War against Ukraine: this is the situation

Russian invasion - War against Ukraine: this is the situation

Russia has been attacking Ukraine intensively from the air with missiles and combat drones for days. During the night, there was also an air alert over large parts of southern and western Ukraine.

The air force reported swarms of Russian combat drones threatening the areas of Odessa, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia and Cherkassy. According to these military reports, Russian fighter jets fired three Kinschal hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine on Thursday. One of the ultra-modern weapons was intercepted over the Kiev region.

Politically, Ukraine achieved a major success on Thursday: at a summit in Brussels, the EU heads of state and government decided to begin accession negotiations with the country attacked by Russia. "A victory that motivates, inspires and strengthens", wrote head of state Volodymyr Selenskyj on the short message service X. In individual phone calls, he thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French head of state Emmanuel Macron, Spanish head of government Pedro Sánchez and others for their support.

At the same time, it was a day on which Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared confident of victory in front of the press in Moscow. He reaffirmed the maximum goals in his war of aggression: disarmament and neutrality of the neighboring country as well as a different government.

At the end of a trip abroad,Zelensky paid a short unannounced visit to Germany and visited the European headquarters of the US armed forces in Wiesbaden. Today is the 660th day in Ukraine's defensive battle against the Russian invasion.

Moscow deploys hypersonic missile

On the day of Putin's press conference in Moscow on Thursday, the Ukrainian capital Kiev and the entire country had to issue five air alerts. In the afternoon, Russian MiG-31 fighter jets launched three Kinschal missiles, which reach several times the speed of sound.

One target of the attack was apparently the Ukrainian airbase Starokostyantynivka. The spokesman for the Ukrainian air force, Yuri Ihnat, confirmed on television that there had been at least one impact there in the Khmelnytskyi region. No information was given about damage. A Kinschal was shot down as it flew towards Kiev.

On Wednesday, the Russian air force fired ten ballistic missiles at Kiev, presumably converted projectiles from the S-400 air defense system. The Ukrainian air defense intercepted the missiles, but falling parts injured more than 50 people.

In recent nights, there have always been attacks with Iranian-made Shahed combat drones. Last winter, Russia deliberately bombed Ukraine's energy system. This winter, however, the Ukrainian air defense is better equipped thanks to foreign aid. The German government in Berlin announced that a second Patriot air defense system with ammunition had been handed over to Ukraine from Germany.

Putin's goals in the war

After a year's break, the Kremlin leader held another press conference, this time in conjunction with the nationwide "Direct Line" citizens' question time. He reiterated that the war in Ukraine would only end when the country was demilitarized and then had a neutral status - i.e. did not join NATO. Once again, Putin also spoke of the goal of "denazification" of Ukraine. Moscow insinuates that Nazis are at work in the Ukrainian leadership. The intention is to install a government loyal to Russia.

All this would amount to the capitulation of Ukraine, a fifth of which is already occupied by Russian troops. "Peace will come when we have achieved our goals," said Putin.

Zelensky on a short visit to the US army

During his unannounced flying visit to the Rhine-Main region, Zelensky visited the headquarters of the US armed forces in Europe. "Once again, I was able to see for myself the excellent quality of US military aid for Ukraine.

We urgently need it for victory!" he wrote on X. He added the expectation that the US Congress would soon decide to continue the aid. On a trip lasting several days, Zelensky had also previously visited Washington, where the hoped-for aid is stuck in the dispute between Republicans and Democrats.

No agreement on US aid this year

However, it is unlikely that the US Congress will reach an agreement on new aid for Ukraine this year. The Democratic-led Senate wants to continue negotiations on new aid for Ukraine over the weekend and in the coming week. This was stated by Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

However, even if both parties were to reach an agreement in the Senate, a corresponding law could probably not be passed in Congress before the end of the year. This is because the second chamber of parliament, the Republican-led House of Representatives, is already on its Christmas break.

This will be important today

Ukraine is braced for further Russian airstrikes in its hinterland on the other side of the front. At the same time, according to the Kiev General Staff, the fierce fighting on the ground is continuing. The city of Avdiivka, against which Russian troops have been fighting for months with heavy losses, remains a focal point.