On Saturday, April 20, 2024, the conflict escalates between Russia and Ukraine.
Military Action:
Russia's Ministry of Defence reported Ukrainian drone strikes overnight and into Saturday, with 26 drones detected over the Belgorod region, 10 over Bryansk, and eight over Kursk, among others. Tragically, two people lost their lives in Russia’s Belgorod region due to these strikes, as confirmed by Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. Similar attacks were reported by governors in Kursk, Kaluga, and Bryansk.
In a significant development, Ukraine’s air force successfully shot down a Russian strategic bomber using antiaircraft missiles for the first time since the conflict began in 2022. The incident occurred in Russian airspace, 300km (186 miles) from Ukraine’s border, after the bomber participated in a long-range air strike in the central region of Dnipropetrovsk. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least nine people in the eastern city of Dnipro and its surroundings, with 28 others sustaining injuries, according to regional officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the site of the strike in Dnipro, urging his country's allies to expedite the delivery of air defense systems. Additionally, Russian missiles targeted the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi in the southern Odesa region, destroying grain storage facilities and food supplies.
Political Landscape:
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced his belief that the conflict in Ukraine could persist for several more years and defended Germany's military support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) countries expressed grave concerns about the transfer of materials and weapons components from Chinese businesses to Russia, fueling its military aggression in Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken labeled this situation as the most significant threat to European security since the end of the Cold War during their meeting on the Italian island of Capri.
Weapons Support:
The United States House of Representatives is set to vote on Saturday to approve $95bn in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other US allies, with $61bn earmarked for Ukraine. President Zelenskyy emphasized the critical need for increased arms deliveries from NATO member states during a virtual address to NATO defense ministers on Friday, stressing that Ukraine's defense hinges on Western support.
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