“Intentional acts of terrorism.” This is how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defined the bombings with dozens of rockets that were carried out by Russian ground and air forces in the last few hours and particularly affected Kharkiv in the northeast of the country as well as the capital Kiev and the Ukrainian city of Pavlohrad in the southeast. According to the Ukrainian authorities, the number is seven dead and around eighty injured, plus, according to the regional military administration, there is another fatality and two injured in the southern Kherson district.
The Russians deny the accusation that they targeted civilian residential buildings. The Ministry of Defense assures that it has hit “sites for the production of missiles, missile components and ammunition”. “Unlike the regime in Kiev, our armed forces do not target social infrastructure, residential and civilian areas,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, rejecting the hypothesis that today's bombings were in retaliation for the Ukrainian attack on a market in the city Donetsk, in which 27 people died and 25 were injured last Sunday. A bomb attack that Moscow in turn described as an “outrageous act of terrorism”.
In addition, local authorities in Donetsk, which was unilaterally annexed to the Russian Federation last year, have reported a new bomb attack by Kiev forces in recent hours, killing two more civilians. According to the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, “the world must understand that this terror (i.e. the Russian bombing raids) can only be stopped with force.” Therefore, with ever new deliveries of arms and ammunition from the Western allies.
“Ukrainian soldiers are running out of ammunition and other weapons they need to fight Russia.” Celeste Wallander, head of the Department of International Security Affairs at the Pentagon, said this, recalling that the United States has been on standoff since December Congress on the approval of new weapons could no longer send funds to Ukraine in the same amount as in the previous two years.
Here's what happened yesterday
There are updates at 11:04 p.m
Zelensky calls for an international investigation into the crashed plane
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling for an international investigation into the plane shot down in Russia with 65 Ukrainian prisoners on board. “It is obvious that the Russians are playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners, with the feelings of their relatives and with the emotions of our society,” he said in his evening message on Telegram. “It is necessary to establish all the clear facts,” he added, explaining that the Ukrainian services were investigating “all the circumstances” of the incident and that he had instructed his foreign minister to “inform partners about the data available to Ukraine.”
9:40 p.m
Lavrov: “I doubt that Kiev is ready for an agreement”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expresses doubts about Donald Trump's ability to quickly resolve the conflict in Ukraine. “I cannot believe in something that has not come to pass,” he told a news conference at the United Nations. “We'll see. I doubt that the Ukrainian side will be ready for any agreement.”
7:33 p.m
OK from the Senate with 113 yes and 18 no votes on the weapons law for Ukraine
The Senate gives the green light to the legislative decree extending the authorization for the transfer of military assets to Ukraine until December 31, 2024, in line with Italy's international obligations. The measure, approved with 113 votes in favor and 18 against, with no abstentions, will now be submitted to the chamber for consideration.
6:17 p.m
The Lega’s agenda on Ukraine was “correctly” adopted with 110 yes votes, the M5 did not vote
The League's proposed agenda on the war in Ukraine was adopted by the Senate with 110 votes in favor, no votes against, and seven abstentions. According to information from parliamentary sources, the Avs and M5s senators did not take part in the vote, while the Democratic Party voted in favor. The text was redrafted in most of the premises (mostly deleted) and in the final commitment (with the addition, through diplomatic channels, of “restoration of international law”).
6:04 p.m
Lavrov calls for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after the plane crash
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council at 3pm local time (9pm Italy time) after a military plane crashed in Russia, killing everyone on board. Moscow accused Ukraine of shooting it down. Speaking to UN journalists, Lavrov then said that the Kiev representative would have the opportunity to explain the accident during the Security Council meeting.
6:02 p.m
The Chief of the British General Staff: “Britons are ready to fight against Putin”
British civilians, part of a “pre-war generation”, must be prepared to wage war against Vladimir Putin's Russia if necessary, British Armed Forces Chief of Staff Patrick Sanders said in a speech in Twickenham, London. Ordinary citizens could be forced to reinforce the armed forces, he added. The Defense Ministry immediately made it clear that there were no plans to return to military service, which was abolished in 1960. However, Sanders cited the example of Sweden, which had just reintroduced some form of military exercise given its NATO membership. Britain must also “take action to enable our societies on a war footing”. Such a step is “not only desirable but essential,” he added, specifying that the foundations of “a national mobilization” cannot be limited to countries bordering or close to Russia. For this reason, “we will not be immune and the pre-war generation must also prepare and it is an effort that involves the entire country.” “Ukraine brutally illustrates the fact that regular armies start wars and citizen militaries start them win,” said Sanders, who will retire next July. January 24th 5:59 NNNN
5:56 p.m
NATO: The largest military exercise in decades begins
NATO launched Steadfast Defender 24, the largest military exercise since the Cold War, with a U.S. warship sailing toward the shores of Europe. Around 90,000 soldiers will take part in exercises designed to test the defense of the Atlantic Alliance in the face of Russia's war against Ukraine. “The alliance will demonstrate its ability to strengthen the Euro-Atlantic region through the transatlantic movement of forces from North America,” said General Christopher Cavoli, NATO's supreme commander in Europe. “Steadfast Defender 2024 will be a clear demonstration of our unity, strength and determination to protect each other, our values and the rules-based international order.” The exercise will simulate the response of 31 nations to an attack by an enemy such as Moscow and a series of smaller, individual exercises covering a theater extending to NATO's eastern flank near the Russian border. About 50 warships, 80 aircraft and over 1,100 combat vehicles will take part.
5:40 p.m
Kiev's 007: “No information about who was on board the crashed plane”
Ukrainian military intelligence has “no reliable information” about who was on board the Ilyushin-76 plane that crashed in Russia's Belgorod Oblast. “At the moment we do not have reliable and comprehensive information about who exactly was on board the aircraft,” it said in a statement.
3:34 p.m
Kiev: Slovakia will support our EU membership aspirations
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said he had received assurances from his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico that Bratislava would support Kiev's aspirations to join the EU. “Slovakia will support the Ukraine Facility program, which provides for the provision of 50 billion euros by the EU to Ukraine,” said Shmyhal on Ukraine. Shmyhal said that despite all the political challenges, countries are developing a policy of “new pragmatism.”
2:13 p.m
Kiev: The prisoner exchange planned for today will not take place
The prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine planned for today “will not take place,” said Andriy Yusov, spokesman for the Ukrainian military intelligence agency Gur, on X, without providing any further information for the time being. The Kyiv Post adds that according to Yusov's own statements, the information provided by the Russian side is currently being verified, according to which prisoners of war could have been on the Il76 plane that crashed in the Belgorod region.
1:47 p.m
British Chief of Staff Sanders: “Citizens are ready for a future war with Russia.” Army personnel are not enough”
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(ANSA) – LONDON, JANUARY 24 – British citizens “could be called upon” to fight against Russia in the near future as the United Kingdom's current army has reduced personnel levels. This was stated by General Patrick Sanders, Chief of Staff of Her Majesty's Army, in a speech in London. Sir Patrick, who had previously expressed alarm at the threat from Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine, also stressed the need for “mobilization of the nation” in the event of conflict. The general, who will step down from his post in six months despite not supporting a return to conscription, has in the past openly criticized cuts to the armed forces made by conservative governments. In recent days, other high-ranking NATO officials had also conjured up such a scenario, most notably Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, chairman of the Atlantic Alliance's Military Committee, who said that “peace is no longer a given” and that one must prepare for a war with Russia. In addition to him, representatives of the federal government and the Bundeswehr also made similar statements. (HANDLING). Z08-Z08
11:37
The Kremlin on the military air crash: We clarify
When asked to comment on the news of the crash of the Il-76 military aircraft in the Belgorod region, Russian President's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was a breaking news story that was being investigated. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that at around 11 a.m. Moscow time, an Il-76 aircraft crashed during a scheduled flight in the Belgorod region; According to Russian defense information, there were 65 soldiers from the Ukrainian Armed Forces on board who were intended for a prisoner exchange, six crew members and three companions. “I can’t say anything about it, this is fairly new information we are dealing with,” Peskov told the press, Ria Novosti reported.
11:37
Kiev: The Russian plane we shot down was carrying missiles
The shooting down of the Russian military transport aircraft Il-76 was the work of the Ukrainian Armed Forces: this was reported to the Ukrainian media by the Kiev General Staff, according to which the aircraft carried missiles towards bases “from which the Russians were often attacked.” Attack on Kharkiv and the region”. According to RBC Ukraine, the Russians admit that the plane crashed, but provide “their version that there were 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers on board,” as well as six crew members and three other soldiers.
10:21 a.m
A Russian Il-76 military aircraft crashed in the Belgorod region. 63 people died, the Telegram channel “112” reported. Governor Gladkov generally described it as an “accident.”
FLY. There were apparently 63 people on board the Russian transport plane Ilyushin, which crashed this morning in the Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine. This was stated by the Russian Telegram channel “112”, which is one of the most visited with over 220,000 subscribers.
08:40
Canada: New military aid for Kiev worth 19 million euros
Canada will provide Ukraine with a new military aid package worth almost 19 million euros, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair announced. The package includes 10 rigid-hull boats from Zodiac Hurricane Technologies and English courses for Kiev Air Force personnel to learn to fly F-16 fighter jets, according to a statement posted on the Ottawa ministry's website.
07:34
Kiev: Russia is stationing another submarine in the Black Sea
Russian armed forces have stationed a second submarine in the Black Sea, significantly increasing the number of Kalibr missile carriers. The Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine announced this via Telegram.
06:32
Moscow, four drones intercepted over the Oryol region
Russian air defense systems intercepted four Ukrainian drones over the Oryol region near the border with Ukraine. This was announced by the Ministry of Defense. “This morning, the Kiev regime's attempt to carry out a terrorist attack using aerial drones against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation was stopped,” the ministry noted. According to local governor Andrei Klychkov, there were no injuries. To ensure the safety of the population, special forces were sent to the scene of the accident in the Zheleznodorozhny and Northern Orel districts, Moscow said.