Every day Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Thursday, September 28, 2023, discover the latest news surrounding this conflict.
Ukrainian forces “gradually gaining ground”
Ukrainian troops are “gradually gaining ground” in their counteroffensive against Russian forces, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday during a surprise visit to Kiev.
“Every meter gained by the Ukrainian armed forces is a meter lost by Russia,” commented Jens Stoltenberg at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“The contrast is striking: Ukrainians are fighting for their families, their future, their freedom,” he added. “Moscow is fighting for imperial illusions.
For his part, Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need for Ukraine to strengthen its air defense against Russian attacks, while Moscow fired more than 40 Shahed drones into the country on the night of Wednesday and Thursday. “It’s the same thing almost every night.
“In the face of such violent attacks against Ukrainians, against our cities and ports – which are important for global food security – we must increase the pressure on Russia and strengthen our air defense accordingly,” he said.
Jens Stoltenberg said he “constantly calls on NATO allies to provide greater support to Ukraine and speed up deliveries, especially” of air defense systems. He also claimed that the organization now has a number of framework contracts with defense companies worth a total of €2.4 billion for vital ammunition, including €1 billion in orders. Farms.
These contracts should allow NATO members to replenish their supplies while continuing to supply ammunition to Ukraine, he explained. Jens Stoltenberg also condemned Russian attacks near the border between Ukraine and Romania. There is no evidence that these are deliberate attacks against Romania, he explains, but still describes them as “reckless” and “destabilizing”.
Ukraine says it has destroyed 34 of 44 drones launched by Russia
The Ukrainian air force said Thursday that its air defense systems shot down 34 of the 44 Shahed drones fired by Russia on the night of Wednesday and Thursday, shots that the military and the region said did not cause any fatalities.
“Fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units and mobile gun groups were deployed to repel the attack,” the army said on the messaging app Telegram.
According to the army, three regions in southern Ukraine, Odessa, Kirovohrad and southern Mykolaiv, were attacked. “There were no impacts or destruction. There were no injuries. There were only a few small fires on dry grass due to falling debris from the fallen Shahed,” Odessa Region Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram.
The port region of Odessa in southern Ukraine has been the target of Russian drone and missile attacks since July, when Russia ended a United Nations-sponsored grain export agreement that allowed Kiev to export its grain.