Ukraine needs to be able to strike Russian airfields to take out fighter jets that drop bombs on civilians, Zelenskyi says. Ukrainian drones strike a Russian coast guard base on Lake Donuzlav in Crimea. France readies a new military aid package for Ukraine.
Ukraine needs to be able to strike Russian airfields to take out fighter jets that drop bombs on civilians, Zelenskyi says
Addressing European leaders on Thursday in Britain’s Blenheim Palace gathered for the fourth European Political Community meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi renewed calls to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike military sites inside Russia. He particularly mentioned airfields that are home to fighter jets that drop bombs on civilians.
“The fewer restrictions we have on the use of effective weapons, the more Russia will seek peace. Military airfields from which Russian jets take off with bombs against our cities, our people, our children and the launch sites of Russian missiles — all these must be destroyed. This will not only eliminate some targets but will also reduce Russia’s capability to continue this war,” Zelenskyi said.
He added that the situation on the battlefield is “more convincing than any abstract deliberations.”
“We have stopped the Russian advance on Kharkiv. Putin has sacrificed tens of thousands of his citizens but has achieved nothing significant. This was made possible by the bravery of our warriors and the bravery of our partners, who have lifted limitations on the use of Western weapons along our border. Did this lead to escalation? No. On the contrary, it blocked Putin’s attempt to expand the war. Did Putin have any response? No,” Zelenskyi said.
“We can steer this war towards its just ending with the power of our weapons and our diplomacy, and we should not fear these capabilities. The more effective our air defense is, the more helpless Putin will be,” he added.
Ukrainian drones strike Russian coast guard base on Lake Donuzlav in Crimea
Overnight into Thursday, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian coast guard base on Lake Donuzlav in Crimea, Ukrainian news outlet The New Voice of Ukraine (NV) said, citing a source familiar with the matter. The operation was jointly conducted by Ukraine’s Security Service and the Ukrainian Navy.
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was conducting exercises around the lake on Wednesday night when the base came under attack by Ukrainian airborne and naval drones.
The strike damaged and disabled the headquarters hosting the command post, an ammunition and equipment depot, a power substation, technical facilities and Russian firing positions on the lake.
“This comes as yet another reminder to the enemy that Ukrainian Crimea becomes a trap for the Russians, where they will be systematically destroyed. As the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk said: ‘Death is the only prospect we can offer [Russia’s] occupying forces,’” the source told NV.
Overnight on Thursday, explosions rocked Novoozerne, Myrnyi, and Yevpatoria. Gunfire was audible in Sevastopol.
Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev said that Russian forces had destroyed an unmanned boat during an attempted strike.
France readies new military aid package for Ukraine
France is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine, France Info said, citing sources in the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. Macron and Zelenskyi discussed some details of the package on the sidelines of the NATO summit earlier this month.
Ukraine will get 128 VAB armored vehicles, 18 Caesar self-propelled howitzers, and 24 light tanks as part of the package.
France will also send anti-tank missiles, trucks, and radars to Ukraine, France Info said. The country will begin to train 2,000 Ukrainian troops in France in September.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said he had discussed with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, implementation of the peace summit’s decisions, a new military aid package for Ukraine, security cooperation between the countries, and training of Ukrainian troops.
Last month, Macron said France will send Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine and train its pilots and technical crews in France. He also said France will train and equip an entire brigade of 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers, marking “new cooperation” between the countries.