War in Ukraine: long-range weapons, capture of two villages, drone attack against kyiv… update on the situation

Volodymyr Zelensky à Londres le 19 juillet 2024. MAXPPP – ANDY RAIN/POOL

l'essentiel Tous les jours, Midi Libre fait le point sur la situation en Ukraine. Ce dimanche 21 juillet 2024, découvrez les dernières actualités autour de ce conflit.

Zelensky calls for long-range weapons to protect Ukraine

Ukraine needs long-range weapons to protect its cities and soldiers from Russian bombs and drones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday after a night of ;#39;massive attacks throughout the country.

Russia launched its fifth drone attack on kyiv in two weeks, an operation countered by Ukrainian air defense systems which destroyed the machines before their arrival on the capital, according to the Ukrainian army. There were no casualties or significant damage, said Serhi Popko, head of the military administration of the Ukrainian capital, on the Telegram application.

In a message on Telegram, the Ukrainian Air Force announces the destruction by its air defense systems of 35 drones out of 39 and two cruise missiles launched by the Russia at night. Ten regions of Ukraine were targeted. The number of drones launched on kyiv was not specified. "Last night alone, the Russian army used nearly 40 (drones) 'Shaheds' against Ukraine. The important thing is that most of them were shot down by our defenders of the sky", Volodymyr Zelensky said on his Telegram account.< /p>

In his view, it is necessary to destroy Russian bombers directly on the air bases where they are stationed to protect Ukraine from air raids."Sufficient long-range capabilities should be a just response to Russian terrorism. Everyone who supports us in this area supports defense against terrorism", the Ukrainian president said.

Russia has launched three Iskander ballistic missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The military administration of Sumy, a region in northeastern Ukraine bordering Russia, reported on Telegram that a Russian missile had damaged critical infrastructure in the Shostkynskyi district . There was no immediate comment from Russia on the attacks.

Russia launches new drone attack on kyiv

Russia launched its fifth drone attack on kyiv in two weeks, an operation countered by Ukrainian air defense systems which destroyed the machines before their arrival on the capital, the Ukrainian army announced on Sunday.

There were no casualties or any significant damage, said Serhi Popko, head of the military administration of the Ukrainian capital, on the Telegram application . "These systematic drone attacks prove once again that the invader is actively seeking an opportunity to strike kyiv" , adds Serhi Popko. "They are testing new tactics, looking for new avenues of approach to the capital, trying to reveal the location of our air defense. "

In a message on Telegram, the Ukrainian Air Force announced the destruction by its air defense systems of 35 drones out of 39 and two cruise missiles launched by Russia during the night. Ten regions of Ukraine were targeted. The number of drones launched on kyiv was not specified. Russia has launched three Iskander ballistic missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

The military administration of Sumy, a region in northeastern Ukraine bordering Russia, reported on Telegram that a Russian missile had damaged critical infrastructure in the Shostkynskyi district. There was no immediate comment from Russia on the attacks.

Moscow claims the capture of two villages in the East

The Russian army claimed the capture of two small towns in eastern Ukraine on Sunday, continuing to gain ground in certain parts of the front despite heavy losses, facing forces fewer Ukrainians.

"Units of the 'West' group liberated the localities of Rozovka (Andriïevka in Ukrainian) and Peschanoye Nizhnee (Pishchanye in Ukrainian)", the Russian Defense Ministry said in its daily report. These small localities, very sparsely populated before the large-scale Russian attack of February 2022, are located respectively in the regions of Lugansk and Kharkiv, about fifteen kilometers from each other. other.

The Ukrainian army, lacking men and firepower, has been facing Russian attacks along the front line since last fall , which extends over nearly 1,000 km. In the east, Russian forces have conquered several small towns in recent weeks. In the Donetsk region, they are growing in particular, at the moment, towards the cities of New York and Toretsk.

These attacks, very costly in terms of soldiers and equipment, have not allowed, for the time being, a major breakthrough capable of changing radically the situation on the front.