The latest war between Russia and Ukraine: Kiev intensifies drone strikes as NATO buys 1,000 Patriot missiles

1 Below are some of the latest photos from Ukraine

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched two drones and three missiles into Ukrainian territory overnight.

In an update on the Telegram app this morning, the Air Force said two Iranian-made Shahed drones were launched from the southeast and were intercepted in western Ukraine, near the city of Khmelnytskyi.

Three additional anti-aircraft guided missiles were fired at the Kharkiv region in the east and the Donetsk region (half of Donbas) in the southeast.

There have been no confirmed infections yet.

Russia launched more than 450 missiles and drones into Ukrainian civilian areas over the past week, killing more than 60 civilians and wounding hundreds more. Ukraine has launched dozens of drones and missiles over the Russian border and into the Moscow-occupied Crimean Peninsula in return, with air combat escalating between the two sides while the front lines on the ground remain deadlocked.

British Ministry of Defense (MoD), In its latest intelligence updateHe pointed out that Russia allocated a large percentage of its stored weapons to carry out air attacks. He added that Russia appears to have moved from targeting critical energy infrastructure to Ukraine's defense industry – seeking to reduce Kiev's ability to launch missiles and drones. This is an admission that the Kremlin expects a long war of attrition in the air and on the ground.

“Russian planners almost certainly recognize the growing importance of relative defense industrial capacity as they prepare for a long war,” the Defense Ministry said.

A Russian poet has been sentenced to seven years in prison for reciting verses against Russia's war in Ukraine, a harsh sentence that comes during a relentless crackdown on dissent in the Kremlin.

The Tverskoy District Court of Moscow convicted Artyom Kamardin on charges of making calls undermining national security and inciting hatred, which related to him reading his anti-war poems during a street performance in downtown Moscow in September 2022.

Igor Stovba, who participated in the event and recited Kamaruddin's verses, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison on the same charges.

Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday announced their first prisoner-of-war exchange in nearly five months, with each side releasing more than 200 prisoners after what both said were complex negotiations involving mediation from the United Arab Emirates.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukraine handed over 248 military personnel. Kiev said it had returned 230 people, 224 soldiers and six civilians, in what it said was the largest documented troop exchange to date.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged its role, and said in a statement that the exchange was made possible thanks to its “strong friendly relations” with both Moscow and Kiev.

It offered to exert more humanitarian efforts and find a peaceful solution to the war.

A video clip published by the Ukrainian authorities showed returning prisoners wrapped in the country's blue and yellow flag getting off a bus, singing the national anthem and chanting the national salute, “Glory to Ukraine.”

Most, but not all, appear to be healthy. . One of the returnees shouted: “We are back home!” You have not forgotten us!

The Russian Defense Ministry posted a similar video of returning prisoners in uniform arriving in Belgorod on buses. “I'll be home in five hours, that'll be fun,” said an unnamed man.

The Russian army announced, on Wednesday, that it had shot down 12 Ukrainian missiles over the Belgorod region in southern Russia, bordering Ukraine, at a time when Ukrainian forces are seeking to embarrass Russian President Vladimir Putin and refute his argument that life in Russia is proceeding normally despite the war that has been ongoing for 22 months.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said the situation in the regional capital, also called Belgorod, “remains tense.” Gladkov wrote on Telegram that the city was subjected to two rounds of bombing on Wednesday morning.

“The air defense systems worked,” he added, promising more details about the possible damage after inspecting the area later in the day. Wednesday was a national holiday in Russia.

“I spoke with UK Prime Minister @RishiSunak about Russia's ongoing aerial terrorism against Ukrainian cities. Over the past five days, the enemy has launched at least 500 missiles and drones towards Ukraine,” Zelensky said Tuesday evening, thanking the Kingdom. “The United States provides for “substantial and comprehensive assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense, in particular with radars and advanced anti-ballistic missile systems.” Unmanned aircraft and missile systems.”

The Ukrainian president said he spoke with Sunak about further defense cooperation with a particular focus on air defense and long-range capabilities.

The European Union imposed sanctions on the world's largest diamond mining company and its CEO on Wednesday as part of what it called its “steadfast commitment” to Ukraine in the war against Russia.

The move targeted Alrosa, which accounts for about 90% of Russia's diamond production, and CEO Pavel Marinichev. The EU headquarters said the company “forms an important part of the economic sector that provides significant revenues” to Moscow.

This means that Alrosa's assets in Europe will be frozen, and EU citizens and companies will be banned from providing funds to the company. Marinichev, who was appointed CEO last May for a three-year term, also faces a travel ban to Europe.

NATO announced Wednesday that it will help purchase up to 1,000 Patriot missiles so allies can better protect their territory as Russia intensifies its air assault on Ukraine.

NATO's Procurement and Support Agency said it would support a group of countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain, in purchasing Patriot missiles, which are used to defend against cruise and ballistic missiles as well as enemy aircraft.

According to industry sources, the contract could be worth about $5.5 billion.

Russia launched more than 450 missiles and drones into Ukrainian civilian areas over the past week, killing more than 60 civilians and wounding hundreds more. Ukraine has launched dozens of drones and missiles over the Russian border and into the Moscow-occupied Crimean Peninsula in return, with air combat escalating between the two sides while the front lines on the ground remain deadlocked.

British Ministry of Defense (MoD), In its latest intelligence updateHe pointed out that Russia allocated a large percentage of its stored weapons to carry out air attacks. He added that Russia appears to have moved from targeting critical energy infrastructure to Ukraine's defense industry – seeking to reduce Kiev's ability to launch missiles and drones. This is an admission that the Kremlin expects a long war of attrition in the air and on the ground.