Oil refinery in Russia experiences fire following a drone assault.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a significant shift in the country's defence capabilities, with almost 60 percent of the weapons used by the Ukrainian military now coming from domestic production. This development, Zelensky says, is a key element for Ukraine's future defence capability.
In a bid to strengthen air defence systems, Zelensky himself is overseeing the development of these systems. He has set the enhancement of protection against Russian drone and missile attacks as his top priority. The aim is to secure modern Western air defense systems and increase the number of combat aircraft, particularly F-16 jets. The goal is to close gaps revealed by intensified Russian air strikes and ensure sufficient defense of Ukrainian airspace.
The cityscape of Cherson is heavily marked by the war, with every single high-rise in the Korabel district reportedly damaged. Hundreds of buildings in Cherson are damaged or destroyed, in addition to the 54 damaged high-rises. In the capital, Kyiv, a multi-story residential building was destroyed overnight, resulting in one fatality and 11 injured. The Ukrainian air force is warning of Russian missile and drone attacks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly expressed interest in meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on neutral ground, according to Slovak President Robert Fico. Putin has previously been reluctant to meet with Zelensky, but earlier this week he said Zelensky could come to Moscow if there was a prospect of a "good outcome." However, the latest reports suggest that Putin expressed interest in a meeting with Zelensky "somewhere else" than Moscow.
Explosions were reported in several Ukrainian cities, including Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Kryvyi Rih. This comes after a Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire at the Ilsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, according to Russian reports.
Amidst these developments, Anton Hofreiter, chairman of the Bundestag's European Affairs Committee, considers the debate on the possible deployment of Western protection troops to Ukraine misguided. The Polish and its allies have deployed military aircraft to the border area due to Russian air strikes on western Ukraine.
As the conflict continues, President Zelensky emphasizes the need to further develop air defense in Ukraine following another Russian drone incursion on various targets. No details on the status of Ukrainian air defense system development and production are provided by President Zelensky. The Kremlin continues to pressure Ukraine to surrender.
This report comes after previous developments in the Ukraine conflict, which can be found here. The death toll in Kyiv has risen to two, authorities say.
In these challenging times, Ukraine's shift towards domestic weapon production and the ongoing efforts to strengthen its air defence systems are crucial steps towards ensuring the country's security and sovereignty.
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