Latest news with #Kovalenko
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Russia says Trump 'does not fully understand' after criticism of Putin
A top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that President Donald Trump "is not getting enough information" about Moscow's war on Ukraine, after Trump criticized Putin for his apparent reluctance to pursue a peace deal and warned that the Kremlin was "playing with fire." "There is a lot that Trump says, we read it all, track it, but in many ways we come to the conclusion that Trump is not getting enough information about what is really happening in the context of the Ukrainian-Russian confrontation," Yuri Ushakov said in an interview with Russian propagandist Pavel Zarubin published on Wednesday. "In particular, he is not being informed enough about what massive terrorist attacks are being carried out by Ukraine against peaceful Russian cities," Ushakov said. "Trump only knows what countermeasures we are taking, and he does not fully understand that we are attacking military institutions or military industrial complexes." The comments came after hundreds of Ukrainian drones crossed into Russia overnight into Wednesday morning, dozens of which targeted Moscow and again caused disruption to flights in and out of the capital, according to officials there. Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 296 Ukrainian drones over 12 regions -- including the capital Moscow -- during the latest round of long-range strikes. Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Telegram that at least 42 drones were downed over the region. Vorobyov reported damage to three homes in the town of Chekhov around 40 miles south of the capital. Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport -- one of four international airports in the capital -- also warned travelers of delays due to flight restrictions imposed during the latest drone attack. Recent weeks have seen regular disruptions to Moscow's airports during such strikes. Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Counter-Disinformation Center operating as part of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said on Telegram there were "some pretty good hits" during Tuesday night's attack. Among the targets were the Dubna Machine-Building Plant -- involved in the production of aviation, missile and drone technology, Kovalenko said -- in the city of Dubna, around 70 miles north of Moscow. Kovalenko said the Technopark ELMA-Zelenograd facility -- which hosts the development of microelectronics, IT, robotics and medical equipment -- was also targeted. The facility "is one of the centers where import substitution of critical components previously imported from the West takes place," Kovalenko said. ABC News could not immediately verify Kovalenko's claim of successful strikes on the facilities. MORE: Putin 'playing games' with US peace talks, Zelenskyy says amid drone attack Russia continued its own long-range attacks on Ukraine overnight. Ukraine's air force said Moscow launched six missiles and 88 strike drones into the country, of which 71 drones were shot down or otherwise neutralized. The air force said it recorded impacts in eight locations. The intensity of strikes by both sides have only increased since Trump's return to office in January, the president having promised to end Russia's war on its neighbor war in 24 hours. Trump has not delivered on that promise, and his frustration appears to have been building in recent weeks with the continued failure of U.S.-led ceasefire efforts. Trump called Putin "absolutely crazy" in a Sunday social media post, then on Tuesday said Putin "doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire!" The U.S. and Ukraine are now waiting for Russia to deliver its peace memorandum -- a document promised by Putin to Trump during a phone call between the two leaders earlier this month. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Tuesday that Moscow was still working on the document. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cast doubt on the Russian proposal. "They've already spent over a week on this," he wrote on social media on Tuesday. "They talk a lot about diplomacy. But when, in the midst of all that, there are constant Russian strikes, constant killings, relentless assaults, and even preparations for new offensives." On Wednesday, Andriy Yermak -- the head of Zelenskyy's presidential office -- wrote on Telegram, "Russians are masters of empty words." Russia says Trump 'does not fully understand' after criticism of Putin originally appeared on
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hundreds of drones attack Russia with impacts, disruption reported in Moscow
Hundreds of Ukrainian drones crossed into Russia overnight into Wednesday morning, dozens of which targeted Moscow and again caused disruption to flights in and out of the capital, according to officials there. Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 296 Ukrainian drones over 12 regions -- including the capital Moscow -- during the latest round of long-range strikes. Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Telegram that at least 42 drones were downed over the region. Vorobyov reported damage to three homes in the town of Chekhov around 40 miles south of the capital. Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport -- one of four international airports in the capital -- also warned travelers of delays due to flight restrictions imposed during the latest drone attack. Recent weeks have seen regular disruptions to Moscow's airports during such strikes. Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Counter-Disinformation Center operating as part of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said on Telegram there were "some pretty good hits" during Tuesday night's attack. Among the targets were the Dubna Machine-Building Plant -- involved in the production of aviation, missile and drone technology, Kovalenko said -- in the city of Dubna, around 70 miles north of Moscow. Kovalenko said the Technopark ELMA-Zelenograd facility -- which hosts the development of microelectronics, IT, robotics and medical equipment -- was also targeted. The facility "is one of the centers where import substitution of critical components previously imported from the West takes place," Kovalenko said. ABC News could not immediately verify Kovalenko's claim of successful strikes on the facilities. MORE: Putin 'playing games' with US peace talks, Zelenskyy says amid drone attack Russia continued its own long-range attacks on Ukraine overnight. Ukraine's air force said Moscow launched six missiles and 88 strike drones into the country, of which 71 drones were shot down or otherwise neutralized. The air force said it recorded impacts in eight locations. The intensity of strikes by both sides have only increased since President Donald Trump's return to office in January, the president having promised to end Russia's war on its neighbor war in 24 hours. Trump has not delivered on that promise, and his frustration appears to have been building in recent weeks with the continued failure of U.S.-led ceasefire efforts. Trump called Putin "absolutely crazy" in a Sunday social media post, then on Tuesday said Putin "doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire!" The U.S. and Ukraine are now waiting for Russia to deliver its peace memorandum -- a document promised by Putin to Trump during a phone call between the two leaders earlier this month. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Tuesday that Moscow was still working on the document. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cast doubt on the Russian proposal. "They've already spent over a week on this," he wrote on social media on Tuesday. "They talk a lot about diplomacy. But when, in the midst of all that, there are constant Russian strikes, constant killings, relentless assaults, and even preparations for new offensives." Hundreds of drones attack Russia with impacts, disruption reported in Moscow originally appeared on
28-05-2025
- Politics
Hundreds of drones attack Russia with impacts, disruption reported in Moscow
LONDON -- Hundreds of Ukrainian drones crossed into Russia overnight into Wednesday morning, dozens of which targeted Moscow and again caused disruption to flights in and out of the capital, according to officials there. Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 296 Ukrainian drones over 12 regions -- including the capital Moscow -- during the latest round of long-range strikes. Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Telegram that at least 42 drones were downed over the region. Vorobyov reported damage to three homes in the town of Chekhov around 40 miles south of the capital. Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport -- one of four international airports in the capital -- also warned travelers of delays due to flight restrictions imposed during the latest drone attack. Recent weeks have seen regular disruptions to Moscow's airports during such strikes. Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Counter-Disinformation Center operating as part of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said on Telegram there were "some pretty good hits" during Tuesday night's attack. Among the targets were the Dubna Machine-Building Plant -- involved in the production of aviation, missile and drone technology, Kovalenko said -- in the city of Dubna, around 70 miles north of Moscow. Kovalenko said the Technopark ELMA-Zelenograd facility -- which hosts the development of microelectronics, IT, robotics and medical equipment -- was also targeted. The facility "is one of the centers where import substitution of critical components previously imported from the West takes place," Kovalenko said. ABC News could not immediately verify Kovalenko's claim of successful strikes on the facilities. Russia continued its own long-range attacks on Ukraine overnight. Ukraine's air force said Moscow launched six missiles and 88 strike drones into the country, of which 71 drones were shot down or otherwise neutralized. The air force said it recorded impacts in eight locations. The intensity of strikes by both sides have only increased since President Donald Trump's return to office in January, the president having promised to end Russia's war on its neighbor war in 24 hours. Trump has not delivered on that promise, and his frustration appears to have been building in recent weeks with the continued failure of U.S.-led ceasefire efforts. Trump called Putin "absolutely crazy" in a Sunday social media post, then on Tuesday said Putin "doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire!" The U.S. and Ukraine are now waiting for Russia to deliver its peace memorandum -- a document promised by Putin to Trump during a phone call between the two leaders earlier this month. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Tuesday that Moscow was still working on the document. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cast doubt on the Russian proposal. "They've already spent over a week on this," he wrote on social media on Tuesday. "They talk a lot about diplomacy. But when, in the midst of all that, there are constant Russian strikes, constant killings, relentless assaults, and even preparations for new offensives."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainian drones reportedly hit Russian fiber optic plant in Saransk
Ukrainian drones struck the Optic Fiber Systems plant in Saransk, Mordovia Republic, Russian independent outlet Astra reported on May 7. Two fires broke out in Saransk following the drone attack. One fire erupted at the Optic Fiber Systems plant, while the second ignited a few kilometers away, reportedly at the Saranskkabel plant. Local residents told the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Shot that several powerful explosions shook the city's industrial district around 6 a.m. "The fiber optic systems plant in Saransk was very seriously damaged after the strike," Andrii Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said on May 7. Kovalenko claimed the factory supplied the Russian army with materials for the production of fiber-optic drones, which are resistant to electronic warfare interference, and said the shutdown of the factory was now a possibility. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. The potential consequences of the attack on the Saranskkabel plant remain unknown. The operational headquarters of Mordovia banned the publication of photos and videos showing the aftermath of the attack. The Optic Fiber Systems plant, with an annual capacity of 4 million kilometers of fiber, also supplies major Russian telecom operators. The facility was also targeted on April 4, when Ukrainian drones struck fiber-optic and explosives factories across Russia. Saransk lies about 630 kilometers (around 390 miles) east of Moscow and roughly 1000 kilometers (620 miles) from the nearest point on the Russia–Ukraine border. Read also: Kellogg says Ukraine proposed 30-km demilitarized buffer zone, admits Putin main obstacle to ceasefire We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unknown drones attack Zvezda space reconnaissance system in Russia
Drones have targeted a military space intelligence unit in Russia's southern Stavropol Krai, specifically the Zvezda facility, which serves as one of the key stations in Russia's space electronic intelligence system. Source: Andrii Kovalenko, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, on Telegram Quote: "Unidentified drones have successfully reached a military unit of Russian space intelligence, known as the Zvezda facility, in the Stavropol Krai." Details: Kovalenko stated that the Zvezda system dates back to the Soviet era of the early 1970s. It was developed for global interception of satellite transmissions, intercontinental communications, and the exchange of signals between foreign military installations. He added that the Zvezda facility operates as a space information analysis centre under the Main Intelligence Directorate of Russia's General Staff. Its focus includes electronic surveillance of orbital signals and foreign satellite communications systems, including those in the commercial sector. Kovalenko emphasised that Zvezda is not merely a technical installation, but a strategic component of Russia's intelligence infrastructure. It monitors military zones and supports information and psychological operations, in addition to playing a role in cyber espionage. Background: Russia's Defence Ministry claimed that on the night of 1-2 May, its air defence units had destroyed 121 "Ukrainian drones" over occupied Crimea and several Russian regions. However, Telegram channels reported explosions in various settlements across Crimea. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
