Latest news with #NorthAtlanticAlliance
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy: There would have been no Spider's Web if Russia had agreed to ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that if Russia had agreed to a ceasefire, Ukraine would not have carried out a special operation codenamed Pavutyna (Spider's Web), which targeted Russian strategic aviation aircraft. Source: Zelenskyy at a briefing on 4 June Quote: "A ceasefire could have been declared before the operation we carried out [Spider's Web]… Would the operation have taken place then? No." Details: Zelenskyy added that Ukraine would not leave Russia's actions unanswered. Quote: "That does not mean we are doing nothing while seeking a ceasefire. That is our approach… We must set the rules. I believe that if ceasefire rules apply to everyone, then they apply to everyone. If they are violated [by Russia – ed.], then we also can violate them." Details: During the briefing, Zelenskyy noted that he had signed a classified decree to decorate officers from the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) for their role in conducting Spider's Web on Russian territory. He said that as a result of the operation, 41 aircraft had been damaged, half of which are beyond repair. Background: On 1 June 2025, the SSU carried out a special operation codenamed Pavutyna (Spider's Web), one of the largest and most complex sabotage operations against Russian military aviation. The SSU reported that the operation resulted in the destruction of 41 Russian strategic aircraft, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 strategic bombers, as well as an A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft. The North Atlantic Alliance has hailed the SSU's operation targeting Russian strategic aircraft as highly successful. NATO reported that at least 40 aircraft had been damaged. Between 10 and 13 aircraft were completely destroyed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
NATO hails Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web as most successful and estimates Russian aircraft losses
The North Atlantic Alliance has hailed the Security Service of Ukraine's operation targeting Russian strategic aircraft as highly successful. Source: a senior NATO official, speaking anonymously, cited by European Pravda correspondent Details: The official described the operation as "the most successful" based on NATO's independent calculations, which largely align with Ukrainian estimates. Quote: "We see that at least 40 aircraft were damaged. Between 10 and 13 aircraft were completely destroyed." More details: NATO has identified 15 Tu-95 strategic bombers, 20 Tu-22 aircraft and at least one A-50 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) – a scarce asset in Russia's arsenal – among the damaged assets. The Alliance estimates that the attack has destroyed 34% of Russia's existing missile carriers. "This has a critical impact on Russian capabilities," the person noted. NATO acknowledges that some damaged or destroyed aircraft may serve as "spare parts donors" rather than active combat assets, but it lacks data to distinguish their operational status, the official explained. "We cannot confirm that all were fully operational," they added. "It does not eliminate Russian forces' ability to launch airstrikes, but it significantly reduces their capacity for missile strikes, including those early-morning attacks familiar to Ukrainians." The person also highlighted that the operation demonstrates Ukraine's ability to target Russian military assets anywhere in Russian territory. Background: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has previously commented on Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web targeting airfields housing Russian strategic aircraft. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed leaders of several NATO states that Operation Spider's Web demonstrated Ukraine's advanced strike capabilities. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, commenting on the Ukrainian attack that destroyed and damaged Russian strategic bombers, said that Ukraine is successfully defending itself. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kremlin satisfied with US statements that Ukraine will not join NATO
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that reports from Washington suggesting that Ukraine will not join NATO are in line with Russia's stance and that the Kremlin is pleased about this. Source: Russian news agency Interfax Quote from Peskov: "We have heard from Washington at various levels that NATO membership for Ukraine has been ruled out. And of course this is something that brings us satisfaction and coincides with our position that Ukraine should not be a member of NATO and should not have prospects of integration with the North Atlantic Alliance." Details: Peskov reiterated the Russian narrative that Ukraine's accession to NATO would supposedly pose a threat "to Russia's national interests". He added that Ukraine's NATO aspirations were supposedly one of the root causes of the war. However, Peskov declined to comment on media reports that the United States is apparently prepared to recognise Russian control over Crimea as part of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Quote from Peskov: "There are currently many such reports and many discussions. Clearly, the work of finding ways to reach a peaceful settlement cannot and should not take place in the public domain. It must be conducted in an absolutely discreet manner, and therefore one should be very, very cautious about such anonymous information leaks." Background: US President Donald Trump has said that he sees no possibility of Ukraine joining NATO given Russia's position. Trump considers Ukraine's non-membership of NATO to be part of any diplomatic settlement of the war. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Russia says Ukraine continues to strike energy infrastructure daily despite moratorium
Russia says Ukraine continues to strike energy infrastructure daily despite moratorium MOSCOW, April 9 (Reuters) - Russia, the world's second biggest oil exporter, said on Wednesday that Ukraine continued to strike Russian energy infrastructure on a daily basis, in violation of a U.S.-brokered 30-day moratorium on strikes on energy infrastructure. Ukraine and Russia agreed on March 18 to stop attacking each other's energy facilities, although President Vladimir Putin declined to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire that his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump had hoped would be a first step toward a permanent peace deal. Russia and Ukraine have both accused each other of violating the pause on strikes since then. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, said Ukraine was striking Russian energy installations on a daily basis. "Contrary to its own statements about supporting the 30-day moratorium on striking energy facilities… the Kyiv regime continues to cynically carry out daily strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure," Zakharova said. "The Russian side strictly adheres to the ban on attacks." More: Zelenskyy confirms for first time that Ukrainian troops active in Russia's Belgorod region Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week said Russia had launched a drone attack at a thermal power plant in the city of Kherson. On NATO, Zakharova said members of the U.S.-led military alliance were planning radical defence spending increases in preparation for a possible conflict with Russia. "The alliance still believes that our country is a long-term threat and will remain so even after the end of the Ukrainian conflict," Zakharova said. "The North Atlantic Alliance is openly throwing oil onto the fire of the conflict" (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov Writing by Lucy Papachristou and Felix Light; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NATO believes Russia stockpiling missiles for new strike on Ukraine
Intelligence gathered by the North Atlantic Alliance indicates that Russia continues to produce a significant number of missiles, suggesting that they are being stockpiled for future attacks despite a relative lull in missile strikes. Source: a senior NATO official speaking to European Pravda during a ministerial meeting in Brussels Details: The NATO representative said that Russia is stockpiling missiles for new attacks. He acknowledged that the aggressor state no longer needs to use missiles as frequently as before, as drone strikes have become a substitute. He explained that the Russians had significantly improved their use of kamikaze drones and were deploying them more effectively, which had reduced the need for large-scale missile strikes. At the same time, the official said Russia's need to resume missile strikes remained unchanged. He added that the current pattern mirrored past behaviour, where Russia would slow down long-range aerial strikes while building up stockpiles, only to later unleash them in large-scale attacks. The official said that such large-scale strikes have considerable military significance and affect morale – and if carried out every couple of weeks, they have an impact. He suggested that tactical reserves were being built up for future use in large-scale strikes. He stressed that Russia was undoubtedly continuing to manufacture a large number of missiles, including ballistic ones, and was also purchasing additional supplies from North Korea. He noted that intelligence data confirmed this ongoing production and accumulation. Background: On 25 March, during talks in Saudi Arabia, the US, Ukraine and Russia agreed to work on a ceasefire in the Black Sea and a ban on attacks against energy infrastructure. However, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov said that additional technical consultations were required to implement the agreements. Russia has issued a list of demands as a condition for agreeing to a ceasefire in the Black Sea, which was discussed during the meeting between representatives of Russia, the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia on 23-25 March. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
