Sunday marks another day of intensifying conflict on the Ukrainian-Russian fronts, as Russian forces attempt to gain control over more Ukrainian territories amidst Kiev‘s resistance, bolstered by Western military support.
In the latest field developments, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Sunday that its air defense units destroyed 13 Ukrainian drones overnight across three border regions.
According to a statement on the messaging app Telegram, six drones were downed over the Belgorod region, six over the Kursk region, and one over the Bryansk region.
Conversely, the Ukrainian Air Force stated on Sunday that Russia launched 68 drones and four missiles targeting Ukrainian territory overnight.
The air force detailed on Telegram that two Iskander-M ballistic missiles targeted the Poltava and Odesa regions, while two KH-59 guided air missiles hit the Chernihiv and Sumy regions.
Additionally, the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces destroyed 31 drones, while 36 drones are missing, presumably intercepted by electronic warfare units. The rest of the drones are reportedly still airborne.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Saturday evening that Russian forces attempted to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions in the Kursk region along the border, but the Kiev-aligned forces continued to hold their ground.
In his evening video address, Zelensky emphasized, “Regarding the Kursk operation, Russia tried to push us away from our positions, but we are holding firm.”
The Russian Defense Ministry also noted on Friday that its forces had regained control of two towns in the border Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces began a broad incursion in August.
In a move to swiftly aid Ukraine, the European Union (EU) is urging its member states to decide on allocating €35 billion from frozen Russian assets.
Politico reports that the exact consensus among the member states, especially Hungary’s stance on extending sanctions against Russia from six months to three years, remains unclear.
The decision hinges partly on whether the U.S. will also contribute funds to Kyiv.
