Russo-Ukrainian War, day 976: Russian strikes kill civilians across Ukraine as air defense success rate drops
A sharp decline in Ukraine's air defense success rate has coincided with an intensification of Russian drone attacks, raising concerns about defensive capabilities. Meanwhile, German industry deepens its commitment to Ukraine's defense sector.
Exclusives
| Ukrainian sappers race against the world’s largest minefield. Deep in Ukraine’s south, Ukrainian sappers face deadly mathematics: 3,000 deminers against 180,000 square kilometers of mine-riddled territory, with Russian forces adding more nightly. |
Military
Frontline report: Ukrainian commandos storm Russian positions with drone-led counterattack, halt infiltration into key Donbas routes. A lightning-fast redeployment of Ukrainian elite forces has halted an ambitious Russian attempt to outflank the strategic town of Lyman.
Ukraine intercepts 44 of 91 Russian drones in overnight assault, sharp drop in defense rate. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted fewer than half of the incoming drones, a sharp decline from their usual 80-90% success rate.
Intelligence and Technology
US to arm Taiwan with NASAMS air defense systems combat-tested in Ukraine. NASAMS systems have proven 100% effective in intercepting Russian missiles over Ukraine.
German arms giant Rheinmetall to open second Ukraine plant with four in total. Rheinmetall will manufacture infantry fighting vehicles, ammunition, gunpowder, and air defense systems at its four planned factories in Ukraine.
International
Zelenskyy: Ukraine will have to fight in Europe against North Korea. The deployment of several thousand North Korean troops in the Russo-Ukrainian War signals a dangerous new phase of the war, testing Western resolve to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
NYT: North Korean forces mass in Kursk to help Russia drive Ukraine out. Up to 5,000 North Korean troops have arrived in Russia’s Kursk Oblast to support Moscow’s counteroffensive.
Bloomberg: France and Germany skeptical of plan to override Hungary’s veto on Ukraine aid. The European standoff leaves more than €6 billion in military assistance hanging in the balance, as the Russo-Ukrainian War approaches its third year.
Humanitarian and Social Impact
Russian strike triggers blackout in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, home to key Ukrainian nuclear plant. The regional capital, Khmelnytskyi, along with four neighboring settlements, has suffered a total power blackout.
Russian missile strike on Dnipro kills 5, including police officer’s family (updated). The wife and daughter of a local police officer were killed, while his younger daughter survived.
Russian overnight drone kills girl, 14 in Kyiv high-rise. The teen’s body was discovered on the 20th floor.
Political and Legal Developments
EU and G7 members reach consensus on $50 bln financial assistance to Ukraine. These loans will be serviced and repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilization of Russian Central Bank assets.
New Developments
Reuters: All sides claim victory in Georgia election as exit polls give different results. As Ukraine continues its fight against the Russian invasion, and amid growing concerns about Georgian Dream’s democratic backsliding and apparent pivot toward Moscow—polls show that a majority of Georgians support EU and NATO membership.
Investigative journalist Christo Grozev: Kremlin plans to interfere in Georgia’s elections. “If Russia’s plans work, it will be the end of a free Georgia as we know it,” Grozev warned.
Read our earlier daily review here
