The British Defense Ministry stated Sunday in its day by day report about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that Ukraine is hanging deep inside Russia and the management of Russia’s Aerospace Forces is ‘extremely seemingly’ being pressured to enhance its defenses over western Russia.
The ministry stated Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘nearly definitely’ invaded Ukraine believing that it ‘would have little direct impact on Russians.’ Uncrewed aerial autos are repeatedly hitting Moscow, the ministry’s report stated.
There have been ‘rising stories’ of SA-5 GAMMON missiles hitting Russia. The ministry stated the 7.5-ton Soviet-era GAMMON had been retired from Ukraine’s protection stock however has been apparently resurrected ‘as a floor assault ballistic missile.’
In his day by day handle, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed retaliation for the lethal assault Saturday on a historic metropolis that killed seven individuals, together with a baby. ‘I’m positive,’ the president stated, ‘our troopers will reply to Russia for this terrorist assault. Respond tangibly.’
The Russian missile assault Saturday killed seven individuals, together with a 6-year-old baby, and injured 144 close to the central sq. within the historic Ukrainian metropolis of Chernihiv, about 145 kilometers north of Kyiv.
The missile struck whereas individuals have been heading to church to have fun a non secular vacation. Twelve of the wounded have been youngsters and 10 have been law enforcement officials, based on the inside ministry.
Zelenskyy posted a video on the Telegram messaging app exhibiting harrowing pictures from the aftermath of the assault, together with a physique in a automobile surrounded by particles.
‘A Russian missile hit proper within the middle of the town, in our Chernihiv. A sq., the polytechnic college, a theater,’ Zelenskyy wrote whereas visiting Sweden to debate a brand new navy help package deal of greater than $313 million from the Nordic nation.
During his first go to to Stockholm since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Zelenskyy requested the Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets to assist Ukraine enhance its air defenses.
In June, the Swedish authorities stated it might give Ukrainian pilots the chance to check its Saab-made jet, nevertheless it additionally has stated it wants all its planes to defend Swedish territory.
Zelenskyy stated Saturday that Ukrainian pilots have begun coaching on the planes.
This picture comprises delicate content material which some individuals could discover offensive or disturbing. Click to disclose A person cleans on the web site of a Russian missile strike in Chernihiv, Ukraine, Aug. 19, 2023. This picture comprises delicate content material which some individuals could discover offensive or disturbing – Click to disclose A person cleans on the web site of a Russian missile strike in Chernihiv, Ukraine, Aug. 19, 2023.
During a joint news briefing, Kristersson didn’t touch upon the Gripens, however -condemned the Russian missile assault on Chernihiv.
Sweden modified its long-established coverage of navy nonalignment to again Ukraine with weapons and different assist within the battle towards Russia. Sweden has utilized for NATO membership and is within the strategy of becoming a member of the alliance.
Ukrainian pilots even have begun coaching on U.S. F-16 fighter jets, a course of that will take at the very least six months and probably longer, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov stated Saturday, two days after a U.S. official stated F-16s can be transferred to Ukraine as soon as its pilots have been educated.
Reznikov stated in a TV interview that six months of coaching was thought-about the minimal for pilots, nevertheless it was not but clear how lengthy it might take to coach engineers and mechanics.
Ukraine says these fashionable U.S. fighter jets are mandatory so it could actually counter the air superiority of the Russian invaders.
‘Therefore, to construct cheap expectations, set a minimal of six months in your thoughts, however don’t be dissatisfied whether it is longer,’ Reznikov stated.
Washington has accepted sending F-16s to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands to defend towards Russia as quickly as pilot coaching is accomplished, a U.S. official stated.
Reznikov didn’t disclose the place and when the coaching was going down.
The coaching included technical language coaching as a result of many of the technical manuals are written in English.
The fighter jets usually are not prone to have an effect on the trajectory of the battle anytime quickly, based on U.S. officers.
U.S. Air Force General James Hecker advised reporters Friday at a digital assembly of the Defense Writers Group that there are not any prospects presently for both Ukraine or Russia to realize the higher hand within the air.
‘I do not assume anybody’s going to get air superiority so long as the variety of surface-to-air missiles stays excessive sufficient,” Hecker said, responding to a question from VOA.
Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, did note that if Ukraine runs out of its integrated air and missile defense ammunition, ‘then it becomes a problem.’
‘Both Ukraine and Russia have very good integrated air and missile defense systems,” he stated. ‘That alone is what has prevented [Russia or Ukraine] from getting air superiority.’
In a submit on X, the platform previously often called Twitter, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra stated: ‘We welcome Washington’s choice to pave the best way for sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.”
Camp David
At a trilateral summit Friday, the leaders of the United States, Japan and South Korea pledged to ‘stand with Ukraine against Russia’s unprovoked and brutal war of aggression.”
Meeting on the U.S. presidential retreat of Camp David, President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stated their nations would proceed to assist Ukraine.
They additionally pledged to proceed sanctions on Russia and to speed up their nations’ ‘discount of dependency on Russian vitality.’
Kishida stated “the free and open international order based on the rule of law is in crisis,” and pointed the blame at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the persevering with North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and a “unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas” – referring lastly to China.
VOA U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer and VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this story. Some info for this report got here from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.