• Russia’s escalation of missile and drone attacks is putting a strain on Ukrainian air defense systems. The Kiev Air Force has admitted that Ukraine has a shortage of anti-aircraft guided missiles.
• Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba hopes for a NATO meeting to make progress on Kiev’s defense.
• The Italian Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, will speak in the Chamber (at 9.30 am) and then in the Senate (at 3 pm) for communications on the extension of the authorization for the transfer of military vehicles and materials to Ukraine.
• Announced speech by Ukrainian President Zelensky to the World
Economic Forum in Davos, next week.
06.25 am – Moscow: Ukrainian drone shot down in the Russian region of Saratov
Moscow’s air defense systems destroyed a Ukrainian drone in the Saratov region of Russia. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported this in a note: «Tonight the Kiev regime’s attempt to carry out a terrorist attack using an aerial drone against targets located in the territory of the Russian Federation was foiled. Thanks to the air defense systems in service, the Ukrainian unmanned aircraft was destroyed in the territory of the Saratov region.”
02.32 am – Soldier «Jack» between Kiev and Taipei: «I came back ready for China»
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
TAIPEI – Yao Kuan-chun, Jack to his friends, is 30 years old, has a disarming smile and a collection of machine guns hanging on the wall of his office in Taipei. He notices the perplexed look and immediately says: “Don’t worry, they’re compressed air, only well-made toys, I never wanted to kill anyone… I’m Buddhist and I believe in non-violence.” Yet, in March 2022, twenty days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this young Taiwanese left for Kiev with camouflage, helmet, bulletproof vest and the desire to fight.
Read the complete report by Guido Santevecchi here
01.33 am – USA and 47 other countries condemn North Korea for the missiles sold to Moscow
The United States and 47 other countries condemn North Korea for supplying weapons to Russia in its war against Ukraine. This was announced by the spokesperson of the American National Security Council, John Kirby, in a press briefing, underlining that the issue of the transfer of ballistic missiles from North Korea to Russia will be brought to the UN today. Moscow and Pyongyang have grown increasingly close since the start of the war in Ukraine, but both countries deny having reached agreements on the supply of weapons. Kim Jong Un met Putin last September in Russia.
00.19 am – Russian bombs on Kharkiv, a pediatric center also hit
The Russians bombed the city of Kharkiv in the evening, damaging a children’s health center. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the statement of the head of the Kharkiv region, Oleg Sinegubov.