Russia-Ukraine battle newest: Ukraine’s air drive claims it destroyed 54 Russian cruise missiles out of 69 launched | Ukraine

Dan Sabbagh

The Guardian’s defence editor, Dan Sabbagh, reviews on the feedback from GCHQ’s head this morning:

Western spy companies ought to use intelligence to “pre-bunk” narratives pushed by Russia and different authoritarian states, stated Jeremy Fleming whereas visitor modifying BBC Radio 4’s Right now programme.

Fleming stated the battle in Ukraine had prompted a major opening up, in a Christmas broadcast co-produced by a serving spy chief for the primary time.

Belarus’ state-run BelTA information company reported {that a} Ukrainian S-300 missile had fallen onto the territory of Belarus throughout one in every of Russia’s largest missile assaults in opposition to Ukraine because the begin of the battle.

Reuters reviews:

The Minsk defence ministry was investigating whether or not Belarus’ air defence methods had shot down the rocket or it was a misfire.

The incident occurred between 10 and 11am. (0700-0800 GMT) – across the time Russia was firing scores of missiles in the direction of Ukraine.

BelTA stated the missile that landed in Belarus had come from Ukrainian territory. It printed a photograph of what it stated had been components of a S-300 missile mendacity in an empty agricultural subject.

BelTA stated there was no details about casualties.

Kyiv has used the S-300 system to intercept incoming Russian missiles, whereas Russia has appeared to make use of repurposed S-300 missiles to assault floor targets – one thing that army analysts say might be an indication that its missile shares are dwindling.

Belarus allowed Moscow to make use of its territory as a launchpad for the invasion of Ukraine in February, however has insisted that it’s not collaborating within the battle, and won’t take part.

• Russia launched a brand new wave of missile assaults throughout Ukraine on Thursday morning, with Ukraine’s air drive claiming it shot down 54 Russian winged cruise missiles out of 69 launched into Ukraine from Rostov in Russia, the Caspian sea and the Black sea. Earlier presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak claimed that greater than 120 missiles had been fired.

• The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, said that three folks had been recognized to be injured within the nation’s capital, together with a 14-year-old lady. Two folks had been rescued from a personal home that had been struck by particles. Klitschko stated 40% of the capital’s customers are with out electrical energy after the missile assault.

• There have been widespread reviews of energy outages as residents in cities throughout Ukraine had been warned to remain in air raid shelters, cost their gadgets and replenish on water the place doable. The town of Lviv was reported to be 90% with out electrical energy on account of the assaults. Maksym Kozytskyi, Lviv’s governor, stated “air defence forces destroyed 70% of the missiles flying over Lviv area. Vitality firms have already began restore work and may restore energy provide within the regional centre by the top of the day.”

• There have been additionally explosions reported in Kharkiv, and Ukraine’s air drive said that in a single day it had destroyed 11 Shahed drones.

• The TSN channel is carrying quotes from Yuriy Ignat, the spokesperson of the air drive command of the armed forces of Ukraine, which suggests a decrease variety of missiles had been fired. He instructed the information organisation “The Russians used about 13 planes, two ships, there may be tactical aviation. There are planes that may launch Kh-22 missiles. The exercise is excessive. If 13 planes and two ships are concerned, then you’ll be able to perceive that there could be about 100 missiles. They’re prepared for that many. I believe there could also be about 90 missiles.”

• Ukraine’s ministry of defence issued a defiant assertion after the assaults, tweeting “Russian terrorists have been saving one of the crucial huge missile assaults because the starting of the full-scale invasion for the final days of the yr. They dream that Ukrainians will have a good time the brand new yr in darkness and chilly. However they can not defeat the Ukrainian folks.”

• The assault was criticised by the British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, who stated Russia’s actions confirmed “Russia doesn’t need peace with Ukraine, Russia desires the subjugation of Ukraine”.

• Ukrainian officers are persevering with to induce residents to evacuate from town of Kherson as Russian forces stepped up mortar and artillery assaults on the southern Ukrainian metropolis, which was not too long ago liberated. Some residents who lived by means of the Russian occupation are reluctant to depart regardless of the bombardment, in line with an area official who has been concerned within the evacuation. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the workplace of president of Ukraine, reported on Thursday that two folks had been injured in a Russian assault on a medical facility there.

• On Wednesday Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated “just a few” civilians stay within the embattled frontline metropolis of Bakhmut within the japanese province of Donetsk. In a Telegram publish, Ukraine’s chief stated “there is no place that is not covered with blood” within the Ukrainian-held metropolis, the place his troops are waging a battle that has come to symbolise the grinding brutality of the battle.

• Ukraine has secured the discharge of 1,456 prisoners of battle since Russia invaded in February, in line with Zelenskiy. Ukraine’s president was talking in an annual address to the Ukrainian parliament, the place Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, cupboard ministers, overseas diplomats, army personnel and relations of fallen troopers had been reportedly current.

• The Kremlin insisted Wednesday that any proposals to finish the battle should bear in mind what it calls “at present’s realities” of 4 Ukrainian areas Moscow has unilaterally declared a part of Russia. In an everyday briefing with reporters, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed Zelenskiy’s 10-point peace plan, which incorporates the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the discharge of all prisoners, a tribunal for these liable for the aggression and safety ensures for Ukraine.

That’s it from me, Martin Belam, for now. I might be again later. Rachel Corridor might be with you for the following few hours.

Ukraine’s air drive has stated that it shot down 54 Russian cruise missiles on Thursday morning out of 69 launched into Ukraine. In a Facebook post, the air drive command stated:

Russian occupants proceed terror in opposition to civilians of Ukraine by attacking objects of important infrastructure of our nation. On 29 December, the enemy carried out one other mass shelling of Ukraine with rockets and kamikaze drones.

The Ukrainian forces declare that 11 Shahed drones had been destroyed in a single day, having been launched from the japanese path. It says that at 7am (5am GMT):

The enemy attacked Ukraine with winged air missiles from strategic bombers from the realm of Volgodonsk, Rostov area, and the northern space of the Caspian Sea, in addition to winged rockets from the ships within the Black Sea.

In whole, in line with preliminary information, the occupation troops used 69 missiles. 54 enemy winged missiles had been destroyed by the forces and technique of the air drive, in cooperation with different elements of the defence forces of Ukraine.

Comparable data was posted to Twitter.