On the 1,015th day of the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities have reported an attack on "one of the key airbases" of the Russian aviation. This includes Diaguilevo, in Ryazan, less than 200 kilometers from Moscow. They have also targeted the port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea, which houses Russian missile-carrying ships that regularly attack Ukrainian territory.
In addition, the Ukrainian Air Force has stated that Russia launched 50 drones over its territory during the night: 29 were shot down, 18 were lost, likely due to electronic warfare, and one headed towards Russian-occupied territories.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky has urged to strengthen the country's eastern front, following the Russian Ministry of Defense's report of the conquest of two new villages in the region: one in the Donetsk region and another further south in the Zaporizhia region.
In his nighttime address, the Ukrainian president emphasized that this reinforcement depends on Western allies providing weapons in time. "There is a direct relationship: the greater the firepower and technological capability of our army, the more we can destroy Russia's offensive potential and protect the lives of our soldiers," said Zelensky, a day after the U.S. announced a $725 million military aid package on Monday.
On Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that allies agree that sending air defenses to Ukraine is a priority, after the country urgently requested these systems to protect its energy infrastructure.
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shoot down 35 drones
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 35 drones today, some of which attacked a military airfield in the Ryazan region and a training center in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya.
According to the report, 12 drones were downed in Rostov; six in Bryansk; four in Belgorod and two in Kursk, all regions bordering Ukraine. Additionally, five enemy aircraft attacked Krasnodar; four, Ryazan, and one each in Kaluga and Astrakhan, a region on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
The Telegram channel Astra reports that Ukrainian drones attempted to attack the Diaguilevo airfield for the third time in this war, which hosts Tu-22MC bombers and Il-76 tanker aircraft. Meanwhile, the Shot channel specifies that the three enemy drones were shot down, in addition to the planes taking off in time to prevent damage.
Czech Republic: Up to 100 "suspicious incidents" in Europe can be attributed to Russia
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky accused Russia of being behind 100 "suspicious incidents" this year in Europe upon his arrival at a meeting with his NATO counterparts in Brussels. "This year, there have been 500 suspicious incidents in Europe. Up to 100 of them can be attributed to Russian hybrid attacks, espionage, influence operations. We have to send a clear signal to Moscow that this will not be tolerated," Lipavsky declared.
NATO agrees protecting Ukraine's infrastructure is a priority
The alliance's Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, stated that NATO members agreed in a meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister on Tuesday night that providing air defense systems to protect the country's infrastructure from Russian attacks must be a priority.
"Last night, there was a clear agreement around the table that helping Ukraine, particularly with its infrastructure, has to be a priority," Rutte told the press on Wednesday. "I am confident that allies will continue in the coming days and weeks to ensure that everything they can supply to Ukraine will be provided."
Tucker Carlson returns to Russia to interview Sergey Lavrov
American journalist Tucker Carlson arrived in Russia to interview Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, just ten months after visiting the country to record another interview with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, confirmed the presenter himself.
"We are back in Moscow," said the ultra-conservative journalist in a video from the Russian capital, uploaded to his X account today.
Carlson, close to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, added that he had just conducted a "fascinating" interview, which will be broadcast soon.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, confirmed on her Telegram account that the reporter spoke with the Russian foreign minister. Zakharova also mentioned that the interview, which lasted over an hour, is currently being edited and translated. "I believe it will be released in a few days," said the spokesperson.
Kiev claims to have attacked an airbase 200 kilometers from Moscow and a Russian Fleet port
Ukrainian authorities reported on Wednesday an attack on "one of the key airbases" of the Russian aviation and claimed to have also struck a port in the Black Sea that houses Russian missile-carrying ships that regularly attack Ukrainian territory.
"Ryazan, attacks on the Diaguilevo airbase. One of the key airbases of the Russian strategic aviation," wrote the head of the Disinformation Center of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Andriy Kovalenko, on his Telegram channel. The Ryazan region is located less than 200 kilometers from Moscow.
"The port of Novorossiysk, where the Russian Federation has missile-carrying ships participating in bombings against Ukraine, has been attacked," Kovalenko added in his message without providing details of the weaponry used in the attacks.
Ukraine claims to have shot down 29 drones launched by Russia
The Ukrainian Air Force stated on Wednesday that Russia launched 50 drones to attack the country overnight. The air force said it shot down 29 of them, lost track of 18, likely due to electronic warfare, and one unmanned aerial vehicle headed towards Russian-occupied territories.
Russia denounces a drone attack in Novorossiysk
Russian air defense units are attempting to repel a Ukrainian drone attack in Novorossiysk, as reported by the head of the Russian Black Sea port. "Air defense is operating in Novorossiysk," he stated on his Telegram messaging channel. "All emergency services have been put on combat alert."
Novorossiysk is one of Russia's most important oil export gateways.
Zelensky calls for reinforcing the eastern front
Volodymyr Zelensky called on Tuesday for reinforcing the 1,000 km (600 miles) front line in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have made steady advances in recent months. The president made this appeal following the Russian Ministry of Defense's report that its troops had captured two new villages on the front line: one in the Donetsk region and another further south in the Zaporizhia region.
The president delivered his nighttime address via video after a conversation with the top Ukrainian commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi. He stated that it depended on Ukraine's Western allies providing crucial weaponry in time. "The directions of Donetsk require significant reinforcement. This especially involves the supply of weapons by our partners." "There is a direct relationship: the greater the firepower and technological capability of our army, the more we can destroy Russia's offensive potential and protect the lives of our soldiers," the president affirmed.