It is day 794 of the war in Ukraine. Follow the recent developments here in this live blog.
Russian air defense intercepts seventeen drones
Russian air defense systems have intercepted seventeen drones launched by Ukraine over its own territory, the Russian Ministry of Defense reports. Nine of the drones were destroyed over the territory of the Bryansk region, three over the Kursk region, two over the Belgorod region and three over the Kaluga region, the ministry said in a statement on the messaging app Telegram.
Two Ukrainians stabbed to death in Germany, Russian arrested
Two men from Ukraine were stabbed on Saturday on the grounds of a shopping center in Murnau am Staffelsee, in the German state of Bavaria. Both victims died. The police have arrested a 57-year-old Russian as a suspect. The victims, a 23-year-old and 36-year-old man from Ukraine, were attacked around 5:15 p.m. in front of a grocery store in the German town of about 12,000 inhabitants. The older of the two died on the spot from his injuries, the other man in hospital a short time later.
The perpetrator fled, but was arrested in his home after a manhunt. The police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the stabbing incident. It is unclear whether the three men knew each other. “We are still at the very beginning of the investigation,” a police spokesperson said. Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago. It is still unknown whether the stabbing has anything to do with this.
Australia increases military aid to Ukraine
Australia has stepped up military aid to Ukraine, with $100 million in new funding for short-range air defense systems, drone development and other equipment needed in the country’s war against Russia.
“While Ukraine is here fighting for its sovereignty and for its nation, it is also fighting to maintain the rules-based global order and in that sense it is fighting for us,” Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said on Saturday in Lviv, Ukraine. “Ukraine must be given the authority to resolve this on their terms.”
Ukraine and Russia intensively bombarded each other’s gas and oil infrastructure yesterday
Ukraine yesterday suffered a heavy barrage of Russian missiles on its gas infrastructure and other targets, while Moscow reported a Ukrainian drone attack on the Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, the first such attack since early this month. Russia’s state news agency Tass reported that the strike caused a fire, partially suspending refineries’ operations.
The plant was hit by 10 drones, Tass said, citing the refinery representative. The Russian Defense Ministry said 66 drones were intercepted and downed over the Krasnodar region. UAVs from Ukraine’s security service targeted the Kushchevsk military airport and the Slavyansk and Ilsky refineries in the Krasnodar region, according to an anonymous source close to the operation.
