The Russian air defense apparently killed its own soldiers. Japan sends help with drone detection. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Ukrainian Air Force: Russian bombers in the air
4.10 a.m.: The Ukrainian Air Force warns the population of air strikes. At least nine Russian Tu-95 bombers took off from Murmansk. In the past, these aircraft have repeatedly fired missiles towards Ukraine. There were drone attacks in Odessa during the night. There are still no reports of damage.
Japan helps with drone detection
12:30 a.m.: During a visit to Kiev, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa promised Ukraine support in its continued defense against the Russian war of aggression. Japan will pay 37 million US dollars (33.7 million euros) into a NATO fund, Kamikawa said on Sunday at a joint press conference with her counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, according to Ukrainian media. This money should then benefit the Ukrainian air defense and flow into systems for drone detection. Russia has been attacking its neighboring country for months, particularly with large-scale combat drone attacks.
Rescue work in Pokrovsk is still ongoing
11:20 p.m.: More than a day after heavy Russian rocket attacks on the Pokrovsk district of eastern Ukraine left at least eleven people dead, rescue work is still ongoing. In the affected places, which are in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region, the search for victims under the rubble is continuing, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in his evening video address on Sunday. He thanked all the rescuers who have been on site since Saturday evening.
Partisans claim to have infiltrated Russian division
11:45 p.m.: Members of the Ukrainian partisan group Atesh say they have infiltrated a Russian division in the Moscow region. The Dzerzhinsky Division was spied on in Balashikha, the group reports on Telegram. Data from military personnel was obtained. These were passed on to Ukrainian military authorities. The information cannot be independently verified.
Russian air defense probably kills its own soldiers
8:18 p.m.: Russia’s air defense apparently accidentally shot down two of its own paratroopers during training at a military training area in the Russian Rostov region. This is what a Russian military blogger writes on Telegram. According to him, the practice jumps of a company of paratroopers were postponed until night due to bad weather. A gunner from a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun then mistook the maneuver for a real attack by the Ukrainians and shot at the soldiers as they landed.
Most of his shots missed, but two soldiers were fatally injured. An internal investigation into the incident by the Russian army concluded that the shooter had been on duty for at least 14 hours straight, which was contrary to all regulations.
Russian National Guard apparently receives new additions from Donetsk
11:16 a.m.: According to British assessments, the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya) is benefiting in terms of personnel and material from changes resulting from the war of aggression against Ukraine. Since the beginning of January, the “Vostok” battalion of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic has also been subordinate to it, the Ministry of Defense in London said, citing intelligence findings. In addition, the “Kaskad” group that specializes in drone operations – also from Donetsk – should be disbanded and partially integrated into Rosgvardiya.
Units of the Wagner private army have been integrated since October 2023, and the National Guard has been allowed to use heavy weapons since summer 2023. “New capabilities as well as the addition of experienced veterans from other groups are likely to represent a significant increase in combat effectiveness,” Rosgvardiya said in London. Since its founding, the force has been led by Viktor Solotov, a confidant of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, and reports directly to the president.
Ukraine reports Russian airstrike involving dozens of drones
7:19 a.m.: According to Ukrainian information, the Russian armed forces attacked with 28 drones and three cruise missiles on Sunday night. The Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram that 21 drones were intercepted and destroyed. She leaves it open what happened to the three cruise missiles. The target of the Russian attack was primarily the south and east of Ukraine.
