The US missiles, apparently used by Ukraine for the first time, have a range of 150 kilometers. For its part, Kiev has repeatedly assured that it will only use them to attack targets in occupied territory.
According to Moscow, Ukraine is using US missiles of the GLSDB type. That precision missile, with a range of 150 kilometers, was shot down by Russian air defenses, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced on Tuesday. In addition, 18 Himars rockets were shot down. The US had promised GLSDB (Small Diameter Ground Bomb) missiles to Kiev in early February.
A delivery date has not been mentioned at this time. The rockets are manufactured by Boeing and Saab and are considered important for a Ukrainian counter-offensive. Ukraine has had the Himar missile launcher system for some time. These missiles have a range of 80 kilometers. In response to Ukraine’s use of Himars missiles, Russian forces have extended their supply lines and, in particular, moved their weapons and ammunition depots further away from the front lines.
Western states have opposed the delivery of long-range systems, fearing they could be used in an attack on Russian territory, which could lead to escalation. For its part, Kiev has repeatedly assured that it will only use them to attack targets in occupied territory.
Belarus blames NATO for deploying nuclear weapons in the country
Belarus, for its part, blamed NATO for agreeing to the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on its territory. According to a report by the Russian TASS news agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Minsk government was forced to do so because of the aggressive actions of NATO countries, which threaten the security of Belarus. As Minsk further announced, it is not a violation of international nuclear non-proliferation treaties, as Belarus will not have control over the weapons.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced over the weekend that tactical nuclear weapons would be stationed in neighboring Belarus. Belarus is Russia’s closest ally in its war against Ukraine, but it has not sent its own troops into the fight.
Ukraine says it is repelling drone attacks
According to information from Kiev, Ukraine defended itself from several Russian drone strikes on Tuesday night. 14 out of 15 Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drones were shot down, the Ukrainian General Staff said. Kiev’s head of presidential office Andriy Yermak accused Russia of “terror against civilian infrastructure” following the renewed drone attacks.
Ukrainian forces in Kiev also reported that over 60 Russian ground attacks were repulsed within 24 hours. Accordingly, the Russians were primarily trying to take the strategically important city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, which had been fought over for months. Bakhmut has been fought over since late summer, and for two months the fighting has turned into the bloodiest battle in Russia’s year-long war of aggression.
According to British intelligence services, Russia has suffered heavy losses in attacks on the city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine. A regiment reportedly lost most of its tanks in an attempt to encircle Avdiivka from the south, according to a brief report by the British Ministry of Defense on Tuesday.
(APA/AFP/dpa/Portal)