Latest news with #AndriiKovalenko
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Ukrainian drone strikes Russian plant after record attacks by Moscow in June
Both sides have raced to improve drone technology and enhance their use on the battlefield, deploying increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones, turning the war into a testing ground for the new weaponry. Ukraine is under severe strain from a Russian push at places on the 620-mile front line, but analysts say its defences are largely holding firm. With recent direct talks delivering no progress on US-led international efforts to halt the fighting, Moscow and Kyiv are bulking up their arsenals. Russia launched 5,438 drones at Ukraine in June, a monthly record, according to official data collated by the Associated Press. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone hit an industrial plant in Izhevsk, about 620 miles east of Moscow, injuring several people and starting a fire, Izhevsk regional governor Alexander Brechalov said. The plant's workers were evacuated, he added. Ukraine has for months been using domestically produced long-range drones to strike plants, storage sites and logistical hubs deep inside Russian territory. Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation branch of Ukraine's Security Council, said Tuesday's target was a local plant producing Russian drones and air defence systems. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine's domestic production of drones is about to increase in response to Russia's expanded barrages. 'The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones,' he said late on Monday. 'This is extremely important,' he added. 'Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities, Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures.' Russia's Defence Ministry said 60 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over several regions, including 17 over Crimea, 16 over the Rostov region and four over the Saratov region. At the same time, four Russian Shahed drones struck the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzia during the night, leaving more than 1,600 households without power, according to authorities. Ukraine's air force said on Tuesday that Russia fired 52 Shahed and decoy drones at the country overnight. US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, criticised Moscow for continuing to strike civilian areas of Ukraine while effectively rejecting a ceasefire and dragging its feet on a peace settlement. 'We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war,' he said late on Monday. 'Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine.' Ukraine is developing its own defence industry as uncertainty remains over whether the Trump administration will continue to provide crucial military aid. Between March and April, the US allocated no new aid to Ukraine, according to Germany's Kiel Institute. European support has surpassed the US in total military aid for the first time since June 2022, totalling 72 billion euros (£61 billion) compared with 65 billion euros (£55 billion) from the US, the institute said last month.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
Ukrainian drone strikes Russian plant after record attacks by Moscow in June
Both sides have raced to improve drone technology and enhance their use on the battlefield, deploying increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones, turning the war into a testing ground for the new weaponry. Ukraine is under severe strain from a Russian push at places on the 620-mile front line, but analysts say its defences are largely holding firm. With recent direct talks delivering no progress on US-led international efforts to halt the fighting, Moscow and Kyiv are bulking up their arsenals. Russia launched 5,438 drones at Ukraine in June, a monthly record, according to official data collated by the Associated Press. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone hit an industrial plant in Izhevsk, about 620 miles east of Moscow, injuring several people and starting a fire, Izhevsk regional governor Alexander Brechalov said. The plant's workers were evacuated, he added. Ukraine has for months been using domestically produced long-range drones to strike plants, storage sites and logistical hubs deep inside Russian territory. Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation branch of Ukraine's Security Council, said Tuesday's target was a local plant producing Russian drones and air defence systems. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine's domestic production of drones is about to increase in response to Russia's expanded barrages. 'The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones,' he said late on Monday. 'This is extremely important,' he added. 'Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities, Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures.' Russia's Defence Ministry said 60 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over several regions, including 17 over Crimea, 16 over the Rostov region and four over the Saratov region. At the same time, four Russian Shahed drones struck the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzia during the night, leaving more than 1,600 households without power, according to authorities. Ukraine's air force said on Tuesday that Russia fired 52 Shahed and decoy drones at the country overnight. US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, criticised Moscow for continuing to strike civilian areas of Ukraine while effectively rejecting a ceasefire and dragging its feet on a peace settlement. 'We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war,' he said late on Monday. 'Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine.' Ukraine is developing its own defence industry as uncertainty remains over whether the Trump administration will continue to provide crucial military aid. Between March and April, the US allocated no new aid to Ukraine, according to Germany's Kiel Institute. European support has surpassed the US in total military aid for the first time since June 2022, totalling 72 billion euros (£61 billion) compared with 65 billion euros (£55 billion) from the US, the institute said last month.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainian drone strikes Russian plant after record attacks by Moscow in June
A Ukrainian drone has struck a Russian industrial plant 800 miles from Ukraine, a local official said, after Kyiv prioritised the weapon's development and Russia pounded Ukraine with a record number of drones last month. Both sides have raced to improve drone technology and enhance their use on the battlefield, deploying increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones, turning the war into a testing ground for the new weaponry. Ukraine is under severe strain from a Russian push at places on the 620-mile front line, but analysts say its defences are largely holding firm. With recent direct talks delivering no progress on US-led international efforts to halt the fighting, Moscow and Kyiv are bulking up their arsenals. Russia launched 5,438 drones at Ukraine in June, a monthly record, according to official data collated by the Associated Press. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone hit an industrial plant in Izhevsk, about 620 miles east of Moscow, injuring several people and starting a fire, Izhevsk regional governor Alexander Brechalov said. The plant's workers were evacuated, he added. Ukraine has for months been using domestically produced long-range drones to strike plants, storage sites and logistical hubs deep inside Russian territory. Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation branch of Ukraine's Security Council, said Tuesday's target was a local plant producing Russian drones and air defence systems. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine's domestic production of drones is about to increase in response to Russia's expanded barrages. 'The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones,' he said late on Monday. 'This is extremely important,' he added. 'Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities, Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures.' Russia's Defence Ministry said 60 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over several regions, including 17 over Crimea, 16 over the Rostov region and four over the Saratov region. At the same time, four Russian Shahed drones struck the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzia during the night, leaving more than 1,600 households without power, according to authorities. Ukraine's air force said on Tuesday that Russia fired 52 Shahed and decoy drones at the country overnight. US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, criticised Moscow for continuing to strike civilian areas of Ukraine while effectively rejecting a ceasefire and dragging its feet on a peace settlement. 'We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war,' he said late on Monday. 'Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine.' Ukraine is developing its own defence industry as uncertainty remains over whether the Trump administration will continue to provide crucial military aid. Between March and April, the US allocated no new aid to Ukraine, according to Germany's Kiel Institute. European support has surpassed the US in total military aid for the first time since June 2022, totalling 72 billion euros (£61 billion) compared with 65 billion euros (£55 billion) from the US, the institute said last month.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Ukrainian drone strikes Russian plant after record attacks by Moscow in June
A Ukrainian drone has struck a Russian industrial plant 800 miles from Ukraine, a local official said, after Kyiv prioritised the weapon's development and Russia pounded Ukraine with a record number of drones last month. Both sides have raced to improve drone technology and enhance their use on the battlefield, deploying increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones, turning the war into a testing ground for the new weaponry. Advertisement Ukraine is under severe strain from a Russian push at places on the 620-mile front line, but analysts say its defences are largely holding firm. With recent direct talks delivering no progress on US-led international efforts to halt the fighting, Moscow and Kyiv are bulking up their arsenals. A damaged apartment building in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Russia launched 5,438 drones at Ukraine in June, a monthly record, according to official data collated by the Associated Press. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone hit an industrial plant in Izhevsk, about 620 miles east of Moscow, injuring several people and starting a fire, Izhevsk regional governor Alexander Brechalov said. The plant's workers were evacuated, he added. Ukraine has for months been using domestically produced long-range drones to strike plants, storage sites and logistical hubs deep inside Russian territory. Advertisement Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation branch of Ukraine's Security Council, said Tuesday's target was a local plant producing Russian drones and air defence systems. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine's domestic production of drones is about to increase in response to Russia's expanded barrages. 'The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones,' he said late on Monday. 'This is extremely important,' he added. 'Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities, Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures.' Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Jaimi Joy/PA) Russia's Defence Ministry said 60 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over several regions, including 17 over Crimea, 16 over the Rostov region and four over the Saratov region. At the same time, four Russian Shahed drones struck the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzia during the night, leaving more than 1,600 households without power, according to authorities. Ukraine's air force said on Tuesday that Russia fired 52 Shahed and decoy drones at the country overnight. US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, criticised Moscow for continuing to strike civilian areas of Ukraine while effectively rejecting a ceasefire and dragging its feet on a peace settlement. Advertisement 'We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war,' he said late on Monday. 'Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine.' Ukraine is developing its own defence industry as uncertainty remains over whether the Trump administration will continue to provide crucial military aid. Between March and April, the US allocated no new aid to Ukraine, according to Germany's Kiel Institute. European support has surpassed the US in total military aid for the first time since June 2022, totalling 72 billion euros (£61 billion) compared with 65 billion euros (£55 billion) from the US, the institute said last month. Advertisement
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Drones reportedly hit major Russian chemical and fuel industry plants overnight
Drones struck two industrial plants in Russia overnight on June 14, targeting one of the country's largest nitrogen fertilizer producers in Stavropol Krai and a major fuel catalyst facility in Samara Oblast, according to Russian regional officials. Ukrainian forces regularly launch long-range drone strikes against Russia's military and industrial targets in the rear, aiming to undermine its ability to wage its all-out war. Ukrainian authorities have not officially commented on the reported attacks. Stavropol Governor Vladimir Vladimirov said drone debris fell in the city's industrial zone, confirming the strike was aimed at the Nevinnomyssk Azot plant. He initially reported one person injured, but later clarified there were no casualties. Footage circulating online showed explosions and drones flying over the city. Nevinnomyssk Azot is among Russia's top producers of ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers, and hosts the country's only production lines for methyl acetate and high-purity acetic acid. It also operates Russia's first melamine production facility, according to open-source data. The plant, which produces up to one million tons of ammonia and over one million tons of ammonium nitrate annually, is "a critical element of Russia's military-industrial complex," Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, said. Kovalenko noted that ammonium nitrate is a key component for explosives and artillery shells. He added that the plant also synthesizes dual-use chemicals such as melamine, acetic acid, methanol, and potassium nitrate, frequently used in the production of grenade launchers, mines, and rocket charges. Since 2024, the plant has been producing water-soluble fertilizers, which he said have been adapted to serve military chemical needs. In Russia's Samara Oblast, a separate drone strike reportedly damaged the Novokuybyshevsk Catalyst Plant, the country's largest specialized facility for producing catalysts used in petroleum refining and petrochemicals. The region's governor, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, confirmed an attempted drone attack overnight on an industrial site in Novokuybyshevsk. Kovalenko said the plant has a strategic role, stating that without its output, Russia's oil refineries, and by extension, its supply of aviation fuel, diesel for armored vehicles, and rocket propellant, would be severely affected. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed it intercepted a total of 66 drones overnight across several regions, including 30 over Voronezh Oblast, 10 over Belgorod Oblast, 8 over Stavropol Krai, 6 over occupied Crimea, 1 over Samara Oblast, and 11 over the Azov Sea. Read also: Russian military equipment reportedly hit in Ukrainian drone attack against Crimea We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
