Key Takeaways:
– Ukraine has renewed its call for the West to permit long-range strikes deep into Russia.
– The call comes after intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine’s utility and electrical infrastructure.
– While talks were held, no decision was made during a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
– Overnight Russian attacks claimed four lives and targeted Ukraine’s Sumy region.
– Moscow warns that long-range strikes would further escalate the Russia-West conflict.
Ukraine’s Long-Range Strikes Request
Ukraine is once again calling on Western allies for permission to carry out deep strikes into Russia. This comes after extensive drone and military attacks on Ukraine by Russian forces. Ukrainian advisers argue that such permission will hasten an end to the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly sought the green light to use Western-provided long-range weapons to hit targets deep within Russian territory. However, the U.S. has thus far only permitted the use of American-provided weapons within the limited areas of Russia’s border with Ukraine.
The issue of allowing these long-range attacks was supposedly a topic of discussion during a recent meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Despite such talks, no decision was immediately announced.
Ukrainian President’s Remarks
With Russia escalating attacks on Ukraine’s power and utility infrastructure ahead of winter, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pressured allies to let his forces use Western weapons. He focused on targeting air bases and other strategic launch sites deep within Russian territories. While Zelenskyy did not directly comment on the meeting, he mentioned that more than 70 Russian drones were launched overnight into Ukraine. His country’s air defense system managed to shoot down 72 drones, as per Ukraine’s air force statistics.
The president expressed on social media the urgent need to improve Ukraine’s air defense and long-range abilities to safeguard its citizens. He mentioned ongoing collaborations with allies for this purpose.
Russian Attacks in Ukraine
Russian forces escalated their offensive against Ukraine, resulting in a brigade of deaths and injuries. A Russian artillery strike claimed the life of a civilian and injured several others while attacking Ukraine’s Sumy region’s energy infrastructure. Three others died in a Russian onslaught on an agricultural business in Huliaipole located in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Warnings from Russia
Russian officials continue to caution that long-range strikes will ignite further discord between Russia and the West. This narrative has been promoted since the war’s onset, with NATO countries being accused of indirect involvement in the conflict.
Prisoner Swap
In brighter news, a high-number prisoner exchange, involving 206 hostages from both sides, took place recently. This prisoner swap was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates and followed prior successful exchanges conducted under UAE mediation. Images of soldiers reuniting with their families flooded the internet, drawing grateful comments from President Zelenskyy.
Concurrently, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported downing 19 Ukrainian drones above its Kursk and Belgorod regions. An unfortunate incident also occurred when a Ukrainian shell struck a home in Bezlyudovka, Belgorod region, resulting in the death of a woman.