War against Ukraine: this is the situation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has announced the accelerated construction of shelters and fortifications along all sections of the front. "The priority is obvious," he said in his daily video address.
The construction of such facilities had been discussed with the Minister of Defense and leading military officers. Most recently, a number of observers had declared the Ukrainian counter-offensive a failure. The emphasis on building fortifications is seen as an indication that the leadership in Kiev is now concentrating on defense.
Renewed air alert in Ukraine
There was another air alert in Ukraine during the night. The Ukrainian armed forces warned of attacks by Russian drones that had been launched from Crimea. Two people were injured by a Russian drone in the Kherson region, reported Ukrainska Pravda.
Meanwhile, Olena Shaliuk, chairwoman of the parliamentary committee for regional development and urban planning in Kiev, announced that more than 170,000 buildings in Ukraine had already been damaged or destroyed by the Russian invasion, which has been ongoing for more than 21 months. This was reported by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform early this morning. This is said to include more than 20,000 residential buildings.
More than 3,500 educational institutions and 420 large and medium-sized companies were hit by the Russian attacks, as Shaliuk wrote in the agency's blog. Airports and civilian airfields, 344 bridges and crossings and 25,000 roads were also affected by destruction.
Ukraine has been repeatedly hit with missile and drone attacks in the Russian war of aggression, which Moscow launched on February 24, 2022. This often results in severe destruction, deaths and injuries.
Selensky calls for more security for schools
In addition to the contested areas on the front line, Selensky also called for more security at schools. Shelters should be built there. In this context, he reported on a visit to a school in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which is housed on the premises of the subway railroad. Selensky spoke of a successful project because the subway was safe from Russian attacks.
Since the beginning of its war of aggression, Russia has also repeatedly attacked civilian targets in Ukraine's hinterland with drones, cruise missiles and rockets. Energy supply facilities in particular are targeted in order to deprive Ukrainians of their electricity, water and heating supplies during the cold season and make them war-weary.
Latvia signs purchase contract for German Iris-T air defense system
Latvia signed a contract on Thursday for the purchase of the German medium-range air defense system Iris-T worth around 600 million euros. According to the contract, the Baltic EU and NATO country will receive the necessary equipment from the manufacturer Diehl Defense to be able to operate the weapon system effectively. Delivery is set to begin in 2026, according to the Ministry of Defense in Riga. Latvia had agreed the purchase of Iris-T together with neighboring Estonia.
Air defense is considered a weak point of the Baltic states. Estonia and Latvia border Russia, Latvia also borders its close ally Belarus. The two Baltic states regard the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine as a direct threat to their security. They have already massively increased their military spending and are arming their armed forces.
Report: School in Russia lets children make grenade parts
According to media reports, pupils at a school in the Russian republic of Tatarstan are making parts of artillery shells for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine as part of a work group. "What at first glance looks like a child's toy actually fulfils a very important function ... the stabilizers help the shell to fly directly into the target without tipping over in the air," reported the local television correspondent about the lessons. The independent "Moscow Times" also reported on the case nationwide on Thursday.
What will be important today
The exchange of blows continues in Skopje at the meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). On Thursday, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed Western states for the crisis in the organization. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock countered this and called on the members of the OSCE to oppose the blockade by Russia. Lavrov's participation in the conference had already triggered protests and the decision by some ministers not to attend.
Amidst the ongoing war against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Selensky has emphasized the need for increased taxation to fund the construction of fortifications and shelters in households, acknowledging the severe impact of conflicts on their infrastructure.
Despite the focus on defensive measures, the Russian invasion has resulted in significant damages and destruction to over 170,000 buildings, including over 20,000 residential ones, highlighting the pressing need for such initiatives.
Source: www.dpa.com
