Ukraine destroyed more than 40 military aircraft in a drone attack deep inside Russia, official says
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose operational details, said the attack took over 1 1/2-year to execute and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The operation saw drones transported in containers carried by trucks deep into Russian territory, he said. The drones reportedly hit 41 planes stationed at several airfields on Sunday afternoon, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M aircraft, the official said. Moscow has previously used Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers to launch missiles at Ukraine, while A-50s are used to coordinate targets and detect air defenses and guided missiles.
Russia's Defense Ministry in a statement confirmed the attacks, which spanned five airfields. The FPV drones damaged aircraft and sparked fires on air bases in the Irkutsk region, more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine, as well as Russia's northern Murmansk, it said. Strikes were repelled in the Amur region in Russia's Far East and in the western regions of Ivanovo and Ryazan, the ministry said.
The attack came the same day as Zelenskyy said Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday.
In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy said that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation. 'We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people,' Zelenskyy said.
Ukrainian officials had previously called on the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the war before the meeting takes place. Moscow had said it would share its memorandum during the talks.
Russian strike hits an army unit
Russia on Sunday launched the biggest number of drones — 472 — on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's air force said.
Russian forces also launched seven missiles alongside the barrage of drones, said Yuriy Ignat, head of communications for the air force. Earlier Sunday, Ukraine's army said at least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on an army training unit.
The strike occurred at 12:50 p.m., the statement said, emphasizing that no formations or mass gatherings of personnel were being held at the time.
Ukrainian army commander Mykhailo Drapatyi later Sunday submitted his resignation following the attack. He was a respected commander whose leadership saw Ukraine regain land on the eastern front for the first time since Kyiv's 2022 counteroffensive.
The training unit was located to the rear of the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) active front line, where Russian reconnaissance and strike drones are able to strike. Ukraine's forces lack troops and take extra precautions to avoid mass gatherings as the skies across the front line are saturated with Russian drones looking for targets.
Northern pressure
Russia's Ministry of Defense said Sunday that it had taken control of the village of Oleksiivka in Ukraine's northern Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities in Sumy ordered mandatory evacuations in 11 more settlements Saturday as Russian forces make steady gains in the area.
Speaking Saturday, Ukraine's top army chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that Russian forces were focusing their main offensive efforts on Pokrovsk, Toretsk and Lyman in the Donetsk region, as well as the Sumy border area.
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Khabar Agency
2 days ago
- Khabar Agency
Ukraine destroyed more than 40 military aircraft in a drone attack deep inside Russia, official says
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose operational details, said the attack took over 1 1/2-year to execute and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The operation saw drones transported in containers carried by trucks deep into Russian territory, he said. The drones reportedly hit 41 planes stationed at several airfields on Sunday afternoon, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M aircraft, the official said. Moscow has previously used Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers to launch missiles at Ukraine, while A-50s are used to coordinate targets and detect air defenses and guided missiles. Russia's Defense Ministry in a statement confirmed the attacks, which spanned five airfields. The FPV drones damaged aircraft and sparked fires on air bases in the Irkutsk region, more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine, as well as Russia's northern Murmansk, it said. Strikes were repelled in the Amur region in Russia's Far East and in the western regions of Ivanovo and Ryazan, the ministry said. The attack came the same day as Zelenskyy said Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday. In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy said that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation. 'We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people,' Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian officials had previously called on the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the war before the meeting takes place. Moscow had said it would share its memorandum during the talks. Russian strike hits an army unit Russia on Sunday launched the biggest number of drones — 472 — on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's air force said. Russian forces also launched seven missiles alongside the barrage of drones, said Yuriy Ignat, head of communications for the air force. Earlier Sunday, Ukraine's army said at least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on an army training unit. The strike occurred at 12:50 p.m., the statement said, emphasizing that no formations or mass gatherings of personnel were being held at the time. Ukrainian army commander Mykhailo Drapatyi later Sunday submitted his resignation following the attack. He was a respected commander whose leadership saw Ukraine regain land on the eastern front for the first time since Kyiv's 2022 counteroffensive. The training unit was located to the rear of the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) active front line, where Russian reconnaissance and strike drones are able to strike. Ukraine's forces lack troops and take extra precautions to avoid mass gatherings as the skies across the front line are saturated with Russian drones looking for targets. Northern pressure Russia's Ministry of Defense said Sunday that it had taken control of the village of Oleksiivka in Ukraine's northern Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities in Sumy ordered mandatory evacuations in 11 more settlements Saturday as Russian forces make steady gains in the area. Speaking Saturday, Ukraine's top army chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that Russian forces were focusing their main offensive efforts on Pokrovsk, Toretsk and Lyman in the Donetsk region, as well as the Sumy border area.
El Chorouk
14-03-2025
- El Chorouk
French Warnings Regarding the Algerian-American Military Agreement
French political circles have expressed evident concern and dismay over the Algerian-American military rapprochement, recently embodied in a cooperation agreement signed between the Algerian Ministry of Defense and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). They believe that Trump's America is strengthening its relations with Algeria at a time when the crisis with France is worsening. French concern and disquiet over this military agreement were expressed during a debate in the National Assembly (the lower house of Parliament) held on March 11, 2025, the content of which is checked out by Echorouk, was partly devoted to French-Algerian relations and included concerns raised by MPs regarding the repercussions of the diplomatic crisis between the two countries, addressed to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. In this context, MP Stéphane Peu, of the Democratic and Republican Left, said in his intervention that …' it is time to realize that a policy of confrontation is a dead end and is worsening an already very worrying situation', referring to the right-wing and far-right movements within the French government pushing for further escalation of relations with Algeria, MP Stéphane Peu considered that 'this strategy is all the more dangerous given that, at the same time, Trump's America is signing a military and strategic agreement with Algiers', referring to the choice of some French politicians to exacerbate relations with Algeria, a situation that is becoming increasingly dangerous at a time when relations between Algeria and Washington are strengthening. The same MP called on his Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, to ensure that France speaks with one voice regarding relations with Algeria, given what he described as 'the historic relations that bind our two countries across the Mediterranean deserve, at the very least, that France speaks with one voice. Diplomacy must prevail', in a clear reference to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau's statements, which each time further strain relations. The MP addressed the French Foreign Minister, asking, 'How do you intend to act?' wondering about the way to restore warmth to relations between the two countries. This was a reference to silencing extremist voices that further worsened relations between the two countries, while Algeria and Washington are strengthening their ties. According to MP Stéphane Peu; 'Since the summer of 2024, diplomatic relations between France and Algeria have continued to deteriorate and the areas of discord are accumulating', including 'France's support for the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara despite UN decisions', was also accompanied by the French authorities' 'passivity in the face of racism and revisionism which invade public and media debate' regarding Algeria. He explained that 'never since Algeria's independence has the crisis between Paris and Algiers been so serious. Despite the demanding and respectful dialogue advocated by President Macron, the French government speaks primarily through the voice of those who prefer to shed what remains of Gaullism to better pursue the far right'. He emphasized that 'this escalation is fracturing French society; it stigmatizes and harms millions of our fellow citizens who are linked in one way or another to Algeria. In the name of the shared history of our two peoples, for peace and the reconciliation of memories.'
Khabar Agency
05-03-2025
- Khabar Agency
U.S. Treasury Sanctions Houthi Leaders for Weapons Smuggling and Recruitment Schemes (Names)
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced today the designation of seven high-ranking members of the Houthis, for their involvement in smuggling military-grade weapons and procuring arms from Russia. Additionally, OFAC targeted a Houthi-affiliated operative and his company for recruiting Yemeni civilians to fight on behalf of Russia in Ukraine, generating revenue to fund the Houthis' militant activities. 'Houthi leaders have demonstrated their intent to escalate destabilizing actions in the Red Sea region by seeking advanced weapons from an expanding network of international suppliers,' said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. 'The United States will continue to use all available tools to disrupt their terrorist activities and undermine their ability to threaten U.S. personnel, regional partners, and global maritime trade.' The sanctions were imposed under the counterterrorism authority of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. This action builds on previous OFAC designations targeting Houthi weapons procurement networks on June 17, 2024, July 31, 2024, October 2, 2024, and December 19, 2024. Ansarallah was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the U.S. Department of State on February 16, 2024, for its involvement in terrorism. Yesterday, the State Department also re-designated Ansarallah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Key Figures Targeted The sanctioned individuals include prominent Houthi political and military leaders who have played critical roles in securing weapons and foreign support for the group's operations: Mohammad Abdulsalam: The Houthis' Oman-based spokesman, Abdulsalam has managed the group's financing network and facilitated weapons procurement from Russia. He has traveled to Moscow to meet with Russian officials and coordinated visits for other Houthi delegations. Eshaq Abdulmalek Abdullah Almarwani: A senior Houthi operative and aide to Abdulsalam, Almarwani has participated in high-level meetings in Russia and worked to advance Houthi interests internationally. Mahdi Mohammed Hussein Al-Mashat: Chairman of the Houthi-aligned Supreme Political Council (SPC), Al-Mashat has strengthened ties between the Houthis and Russia, including direct engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also issues official statements outlining the group's militant and diplomatic positions. Mohamed Ali Al-Houthi: A key Houthi operative and member of the SPC, Mohamed Ali has communicated with Russian and Chinese officials to ensure Houthi militants avoid targeting their vessels in the Red Sea. He has also planned trips to Russia to discuss military aid. Ali Muhammad Muhsin Salih Al-Hadi: Head of the Houthi-controlled Sanaa Chamber of Commerce, Al-Hadi has financed weapons procurement through shell companies and traveled to Russia to secure defense equipment and investments. Abdulmalek Abdullah Mohammed E Alagri: A senior Houthi operative, Alagri has represented the group in meetings with Russian and Chinese officials and issued statements defending Houthi-aligned financial institutions. Khaled Hussein Saleh Gaber: A Houthi operative who has participated in delegations to Russia and coordinated illicit procurement activities with Houthi financial networks. These individuals were designated under E.O. 13224 for acting on behalf of Ansarallah. The Treasury also highlighted the Houthis' exploitation of vulnerable Yemeni populations through a human smuggling operation that recruited civilians to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Abdulwali Abdoh Hasan Al-Jabri, a Houthi operative and self-proclaimed major general, facilitated this scheme through his company, Al-Jabri General Trading and Investment Co. The company arranged for Yemeni civilians to join Russian military units in exchange for cash, creating a new revenue stream for the Houthis. Al-Jabri and his company were designated under E.O. 13224 for acting on behalf of The Houthis.
