Downed 14 Russian drones over Odesa region: Ukraine
Ukraine on Sunday claimed that it downed 14 out of 16 drones launched by Russia over the country’s southwestern Odesa region.
A statement by Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia also launched five S-300 guided anti-aircraft missiles toward the country’s eastern Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, as well as two Kh-59 guided air missiles toward the northern Chernihiv region.
The statement did not specify the outcome of these attacks.
The downing of the drones comes as a missile strike on the city of Odesa on Friday killed at least 21 people and injured over 70 others.
During an evening address on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said there would ‘definitely be a military response’ by Ukraine to Russia.
“These weeks have demonstrated to many that the Russian war machine has vulnerabilities that we can reach with our weapons,” he added.
Russia’s claims
Russia had claimed on Saturday that it successfully hit Ukrainian military targets in southern Odesa and northeastern Sumy regions. The Defence Ministry said in a statement that Russian forces used operational tactical air forces, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS), a missile, and artillery units to hit military targets in Ukraine.
“Operational-tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed one unmanned aerial vehicle assembly workshop near Konotop (Sumy region), temporary deployment areas of Luth and Tsunami nationalist formations near Odesa, four AFU unmanned aerial vehicles command posts, as well as engaged AFU manpower and military hardware in 149 areas,” said the statement.
It said air defence systems also shot down 108 Ukrainian UAVS, 15 Czech-made Vampir rockets, one HIMARS manufactured in the US, and one grad rocket launcher, for a total of 17 multiple launch rocket systems, during the day.
“In total, 577 aeroplanes and 269 helicopters, 15,681 un
manned aerial vehicles, 486 air defence missile systems, 15,505 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,240 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,425 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,829 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation,” the statement said. The ministry also reported that Russian forces also destroyed three Us-made Patriot air defence systems belonging to Ukraine last week.
Election in Russia
Meanwhile, the turnout surpassed 61 per cent in Russia’s
presidential election as voting entered its last day on Sunday.
Three days of voting to elect the country’s leader began on Friday, with President Vladimir Putin seeking a fifth term.
The other three candidates include the New People Party’s Vladislav Davankov, the LiberalDemocrat Party of Russia’s Leonid Slutsky and the Communist Party’s Nikolai Kharitonov.
Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia’s Central Election Commission, said turnout as of 9.45am Moscow time (0645GMT) was 61.37 per cent.
These weeks have demonstrated to many that the Russian war machine has vulnerabilities that we can reach with our weapons VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY