On April 5, the Russian Defense Ministry said that its military had carried out 39 group attacks on Ukraine in the past week in response to Kiev's efforts to target Moscow's oil and gas industry facilities.
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| Smoke and flames rise from the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant in Dnipro, Ukraine, on March 22, amid the conflict between the country and Russia. (Source: AP) |
According to the ministry, the group attacks were carried out using high-precision long-range weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on the ground and in the air, primarily targeting Ukrainian energy industry facilities, enterprises of the military- industrial complex, air defense systems, weapons depots, fuel depots, as well as deployment sites of Kiev and foreign mercenaries.
The Russian Defense Ministry also said that the objectives of the airstrikes were achieved and all designated targets were hit.
On the same day, the Ukrayinska Pravda website quoted a source from the Ukrainian Security Service as saying that the country's forces attacked Morozovsk airport in southwestern Russia with UAVs, destroying six fighter jets.
Su-34 attack aircraft and Su-27 fighter jets used by Russia in the conflict with Ukraine were both stationed at Morozovsk airport at the time of the attack.
In another development, on the same day, April 5, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal said that Kiev has asked the European Union (EU) to issue a ban on air transit to the Russian Federation, thereby posing "logistical problems for Moscow".
“Our idea is that Russian businesses and Russian tourists cannot freely use the EU skies,” Prime Minister Shmyhal told reporters. “EU airspace is closed to the Russian Air Force, but we have discussed with our partners the prohibition of transit for any flights to and from Russia.”
The head of the Ukrainian government said that such a step could pose “logistical problems for Moscow, making it more expensive”.
Also on April 5, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte announced that her country will provide Ukraine with about 3,000 combat UAVs and help Kiev establish three rehabilitation centers for soldiers.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal in the capital Vilnius, Prime Minister Simonyte confirmed that Lithuania will buy about 3,000 domestically produced UAVs worth a total of 2 million Euros to supply the Eastern European country in conflict with Russia and could begin deliveries this year.
In addition, Vilnius will also help Kiev establish rehabilitation centers for Ukrainian soldiers in the cities of Lvov, Dnipro and Zhytomyr.
In addition, Mr. Simonyte also called on the EU to start negotiations to admit Ukraine "as soon as possible", while emphasizing that Kiev needs to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmyhal is on a tour of the Baltic states. He previously visited Estonia and Latvia.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, Vilnius has provided aid worth more than 1 billion euros, equivalent to 1.54% of its gross domestic product (GDP), to Kiev.
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