Russia says air defences down 17 Ukrainian drones
Jan 31 (Reuters) - Russia's defence ministry said late on Thursday that air defence units had downed 17 Ukrainian drones in four southern regions in a period of just over two hours.
A ministry statement said 11 of the 17 drones were downed between 7:50 p.m. and 10 p.m. Moscow time (1650 GMT and 1900 GMT) over the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces hold a chunk of territory since staging a cross-border incursion last August.
The ministry's post on Telegram said other drones had been downed in Belgorod and Voronezh regions and in the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
The ministry made no mention of damage or casualties on the ground.
The governor of Voronezh region, Alexander Gusev, said "several" drones had been downed over his region on the Ukrainian border. Gusev said there had been no injuries or damage
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC News
27 minutes ago
- NBC News
Israeli forces board charity boat bound for Gaza with activist Greta Thunburg aboard
JERUSALEM— Israeli forces have boarded a charity vessel attempting to reach the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said early Monday. The British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian FFC, had departed from Sicily on June 6 and had hoped to reach Gaza later in the day, when the interception occurred, the group said on its Telegram account. Among those on board the boat are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Shortly before the FFC statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a video on X showing the Israeli Navy communicating with the Madleen over a loudspeaker, urging it to change course. 'The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade,' a soldier said. 'If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the (Israeli) port of Ashdod.' The yacht, with its 12-person crew, was carrying a symbolic shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz o rdered the military on Sunday to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas. Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. The blockade has remained in place through multiple conflicts, including the current war, which began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed more than 1,200 people, according to an Israeli tally. Gaza's health ministry says over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Prince William gives emotional plea to world leaders urging them to act to save the planet
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Prince of Wales said watching humans destroy our oceans was 'simply heartbreaking' as he urged world leaders to act by thinking big yesterday. William's call came in a speech to the Blue Economy and Finance Forum on ocean preservation at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco after meeting France's President Emmanuel Macron. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Prince William said watching humans destroy our oceans was 'simply heartbreaking' as he urged world leaders to act 2 Prince William meets France's President Emmanuel Macron Credit: Reuters The prince, whose opening and closing remarks were in French, said those attending were 'united by our deep connection to the ocean and our concern for its safety'. William, in navy suit with a recycled sustainable tie from Wilmok, said the clock was ticking on meeting the target agreed at the 2022 UN Biodiversity Summit aiming to protect at least 30 per cent of the world's land and sea by 2030. Speaking at the heads of state and government session on the forum's final day, the prince added: 'Watching human activity reduce beautiful sea forests to barren deserts at the base of our oceans is simply heartbreaking. 'For the future of our planet, for the future generations, we must listen to the words of Sir David Attenborough: 'If we save the sea, we save our world'. 'I call on all of you to think big in your actions.' World leaders were greeted by a blue carpet as they arrived at the event, with William chatting with Mr Macron and other dignitaries. Addressing an audience of 1,800, William said: 'Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing are putting pressure on fragile ecosystems. 'What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes. "We all stand to be impacted. And we are all responsible for change — both negative and positive. "But there remains time to turn this tide.' Wills jokes 'families can be a mixed bag - some of them might not want to see you much' Later, William said he went through a range of emotions when he saw Sir David's new Ocean film. He told Enric Sala, who worked on the film: 'I got angry, then sad, then I got frustrated, then I got happy.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Freedom Flotilla tracker live as Greta Thunberg aims to break Israel's aid seige
An aid boat carrying some of the biggest activists including Greta Thunberg is just 150 nautical miles from Gaza, campaigners have revealed. The vessel, dubbed Madleen, aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian support to thousands of people. The boat, which is being operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Sicily last Sunday, with the aim to reach Gaza's territorial waters by the end of this week. Thunberg, who is amongst 12 activists aboard the ship, earlier called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. 'We will try to break the siege and open humanitarian corridors to Gaza,' she said. In an update on the ship's whereabouts, human rights campaigner Yasemin Acar said they were close, but warned: "We could be cut out from the world any moment.' She said on Telegram: "We believe that we will reach Gaza, and that's why it's so important that you all play your part in this to make sure that there is no interception. Contact your local politicians. Contact everyone you know, everyone who is in power, everyone that you voted into power. They have the power, first and foremost, to stop this genocide, then they have power to lift this illegal siege." It comes as Israel's defence minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israel will not allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said is aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms. He said in a statement: 'To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propagandists – I will say this clearly: You should turn back, because you will not make it to Gaza.' Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, is among the others onboard. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies towards the Palestinians. After a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade and the war end. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. To follow the Madleen vessel on its journey, visit the official Freedom Flotilla tracker here.
