Joe Biden's green light on the use of American missiles in Russia divides the world
On Sunday, two months before the end of his presidency, the American president authorized Ukraine to use American long-range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) missiles to strike Russia. Information revealed by the New York Times and since confirmed by the AFP, which is shaking up chancelleries around the world. For Russia, the decision is likely to “to throw fuel on the fire”, while France reacted by reaffirming this Monday that the use of French missiles by Ukrainian forces on Russian soil remained “an option”.
At least eight dead in Russian attack on Odessa
At least eight people were killed on Monday, November 18, in a broad daylight missile attack on the port city of Odessa, in southern Ukraine, authorities in the region announced. “According to initial reports, the Russian attack left eight dead and 18 injured. A child is among the injured. Four people are in serious condition. said the regional governor, Oleg Kiper, on his Telegram account.
Zelensky says he visited another hot spot on the Eastern Front, Kupiansk
The Ukrainian president announced on Monday that he had visited Kupiansk, a hot spot on the front in northeastern Ukraine, a few hours after going to Pokrovsk, a key town on the front line in the east. “Today I am on the front line. I am currently in Kupiansk and I have already been to Pokrovsk to see our brigades,” he said in a video broadcast early in the evening, but filmed during the day in front of the monument erected at the entrance to the town of Kupiansk, in the Kharkiv region, only a few kilometers from the first Russian positions.
Germany to deliver 4,000 sophisticated drones to Ukraine
Germany, which refuses the delivery of long-range missiles requested by Kyiv, will provide 4,000 sophisticated drones to Ukraine in difficulty against Russia, the Minister of Defense announced this Monday, November 18. “These are drones controlled by artificial intelligence and which can disable the electronic defenses of opposing drones,” Minister Boris Pistorius explained to the press.
These 4,000 units, “deliverable very quickly”, would be able to act on a scope of «30, 40 km» in Russian territory and “to attack combat posts, logistical nodes and others”, he added, believing that they constituted “an important additional asset for the Ukrainian armed forces.”
EU strengthens sanctions on Iran for supporting Russia
The European Union announced on Monday that it had strengthened its sanctions against Iran, accused of supporting Russia's war effort against Ukraine by supplying it with drones and missiles. “These additional measures target the use of ships and ports for the transfer of drones, Iranian-made missiles and related technologies” in the manufacture of these weapons, indicated the 27 in a press release. The United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany had already adopted sanctions of this type in mid-September.
The measures announced on Monday prohibit the export, transfer or supply from the EU of components used in the manufacture of missiles or drones by Iran.
Unesco condemns strikes on Odessa World Heritage site
Unesco on Monday condemned the“large-scale Russian attack” which affected the historic center of Odessa, included on the list of world heritage in danger. “On the night of Thursday November 14 to Friday November 15, a large-scale Russian attack targeted the historic center of Odessa, protected since January 2023 under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention,” deplored the UN organization dedicated to science, culture and education, in a press release. A preliminary assessment shows damage to “around twenty buildings, including historical and religious buildings, and some with educational purposes”, regretted Unesco which said “condemn” ces “strikes that contravene international law”. A mission of experts from the organization visited the site on Saturday to “assessing damage and preparing to secure buildings”.
