The Ukrainian armed forces reported that they targeted an airfield in Crimea, a territory unlawfully annexed by Russia in 2014. The assault on the Saky airfield occurred in unison with the European Union dispatching the first €1.5 billion to Ukraine. This money was obtained from Russian assets that had been previously seized, and China also expressed an interest in assisting to reach a comprehensive and enduring resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine’s military operated missile forces in conjunction with other defence forces to strike the base situated on the western side of the Crimean peninsula. This base is one of the active airfields employed by Russia for air patrols, particularly over the Black Sea, and to carry out aerial assaults on Ukrainian soil. Additionally, despite the presence of current Russian air defence systems, the airfield suffered the attack, indicating their inability to safeguard a significant Russian military installation.
While the form of weaponry used in the attack was not disclosed by Ukraine, previous strikes on Russian air bases and air defence systems utilised locally produced drones and missiles acquired from the West. These attacks aim to diminish Moscow’s aerial capabilities preceding the planned delivery of F-16s, manufactured in the U.S, to Ukraine in the near future.
As the EU disclosed the transfer of the first part of profits from over €200 billion in Russian assets frozen in the European financial sphere, Russia refrained from addressing the recent claims made by Kyiv. These assets were frozen following Russia’s full-on incursion into Ukraine, its pro-west Ukraine, in February 2022.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, following the transfer of €1.5 billion in proceeds from immobilised Russian assets, stated that the EU upholds its support for Ukraine. She argued that there exists no better representation or employment of Kremlin’s money than to fortify Ukraine and the rest of Europe, ensuring a safer living environment.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, declared the European Union’s “unlawful” actions would instigate a “meticulously planned” reaction that would “adequately reflect” Russia’s interests. He made it clear that the European Commission’s actions wouldn’t be without repercussions.
Meanwhile, the United States declared an adjustment to accounting discrepancies linked to Ukraine’s aid, which would enable it to provide an additional $2 billion (about €1.8 billion) in weaponry to Kyiv.
Whilst on a tour of China, Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba iterated that he had been reassured of Beijing’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s statehood and territorial borders while envisioning to facilitate a “just and permanent” peace accord between Kyiv and Moscow.
Over the past years, Beijing has gradually intensified its unrestricted association with Moscow and abstained from attending a Ukrainian peace meeting last month due to the absence of Russia.