Ukraine on Wednesday dismissed claims that a US-made Patriot missile defense system was destroyed by Russian missiles when it effectively deflected a barrage near Kiev, with US officials verifying Ukraine’s version.
The Russian government claimed it used a hypersonic Kinzhal missile (named after the Russian word for “dagger”) to destroy the system in a nighttime attack earlier this week, but U.S. inspectors said Damage to the Patriot system was minimal, and it was determined that it was still operating. CNN reported.
“Don’t worry about the fate of the patriots,” Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Inat said. “From a technical point of view, the Patriot is a complex, a battery, a division, a system. Destroying the system with some kind of“ dagger ”is, well, impossible.
“Everything that[Russians]said there, please keep it in their propaganda archives.”
Ukraine said it had intercepted all 18 missiles fired at Kiev between Monday and Tuesday morning. The Patriot system, which was sent to Ukraine last month, is an important part of the city’s defense.
Developmental status:
・The prosecutor’s office in the Kherson region reported that Russian forces had shelled a hospital and a skyscraper in Belislav. Casualty numbers were not immediately available.
A Moscow court has ordered the arrest of prominent film producer Aleksandr Rodnyansky and theater director Ivan Viripayev for voicing their opposition to the war. Both of them live outside Russia.
・The Chinese government has asked foreign embassies in Beijing not to display “propaganda” as an overt response to statements of support for Ukraine. China has claimed neutrality in the war, but has repeatedly justified Russia and criticized Western sanctions.
The latest European Union sanctions package probably won’t include plans to permanently shut down natural gas pipelines that the Kremlin shut down after it invaded Ukraine, Politico reported, citing unnamed diplomats.
Vital Ukraine-Russia grain deal extended by two months
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to extend for two months the deal that will allow Ukraine to export millions of tons of grain through Black Sea ports and provide aid. alleviate the global food crisis Despite the war with Russia.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced an extension aimed at boosting the economy global food security After the war, prices soared.
“The continuation is good news for the world,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters on Wednesday.
The deal has already been extended twice, and Russia has threatened to withdraw from the deal when it expires on Thursday unless a list of demands, including the lifting of some restrictions on agricultural exports, are met. Details of the agreement were not immediately made public.
The deal will allow Ukraine to safely use Black Sea ports to transport cargo. Last year, the United Nations and Turkey mediated. Ukraine is a major supplier of wheat, barley, vegetable oils and other food products to Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.
− Kim Helmgard
Ukraine will not give up territory for peace, minister tells Chinese envoy
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a statement Wednesday that it would not negotiate a peace deal that would require Ukraine to give up any of its territories, after Minister Dmitro Kuleba concluded two days of talks with Chinese envoy Li Hui. said to be persistent. .
China, which seeks to present itself as a neutral arbiter in the conflict despite its close ties with Russia, has offered a diplomatic solution after a phone call last month between leader Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. announced that it would send Mr. Lee to discuss the matter.
A statement by the ministry said Kuleba said the peace agreement must be based on respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, “underscoring that Ukraine will not accept any proposal that involves loss of territory or a freeze on the dispute.” rice field.
The Kremlin wants Kiev to recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, which most countries denounce as illegal.
Russian hypersonic scientist accused of treason
Russian authorities file ‘very serious treason charges’ against three Russian scientists who were working on hypersonic missile technology, and some of their colleagues write letters in their defense urged to Reuters reported.
Monday’s letter expressed concern about the chilling impact of the arrests of Anatoly Maslov, Alexander Sypluk and Valery Zvegintsev on scientific research, saying: I know they are decent people,” he declared their innocence. Ability to do what investigators suspect. ”
The three hypersonic experts attended a conference and collaborated on a chapter in a 2016 book titled “Hypersonic Short-Term Facility for Aerodynamics Research of the Russian ITAM”, according to a letter from colleagues. The information released did not include restricted content.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the letter: “We have indeed seen this complaint, but Russian special agencies are working on this issue. They are doing their job. These are very serious. It’s an accusation,” he said.
Russian planes near Alaska ‘not a threat’
The North American Aerospace Defense Command said Wednesday that Russian military aircraft were seen flying over the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on Monday, but remained in international airspace and did not enter sovereign airspace of the United States or Canada. . NORAD said in a statement that the flight occurred amid several large-scale military drills planned around Alaska. The zone, which begins where sovereign airspace ends, requires immediate identification, location and control of all aircraft “for national security,” the statement said.
“This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not considered a threat,” NORAD said.
Council of Europe urges Russian government to pay reparations to Ukraine
More than 40 countries in the Council of Europe have agreed on a system for estimating Ukraine’s damage from Russian aggression, as part of a plan to force Russia to help rebuild its post-war state. Ukraine was the main topic at the meeting in Reykjavík, Iceland, with France, Germany and the United Kingdom among the countries that agreed to set up new offices where victims of war could report their suffering. The United States, Japan and Canada have observer status on the Board.
Finnish President Sauli Niinist said: “Our support for Ukraine is as strong and determined as ever. With the establishment of the Damages Register, the Council of Europe is working towards ensuring accountability for Russia. We have taken an important step,” he said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has acknowledged that no plans exist to force Russia to pay, adding that attempts to use frozen Russian assets under sanctions are probably not legal under international law.
Contributed by Associated Press
