhal missile, which it has described as a hypersonic weapon, on a few occasions in the first weeks of its invasion last year. But the powerful weapon, which Ukraine doesn’t have the capability to shoot down, has rarely been seen over the country’s skies.

    At least 16 people were killed and more than 20 injured during the overnight attacks, according to preliminary information from regional authorities.

    In Kyiv, an air raid alert lasted for almost 7 hours overnight into Thursday and power outages were implemented as a preventative measure, regionalauthorities said. In the Zolochiv community near Lviv, a fire broke out when the fragments of a Russian missile were shot down, regional authorities said.

    The fire destroyed three residential buildings, and three cars. The rubble was being cleared and rescuers were searching for additional victims on Thursday morning. Several infrastructure facilities and other buildings were hit elsewhere in Ukraine.

    The Russian Ministry of Defense said Thursday the barrage of missile strikes it launched was retaliation for what the ministry called “terrorist actions” organized by Kyiv in Russia’s Bryansk region last week.

    “In response to the terrorist actions in the Bryansk region organized by the Kyiv regime on March 2 this year, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a massive retaliation strike,” it said in a statement. 

    “High-precision long-range air, sea and land-based weapons, including the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system, hit key elements of Ukraine’s military infrastructure, military-industrial complex enterprises, as well as energy facilities that serve them,” the ministry said. 

    Russian security officials claimed a small Ukrainian armed group last week crossed the Russian border into the southern Bryansk region. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said the agency was carrying out operations following “armed Ukrainian nationalists who violated the state border.” Russian President Vladimir Putin described the incident as a “terrorist attack.” A local official said two civilians were killed.

    CNN cannot independently verify the Russian claims, and local media did not carry any images of the supposed incidents, any type of confrontation or an alleged raid reported by Russian authorities.

    The use of such a wide and unpredictable array of weaponry seemingly marks a shift in the Kremlin’s strategy.

    The Kinzhal, an air-launched variant of the Iskander short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) which has also, more frequently, been used in Ukraine, was unveiled by Putin in 2018 as a cornerstone of a modernized Russian arsenal.

    Like virtually all ballistic missiles it is hypersonic, which means they travel at least five times the speed of sound, but it is also particularly difficult to detect because it can be launched from MiG-31 fighter jets, giving it a longer range and the ability to attack from multiple directions.

    “Russia likely developed the unique missile to more easily target critical European infrastructure … (its) speed, in combination with the missile’s erratic flight trajectory and high maneuverability, could complicate interception,” according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

    Russia’s use of the missile on Ukrainian targets last March was its first known use in combat, according to CSIS, and it was subsequently used again in May.

    Eight Iranian-made Shahed drones were also used in Thursday’s attacks, authorities said. A senior US defense official said Thursday that Ukraine is becoming a “battle lab” for testing Iranian weapons outside of the Middle East. The official spoke ahead of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s visit to Israel where Iranian-Russian military cooperation will be on the agenda.

    “Everyone should be preparing for what the threat scenarios look like when Iran takes the tactics, techniques and procedures it learned in Ukraine and starts to use those coercive tactics here,” the official said in reference to the Middle East.

    The barrage came as most focus in Ukraine was fixed to Bakhmut, the eastern city that Russia’s ground forces have been assaulting for weeks and appear to be on the cusp of capturing.

    Ukraine’s troops have sustained a determined defense of the city even as some military experts advocate for a tactical withdrawal.

    Zelensky said in an interview with CNN on Tuesday that Kyiv’s ongoing resistance in the city is “tactical,” warning that Russians could advance towards other key cities to the west if they capture Bakhmut.

    “We understand that after Bakhmut they could go further. They could go to Kramatorsk, they could go to Sloviansk, it would be open road for the Russians after Bakhmut to other towns in Ukraine, in the Donetsk direction,” he told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in an exclusive interview from Kyiv. “That’s why our guys are standing there.”

    Correction: This story has been updated to clarify that virtually all ballistic missiles — not missiles in general — are hypersonic.