Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses come into view – the nightly update without photos Erdogan avoids critical Israeli issues in Berlin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has mainly announced a reinforcement of his own air defense. Steps to secure the country would follow in the coming weeks, Zelensky said in his daily video message on Saturday. He also thanked Germany for promising further military aid to Ukraine.

At the beginning of this week, the federal government announced its intention to increase military aid to Ukraine next year from four to eight billion euros. In addition to Germany, Zelensky also thanked Finland and Lithuania for new weapons packages.

Anti-aircraft defense plays a special role in Kiev’s considerations, also because of the coming winter. “The closer winter approaches, the greater will be Russian efforts to expand attacks,” Zelensky said.

On Sunday evening there were even renewed air warnings in many Ukrainian regions. Late in the evening, air defenses around the capital Kiev also came into action, the Ukrinform agency reported.

Kiev’s military government reported a number of drone attacks from different directions on Sunday morning. According to current knowledge, there are no injuries or serious damage in the capital. The information could not be independently verified.

Serious drone attacks damage infrastructure

The night before, Russia had sent one of the largest drone swarms in recent weeks against its neighbor. In any case, we have managed to intercept almost thirty drones, the Ukrainian head of state praised on Saturday evening.

However, according to Kiev, infrastructure objects were damaged in the Russian drone attacks in the southern Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhia and Odessa. According to the Southern Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the drone attack in Odessa caused a fire to break out in an administrative building of an energy complex. One person was injured and the fire has now been brought under control, it was said. But the power supply was also affected. According to operator DTEK, 2,000 people in the region were without electricity on Saturday.

In Zaporizhia, four of eight drones were intercepted, military governor Yuri Malaschko said on Telegram. However, several infrastructure objects were also hit, causing a fire to break out. There were no injuries.

Since last fall, Russia has repeatedly and systematically attacked energy supply facilities in its neighboring country. Kiev also expects targeted attacks from Moscow on Ukraine’s electricity, heat and water supplies this winter. Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia’s war of aggression since the end of February 2022.

Mayor: Drone attack towards Moscow repulsed

Moscow, in turn, reported again on Sunday evening about a drone attack that targeted the Russian capital. Air defenses foiled the attack in Bogorodskoye, a district in the eastern administrative district of the city of Moscow, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote in his Telegram channel. The Russian Defense Ministry also said on Telegram that air defenses destroyed a Ukrainian drone over Bogorodskoye around 1 a.m. Moscow time. The information could not be independently verified.

Politkovskaya murder case: War perpetrator receives medal

According to media reports, a person involved in the murder of Kremlin-critical journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was released early from prison, has now been honored in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The man received the Order of Bravery, the Russian Telegram news channel Baza reported on Saturday, citing an acquaintance of the perpetrator. In 2014, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the murder case. His release and pardon were only announced a few days ago. Accordingly, he has been fighting in Ukraine since the end of 2022.

Politkovskaya, a journalist for the Kremlin-critical newspaper Novaya Gazeta, was shot outside her Moscow apartment in October 2006. Politkovskaya’s family suspects there was a political motive behind the murder and to this day continues to demand a full investigation.

Britain: Neither Russia nor Ukraine are making progress

According to the British Ministry of Defense, neither Russia nor Ukraine are making significant progress in their fight. “With the onset of colder winter weather in eastern Ukraine, there are few immediate prospects for major changes on the frontline,” the ministry in London said in its daily update on Saturday.

Last week, the most intense ground fighting took place in three areas: in the Kupyansk area on the border between the Kharkov and Luhansk regions, around the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region and on the Dnipro River in the Kherson region, where Ukrainian troops have a bridgehead established on the de facto Russian-occupied southern bank. “Neither side has made significant progress in any of these areas,” the British wrote on the short message service X.

The assessment is consistent with the situation report of the Ukrainian General Staff on Saturday evening, which registered no major changes on the front, but now largely places the initiative in the hands of the Russian armed forces.

Scholz wants to talk to Putin again – but not a specific time

Given the stalemate at the front, voices are growing louder calling for a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also wants to at some point end the radio silence with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has been going on for a year. “I will talk to him,” he said at a public meeting in Nuthetal near Potsdam on Saturday. However, he did not specify a time for an interview. You can’t follow the motto: “I’ll have coffee with someone and then we’ll eventually reach an agreement.” At this point, Putin is showing no signs of “getting involved in anything.”

Scholz and Putin last spoke on the phone on December 2 last year. The Chancellor has said time and time again that he is fundamentally ready for further talks, but that there must also be signs of movement on Putin’s part.

What will be important on Sunday?

In Ukraine, heavy fighting is expected to continue in the east and south of the country. (sda/dpa)