Zelenskyy appoints Hennadiy Shapovalov as new ground forces chief
Former commander Drapatyi, who stepped down earlier this month in the wake of the Russian strike, has been reassigned to lead Ukraine's joint forces command as part of a broader restructuring within the military.With inputs from ReutersMust Watch
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Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Moscow airports temporarily shut amid Ukraine's drone attack on Russia
Ukraine's sustained drone attack on Russia led to airports in Moscow to be temporarily shut which caused at least 140 flights to be canceled, authorities said. The Russian defence ministry stated that more than 230 Ukrainian drones were destroyed in the country since Saturday morning, including 27 over the capital Moscow. Russia's aviation watchdog stated that more than 130 flights had to be diverted as flight operations at four major airports serving the capital were disrupted. However, the airports have since resumed normal operations. Meanwhile, regional officials said that at least three people were killed in Ukraine during Russian air strikes on Kyiv overnight. According to Russia's Association of Tour Operators (Ator), the airports in the country had to be shut at least 10 times in 24 hours due to the strikes. The Ukrainian drone attacks also affected Russia's Kaluga region, situated southwest of Moscow as the Russian defence ministry stated that they intercepted 45 Ukrainian drones since Saturday morning, which led to Kaluga International Airport being temporarily shut. The defence ministry added that drones were shot down in the region near Ukrainian borders including Rostov, Bryansk and over Black Sea. The authorities said that no fatalities were reported in the attacks. Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force said it shot down 18 of 57 Russian drones overnight on Sunday and seven other drones were lost after their radars got jammed. The retaliation by Russia led to attacks in Sumy, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia. Amid the latest round of attacks, Kremlin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for a peace settlement with Ukraine but Moscow's priority lies in achieving its goals. 'President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy,' Peskov said in an interview, reported BBC. (with inputs from BBC)
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Russian diplomat claims West is using Romania as foothold for intervention, points to increase in NATO presence
Moscow/Bucharest, July 20 (UNI) Amid the increasing military presence of NATO troops in Romania, the Russia Ambassador to Bucharest Vladimir Lipayev claims that Western powers are using Romania as a foothold for intervening in the Russia-Ukraine war, posing an increasing threat to regional security. Speaking to RIA Novosti, Lipayev said "It is obvious that the states of the so-called collective West are trying, without directly using their armed forces, to increasingly intervene in the conflict in Ukraine, hoping to change its course by increasing the degree of escalation. 'The use of the territory of the alliance member states closest to Russia, including Romania, is considered one of the tools for such intervention. For this reason, the militarisation of Romania is in full swing." Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of Western troops stationed in Romania, particularly personnel and assets from the US, UK, France, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, among others, as part of NATO's 'Enhanced Forward Presence' military doctrine, to contain Russia troops. The diplomat noted that elements of the US missile defence system were deployed on the country's territory, military bases were being expanded, and the NATO contingent was increasing. The Mihai Kogalniceanu airbase is located less than 400 km from Sevastopol, he added. 'Since 2016, the American Aegis Ashore missile defence system has been deployed in the area of the village of Deveselu. Dozens of NATO military exercises are held annually. 'In fact, Romania is destined to play the role of a NATO outpost on its southeastern flank, which in the event of a global conflict could be used to launch a pre-emptive, disarming strike against Russia,' he noted. Claiming that the Romanian leadership is assuaging its public with false promises of security under the auspices of NATO security and not informing them of the actual developments, the general public in the country has become increasingly opposed to any further involvement of Romania in the war. UNI XC ANV GNK
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
After Challenging The F-35 With Rafale, France Now Targets U.S. Patriot With New Samp/T Air Defense System; Know Its Power
Paris: The United States has remained at the top of the global arms industry for decades. But France is steadily emerging as one of its strongest challengers. After offering its Rafale fighter jet as a credible alternative to the American F-35, Paris is now setting its sights on the Patriot missile system with a new air defense contender. Developed jointly with Italy, France has unveiled the Samp/T (Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain) system – a modern air defense solution designed to compete directly with the U.S.-built Patriot. The move comes as several Western nations re-evaluate their defense contracts, particularly those involving American hardware. According to a report by the Eurasian Times, France is actively presenting Samp/T to nations reconsidering large F-35 orders, positioning it as a European-built solution that not only defends but reflects sovereign industrial independence. This shift could impact billions in future U.S. defense contracts. Rising Defense Budgets, Bigger Stakes Across NATO and beyond, countries are ramping up their defense spending. Recent global conflicts have highlighted the need for modern and mobile air defense systems. Nations unable or unwilling to engage with Russia or China for military hardware now look west to the United States and increasingly to France. President Emmanuel Macron has pushed hard for foreign orders of the Samp/T. He has called it a complete European alternative, urging buyers to opt for this next-generation missile defense over the U.S. Patriot. 'Those who buy Patriots should now consider the Franco-Italian Samp/T. And those who look at the F-35 should be offered the Rafale,' he said. Features That Set Samp/T Apart At this year's Paris Air Show, EuroSAM, a consortium behind the Samp/T, outlined the system's capabilities. Military advisor Eric Tabachi emphasised its advanced radar, which rotates every second, scanning over 220 miles of airspace and offering full 360-degree coverage. He claimed this feature gives it a distinct edge over the Patriot. The system can detect ballistic missiles maneuvering up to 600 km away and intercept targets at 150 km. Its vertical-launch Aster missiles, 48 per unit, can respond to threats from any direction. Each unit includes a multifunction radar and up to six launchers. Despite its compact design, it is highly mobile and cost-effective, though production capacity may limit its global availability. Can Samp/T Dethrone the Patriot? The American Patriot system remains a dominant player. Trusted by over 19 countries, it has a strong combat record and wide global deployment. Its PAC-3 MSE missiles are effective, but some experts suggest they trail behind the Aster 30 in flexibility and performance. The Patriot requires more setup space and personnel, while Samp/T boasts quicker mobility and simplified logistics. EuroSAM insists Samp/T has evolved beyond just matching the Patriot. It now surpasses it in many areas. Features like vertical-launch canisters and sweeping radar coverage may appeal to nations seeking cutting-edge alternatives. Global Footprint Still Growing So far, only France and Italy operate the Samp/T domestically. Singapore has purchased a customised variant, and two batteries have been delivered to Ukraine. Since entering service in 2011, 18 complete systems have been ordered worldwide. By contrast, Patriot has seen over 240 orders from 19 countries. Can France and Italy's Samp/T chip away at America's dominance in global missile defense? Only time and new contracts will tell.
