In the latest field developments, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and six drones in an attack on Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday. The Air Force announced that defenses shot down all six drones launched by Russia over four Ukrainian regions. The governor of Mykolaiv region stated that debris from the drones caused a fire in an open area, which was immediately extinguished without any injuries reported.
This comes on another day of combat operations on the Russian-Ukrainian front, where fighting intensifies, and a drone war rages between Moscow and Kyiv. In contrast, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its air forces destroyed five drones overnight over the regions of Bryansk, Moscow, Tambov, and Tula.
In a statement made by the Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday, it was noted: "Last night, several attempts by the Kyiv regime to carry out drone attacks on facilities in Russian territory were thwarted, and air defense systems intercepted and destroyed five drones, two of which were over Bryansk region and one each over Tambov, Tula, and Moscow regions."
Additionally, NATO member states announced on Wednesday that they have begun sending F-16 fighters to Ukraine during a summit of their leaders in Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed this move from Washington on Wednesday, considering that the fighters "bring closer a just and lasting peace."
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated during the summit: "At this moment, F-16 fighters are being sent from Denmark and the Netherlands." He confirmed that they "will fly in Ukrainian airspace this summer."
The White House also announced that Belgium and Norway committed to providing additional equipment to Ukraine, which is facing an increasing barrage of Russian missiles. U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed on Tuesday evening that allies will provide Ukraine with a total of five air defense systems, including four Patriot batteries and ground-to-air missiles, which are particularly effective in intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.
