«Russian long-range bomber shot down». But for Moscow it was just a “malfunction”

«I confirm what the Prime Minister said, also in light of my conversation with Minister Crosetto in the presence of the Ukrainian Minister Kuleba. We will do everything possible for the air protection of Ukraine, let’s see what can be done.” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said this in a press conference at the end of the G7 in Capri, answering a question about Kiev’s request for Samp-t.

“We remain committed to fully implementing and enforcing our sanctions against Russia and taking new measures as necessary.” This is what we read in the final communiqué of the G7 Foreign Affairs meeting in Capri dedicated to Ukraine. «We will continue to counter, in close cooperation with third countries, any attempts to circumvent» the measures and «we will impose further sanctions on companies and individuals from third countries that help Russia acquire tools and other equipment that aid the production of Russian weapons or military-industrial development.”

“We support Ukraine in obtaining compensation for losses, injuries and damages resulting from Russia’s aggression.” We read it in the final communiqué of the G7. «Russia’s sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilized until it ceases its aggression and pays for the damages caused. We welcome the EU’s adoption of legal acts addressing extraordinary revenues held by private entities arising directly from Russia’s tied sovereign assets, also with a view to exploring ways to maximize the benefit for Ukraine. We will continue our work ahead of the summit in Puglia on possible viable options through which immobilized Russian sovereign assets could be used to support Ukraine, in line with our respective legal systems and international law.”

“We will continue to support Ukraine’s right to self-defense and reaffirm our commitment to Ukraine’s long-term security.” This can be read in the final communiqué of the G7 Foreign Affairs meeting in Capri. «We are intensifying our defense and security assistance to Ukraine and increasing our production and delivery capabilities. We support efforts to help Ukraine build a future force capable of self-defense and deterrence. We express our determination in particular to strengthen air defense capabilities to save human lives and protect critical infrastructure.”

CIA director William Burns warned US lawmakers yesterday that Kiev could lose the war by the end of the year if aid to Ukraine is not approved now: Politico reports. Speaking at an event at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Burns urged lawmakers to approve the proposal that would direct billions of additional dollars to Ukraine’s war efforts. “With the boost that would come from military assistance, both practically and psychologically, Ukrainians would be quite capable of holding out until 2024 and disproving Putin’s arrogant view that time is on his side,” he said Burns. However, if the aid doesn’t pass Congress, “the picture will be much more dire,” he continued. “There is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could lose on the battlefield by the end of 2024, or at least put Putin in a position to essentially dictate the terms of a political settlement.”

Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelensky today visited the Donetsk region, in the east of the country, where he met with wounded soldiers currently hospitalized in the medical company of the 95th Air Assault Brigade. «I spoke to the soldiers and gave them the state awards. I thank them for their service and for defending Ukraine. Our country is proud to have such soldiers – wrote Zelensky on X -. We also appreciate the work of our doctors. I thank them for their efforts, for caring for our soldiers and for serving Ukraine.”

Another child injured during the massive attack launched by Russian forces on Ukraine last night has died, bringing the death toll to nine, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the head of the military administration of the Ukraine region announced. Dnipropetrovsk Serhi Lysak, as reported by Rbc-Ukraine. This is the third minor to die in the attack. “A child seriously injured during a massive enemy attack in the Dnipropetrovsk region died today in hospital,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said in a statement. According to Lysak, the minors were 14, 6 and 8 years old.

«Due to the actions of the Ukrainian air defense forces, “malfunctions” occurred on the plane, which caused it to catch fire and crash»: the Ukrainian deputy prime minister and minister for the reintegration of temporarily occupied territories wrote on Telegram , Iryna Vereshchuk, referring to the shooting down of the Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber.

A crew member of the Russian Tu-22 strategic bomber that crashed in the Stavropol region of southern Russia has died. Regional governor Vladimir Vladimirov said this on his Telegram channel. «Updated information has been received about the crash with a Russian military aircraft in the Krasnogvardeisky district. Unfortunately, the third crew member died. I express my condolences to his family and friends. The search for the fourth pilot continues,” he wrote. The Russian Defense Ministry spoke of a technical fault behind the crashed plane, while the Ukrainian army claimed responsibility for its downing.

At least eight, including two children, were the victims of the attacks launched by Russia last night in the Dnipropetrovsk region, in central-eastern Ukraine: the Interior Minister, Igor Klymenko, announced this on Telegram, adding that at least 18 people were were injured. In the Synelnykove district, “more than ten houses were damaged” and “six people died, including two children aged six and eight,” the minister said. In the city of Dnipro, the regional capital, two people were killed and 16 others were injured, he added.

Ukraine said its forces had shot down a long-range bomber used to launch cruise missiles at cities in the war-torn country for the first time since the Russian invasion. “For the first time, anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force, in cooperation with the defense intelligence of Ukraine, destroyed a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber,” the Kiev military announced in a statement.

«Rescue operations are underway in Dnipro after the Russian attack. Several floors of an ordinary residential building were destroyed and the train station was damaged. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Kryvyi Rih and Synelnykove were also hit. All the injured were rescued. Unfortunately there are also deaths. My condolences to the families and friends”: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote this on Telegram, commenting on the Russian missile attack on the city of Dnipro.