War against Ukraine: this is the situation

Russian invasion - War against Ukraine: this is the situation

Ahead of Armed Forces Day in Ukraine on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked all those who are fighting in the defense against the Russian invasion - soldiers and volunteers alike. "Glory to all those who fight and work for Ukraine and Ukrainians!", he said in his video address on the eve of the holiday.

Ukraine has been fending off a large-scale Russian invasion since February 2022 and is dependent on foreign support. However, the process of obtaining aid suffered a setback: a video call by Zelenskyi to Washington to convince members of the US Senate to continue the aid was canceled at short notice. Something came up at the last minute, said Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

On Wednesday night, there was another air alert over large parts of Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia attacked again with combat drones. Wednesday marks the 651st day of the war according to the Ukrainian military's count.

Selenskyj does not speak to US senators

No details were given in Washington as to why the video link between the Ukrainian head of state and the US senators was canceled at short notice. Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that he was in the US capital for talks.

Democratic Senator Schumer appealed to his Republican colleagues in front of journalists to approve further US aid quickly. "This is a historic moment", he said. We cannot wait any longer. According to the government, the funds for Ukraine approved by the US Congress to date will be completely used up by the end of the year.

If Parliament does not act, the government will no longer have any funds to procure further weapons and equipment for Ukraine or to deliver equipment from its own military stocks to Kiev, the National Budget Office warned in a letter to the leadership in both chambers of Congress.

Pistorius: Deliver what we can - opposition wants more

In Germany, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) admitted delays in arms deliveries to Ukraine. At the same time, he said that capacities would be ramped up as quickly as possible. "We currently have the problem, which is well known, that the arms industry in certain areas cannot deliver as quickly as the demand is there," he said on ZDF's "Heute Journal". However, Germany is now the second largest supporter of Ukraine when it comes to arms deliveries. "We deliver what we can."

CDU defense politician Henning Otte called for the German government to expand military aid. "The course of the front will probably not change fundamentally in the winter months, despite many losses. This makes long-term support for Ukraine all the more important," the Vice-Chairman of the Defense Committee told the German Press Agency.

The government should abandon its negative stance on the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles. "With the delivery of Taurus, Ukraine could combat the likely increase in Russian missile attacks at the missile base," said Otte. The Taurus is one of the air force's most modern missiles with a range of around 500 kilometers.

Another night of Russian drone attacks

According to Ukrainian reports, Russia attacked the neighboring country with combat drones again on Wednesday night. The Ukrainian air force initially reported a threat to the south of the Odessa region. Later, another group of Iranian-made Shahed drones flew over the Mykolaiv region. The air alert was then extended to central Ukraine and the capital Kiev.

At the same time, the Ukrainian air force announced that it had shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 fighter-bomber over the west of the Black Sea near Snake Island. Zelensky confirmed the downing in his video address.

Zelenskyi's thanks to those behind the front line

On the Day of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, it is "both very symbolic and fair to say that Ukraine thanks all its volunteers", said Zelenskyi. There are "thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions of compassionate Ukrainians who have joined the volunteer movement". They supported the army by collecting money and procuring weapons, vehicles and equipment. At the same time, the volunteers took care of the internally displaced persons and other needy people in the country.

Apartments for heroic soldiers

Ukrainian soldiers who have been awarded the highest distinction of "Hero of Ukraine" will receive an apartment from the state in future. Selensky handed over the first 21 certificates of ownership to the soldiers in Kiev or - if they were decorated after their death - to their surviving dependants. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, around 360 soldiers have been honored as "Heroes of Ukraine". 210 of them received the honor posthumously.

This will be important on Wednesday

In the USA, the arms industry is discussing weapons production with Ukrainian representatives. The White House announced that it wanted to explore "opportunities for co-production and other industrial cooperation in Ukraine".

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is internationally isolated due to the war in Ukraine, visits the oil states of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.