Officials in Kyiv reported on Thursday that communications infrastructure in northeastern Ukraine was targeted by Russian drones and missiles. The attack seemed to be a deliberate attempt to disrupt information access.

According to officials, the attack disrupted television and radio broadcasts in five cities and towns within the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

The State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection reported that the enemy is not only destroying physical infrastructure, but also attempting to disrupt Ukrainian radio stations and the satellite transmission of Ukrainian television.

The organization stated that the overnight assault was a component of Moscow’s “information warfare” aimed at limiting Ukrainians’ ability to obtain accurate information.

The governor of Sumy announced that efforts were being made to repair and reinstate television and radio signals, with most mobile phone signals already back in service.

Russia intercepts drones

On Thursday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that they took down 15 Ukrainian drones and eight missiles. At the same time, authorities in a Russian province near the Ukrainian border stated that a Ukrainian drone strike resulted in one fatality and several injuries.

The head official of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported that initial reports suggest that a man was fatally wounded in a vehicle while others sustained injuries during the assault.

Mr. Gladkov reported that another drone collided with a tree, causing a blast wave that damaged two houses. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

The Defense Ministry of Russia reported that they successfully stopped 12 drones in the Belgorod area and three in the Kursk area of western Russia.

In the eastern Kharkiv region of Ukraine, Governor Oleh Synehubov reported an attack by Russian missiles.

According to Synehubov, there were no recorded fatalities from the assault.

Putin promises to safeguard the Russian nation.

On Wednesday, Russian leader Vladimir Putin stated that his country is ready to utilize nuclear weapons if its freedom or independence is jeopardized. He also cautioned the United States that sending troops to Ukraine would be seen as a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict.

During a recent interview with a state television channel, Putin stated that there was no necessity for the employment of nuclear arms during Russia’s two-year takeover of Ukraine. He also expressed his belief that the world is not moving towards a nuclear conflict and described U.S. President Joe Biden as a seasoned politician who comprehends the perils of nuclear warfare.

But Putin’s remarks appeared to be one of his recurring messages to the West that Russia intends to protect its territorial gains in Ukraine and is ready to use nuclear weapons in case of a threat to “the existence of the Russian state, our sovereignty and independence.”

He stated that our strategy remains unchanged as it is written.

Putin recently made a statement suggesting that countries within NATO who support Ukraine should be aware that Russia will not hesitate to cross any boundaries if they do not set their own boundaries in relation to Russia.

However, he also acknowledged that there are plenty of experts in Russian-American relations and strategic restraint within the United States. As a result, he believes that potential escalation to nuclear confrontation is not imminent, but they are prepared for such a scenario.

The spokeswoman for the U.S. National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, stated that Russia’s use of nuclear language has been dangerous and unwise during this conflict. Russia is the party responsible for forcefully invading Ukraine without cause or merit, and the U.S. will continue to stand by Ukraine as they protect their citizens and their land from Russian aggression.

to Syria

Biden declares that there are no intentions to deploy American soldiers to Syria.

According to a high-ranking official in the White House, Mr. Putin’s recent statement was a reaffirmation of Russia’s stance on using nuclear weapons if their sovereignty is in danger. This is not a change in their stance, and the US sees no need to alter their own nuclear policies. Additionally, there are no signs that Russia is planning to employ a nuclear weapon in Ukraine.

Biden has consistently stated that the United States has no plans to deploy its troops to assist Kyiv’s forces. However, French President Emmanuel Macron has not rejected the idea of Western troops joining the unresolved conflict indefinitely ongoing.

During a Thursday interview on French television, Macron once again refused to eliminate the possibility of deploying Western troops to Ukraine.

According to Macron, if Russia emerges victorious in this conflict, it will completely undermine Europe’s reputation.

Macron stated that if conflict were to escalate in Europe, Russia would be responsible. However, he also emphasized that if w

Western states have not stopped providing weapons to Ukraine. This week, the United States gathered resources worth $300 million (including ammunition, missiles, rounds, and “certain systems for defeating tanks”) from its military supplies to give to Kyiv’s army. However, a larger package of aid worth $60 billion, which Biden backs, is currently stuck in Congress.

Following discussions in Washington on Thursday, Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy head, declared that the conclusion of the conflict in Ukraine will be decided during the upcoming spring and summer months.

Borrell stated that the upcoming months will be crucial. Numerous analysts predict a significant Russian attack in the summer, and Ukraine cannot delay until the outcome of the next U.S. elections.

Borrell urged American policymakers to swiftly take action despite Congress’s opposition to providing significant assistance to Ukraine. He stated that speed was crucial in addressing the situation.

Borrell acknowledged the need for Europe to take action and accelerate our efforts in the Ukrainian war. He emphasized the importance of increasing our support and acting with greater urgency, leading to the decision to bolster our industrial defense capabilities. This urgency applies to the U.S. as well.

Survival is at stake.

During his speech on Wednesday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that defeating the Russian invasion is essential for the survival of democratic systems.

Zelenskyy stated that with adequate support, Ukraine has the ability to protect itself. By doing so, they can also prevent beyond Putin from pursuing aggressive actions as an international criminal. The safety of lives must be safeguarded, and it is our responsibility to do so.

Ukraine’s armed forces utilized unmanned aerial vehicles in an attack on Russian oil refineries on Wednesday, causing damage to a facility in the Ryazan region.

According to initial reports, a fire and injuries were caused by an attack at an oil refinery in Ryazan, as stated by Pavel Malkov, the governor of the region.

There were reports from Leningrad officials that a Ukrainian drone was intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defenses while nearing a refinery, with no reported harm or damage.

Ukrainian drones were sent into Russian territory for the second consecutive day, as part of a larger series of attacks.

On Wednesday, Alexander Gusev, the governor of the Voronezh region which shares a border with Ukraine, reported that over 30 Ukrainian drones were downed by air defenses during the previous night.

Patsy Widakuswara, the White House correspondent for VOA, provided additional contributions to this report. Other sources include Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and The Associated Press.

Source: voanews.com