Day 881: Russian drone hits foster family home in region of Dnipro, injuring three children

A Russian drone struck a foster family home in the region of Dnipro, injuring three children. Ukrainian troops down a second Su-25 jet in the Pokrovsk direction in a month. Russia could attack NATO in five-eight years, German Chief of Defense says.

Russian drone hits foster family home in region of Dnipro, injuring three children

A Russian attack drone hit a foster family home in Marhanets, Dnipropetrovska region, injuring three boys ages 14, 14, and 13.  

Head of the Dnipropetrovska regional military administration, Serhiy Lysak said Russian forces directed a drone at a foster family home where 12 children live with a family. “Two boys ages 14 and a 13-year-old boy were injured by debris. The teenagers were taken to hospital. They’re in a fair condition,” he said.    

The drone strike damaged several more homes in Marhanets, Lysak added. First responders were on site, he said.

Ukrainian troops down second Su-25 jet in Pokrovsk direction in a month

Ukrainian troops shot down another Russian Su-25 fighter jet in the Pokrovsk section of the front line, the Khortytsia operational-strategic group of forces said on Tuesday. The warplane was one of two Su-25 jets that tried to attack Ukrainian positions.

The jet was taken down by an air defense unit of the 110th Cpl. Gen. Marko Bezruchko Separate Mechanized Brigade.

That’s the second Su-25 jet taken down by the brigade this month, the message reads.

“A Russian Su-25 once again went off the radar in the Pokrovsk Triangle (an anomalous area where aircraft of the occupying force crash). Two Russian pilots made a crazy move and flew close to our positions. One of them was immediately punished for their insolence,” the Khortytsia operational-strategic group of forces said, sharing combat footage of the incident.   

According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia lost 1,220 troops in the past day. Ukrainian forces destroyed four Russian tanks, 20 armored protected vehicles, 57 artillery systems, two multiple launch rocket systems, an air defense system, 36 drones of the operational tactical level, 64 vehicles and three special equipment pieces, the General Staff said on Tuesday morning.

Russia could attack NATO in five-eight years, German Chief of Defense says

In an interview with German newspaper Sächsische Zeitung, German Chief of Defense, General Carsten Breuer, said Russia is building up its forces and could possibly attack NATO in five to eight years.

He said it is clear that the Russian army is eyeing NATO’s territory in the West.

“Five to eight years from now, Moscow’s armed forces will be equipped with materiel and personnel, making an attack on NATO territory possible,” Breuer said in a Google-translated statement.

He added that this assessment is based on his own analysis, information from secret services and allied forces, and statements by Vladimir Putin.

“Russia manufactures 1,000 to 1,500 tanks every year. The five largest European NATO member states only have half that number in their arsenal, Breuer said.

Several European NATO countries earlier warned of Russia’s bellicose ambitions.

Norway’s chief of defense, General Eirik Kristoffersen, said the NATO alliance has a window of two to three years to prepare before Russia has rebuilt the ability to carry out a conventional attack.

Polish President Andrzej Duda earlier said that Russia could soon have such military potential that it could attack NATO as early as 2026-2027.