Russia shot drones and missiles at southern and eastern parts of Ukraine overnight. This hurt more than a dozen people. The attacks are meant to weaken Ukraine’s defences.
Ukraine’s air force stopped 26 out of 28 Shahed drones using air defence systems. Russian troops fired five missiles last night, it was reported.
The Kremlin’s forces have been attacking Ukraine a lot more lately, with missile attacks on the capital city Kyiv and energy facilities across the country. The attacks are also meant to make Ukrainian people feel less confident and to punish them for attacking Russia.
Russia wants to weaken Ukraine’s air defense, according to a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
This would weaken Ukraine’s ability to fight because it is waiting for promised but late military support from the West, including ammunition for its artillery and air defenses.
“Kyiv is facing a problem. If there is a long and drawn-out war in the air, Russia will have an advantage without enough help from the US and its friends,” according to IISS. “Ukraine’s ability to keep Russian planes away and make it hard for the Russian Air forces is very important for the war. “
Ukraine is waiting for its Western friends to give them F-16 fighter jets. This will help Ukraine put pressure on Russia. Ukrainian pilots have been learning how to fly warplanes in the West for several months.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if Ukraine’s Western allies provide air bases for F-16s to launch attacks against Russia, those bases will be a legitimate target. F-16s need strong runways and hangars to protect them while they are on the ground.
The arrival of many F-16s won’t make a big difference in the military situation, but Ukrainian officials are happy to have them to fight against Russia’s strong air force.
Putin said that the F-16s will not make a difference in the fighting.
“We will destroy their planes just like we destroy their tanks, vehicles and other equipment,” Putin said to pilots during a visit to an air base.
However, Putin said that Russia does not want to start a war with NATO. He said it was “completely ridiculous” to think that Russia would attack a country that is part of NATO after the war in Ukraine.
Officials in Mykolaiv region, near the Black Sea in southern Ukraine, said 12 people were hurt and six homes were damaged in a Russian attack on the city on Wednesday afternoon with a ballistic missile.
During the night, in southern Ukraine, there was an attack in Zaporizhzhia. Shahed drones hit a neighborhood where people live. Two women, aged 72 and 74, were slightly hurt. The regional Governor gave this information.