War against Ukraine: this is the situation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has warned his countrymen of more Russian air strikes in winter and at the same time assured them of better protection. As in the previous year, Ukraine must arm itself against increased attacks on its infrastructure, he said in his evening address. According to Selenskyj, however, Ukraine's air defense is in a much better position this year thanks to Western military aid.
Training for Ukrainian pilots on American F-16 fighter jets, which Kiev hopes will be of great benefit, begins today in the NATO country of Romania. And in Brussels, the foreign ministers of the 27 EU states are discussing the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East. Meanwhile, in eastern Ukraine, the Russian army is stepping up its attacks around the village of Marjinka.
Selensky: "Russia is preparing for winter"
"Russia is preparing for winter", warned Zelensky in his speech. Ukraine must be prepared for the fact that the number of drone and missile attacks on its infrastructure could increase. Critical infrastructure includes heating plants and the power supply, the failure of which can have far-reaching consequences, especially during the cold months.
At the same time, Selensky promised better protection against Russian attacks than last winter. Together with a large number of Western countries, the Ukrainian air defenses, which have already been strengthened since then, are being improved on a daily basis. However, it is not yet possible to guarantee complete protection of the entire territory.
Training of Ukrainians on F-16 fighter jets begins
In Romania, Defence Minister Angel Tilvar and his Dutch counterpart Kajsa Ollongren are opening the European F-16 Training Centre (EFTC) today at Fetesti Air Force Base, 150 kilometers east of Bucharest. The Netherlands is providing 12 to 18 fighter jets for the training, which will be given to Romanian as well as Ukrainian pilots. The F-16 manufacturer Lockheed is sending instructors and maintenance personnel. It is unclear when Ukraine, which has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for almost 21 months, will actually be able to deploy the fighter jets in the war zone. It is estimated that pilot training will take at least six months.
Intense Russian attacks reported around Marjinka
According to a report by the Ukrainian General Staff, the Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine around the village of Marjinka, just a few kilometers west of the industrial city of Donetsk, have recently been particularly intense. With 20 battles, around a third of all fighting in the past 24 hours took place on this section of the front. The Russians attacked the village of Avdiivka, which is located north of Donetsk and is also heavily contested, only half as often during this period. The data could not be independently verified.
On the southern section of the front, the Ukrainian army reportedly continued its offensive towards the city of Melitopol. On Sunday afternoon, the Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR reported an explosion in Melitopol in which at least three high-ranking officers of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya) are said to have been killed. The regional occupation chief appointed by the Kremlin, Vladimir Rogov, wrote on Telegram in the evening that an "explosive noise" in the city was allegedly caused by faulty gas equipment in a vehicle. According to him, no one was injured.
EU foreign ministers discuss security assurances for Ukraine
At their meeting in Brussels today, the EU foreign ministers are also discussing what long-term security commitments for Ukraine could look like. It recently became apparent that a plan by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell for longer-term financing commitments for military aid would not receive the necessary support from all 27 EU states. The plan envisaged mobilizing five billion euros per year from 2024 to 2027. It is now being discussed whether less extensive commitments could be an alternative.
Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is expected in Brussels. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is expected to join the discussions on the situation in Ukraine at the beginning.
What will be important on Monday
Ukrainian and Polish government representatives will meet in the border region of the two countries to solve the problem of the blockade of some border crossings. Polish transport companies have blocked several border crossings into Ukraine in protest against cheaper competition. The EU foreign ministers are also meeting in Brussels.
Despite the ongoing conflicts and Russian preparations for winter air and drone attacks, diplomacy efforts continue. The foreign ministers of the EU are discussing the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East in Brussels, with a focus on potential long-term security commitments for Ukraine. Meanwhile, the EU is also grappling with internal issues, such as the blockade of some border crossings between Ukraine and Poland by Polish transport companies, causing disruptions in trade. The secret services are also working behind the scenes, as Ukrainian intelligence reported an explosion in Melitopol that allegedly killed high-ranking Russian National Guard officers.
Source: www.dpa.com
