War in Ukraine: terrorist attack foiled, ATACMS missiles intercepted, journalist killed… update on the situation

Journalist from Russian daily Izvestia killed by drone in eastern Ukraine

Russian media Izvestia announced on Saturday the death of one of its journalists, killed by a Ukrainian drone strike near the city of Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine. “The Ukrainian army launched a drone attack on a civilian car carrying independent Izvestia correspondent Alexander Martemyanov.reports the daily on its Telegram channel.

According to Izvestia, the car was driving “far from the contact line” on a highway linking Donetsk, the main city in the Russian-controlled region, and Horlivka in the north At least 15 journalists have been killed since the invasion of Ukraine, according to data from the Committee to Protect Journalists by Russia in February 2022.

Four minors suspected of wanting to commit an attack arrested in Russia

The Russian security services (FSB) announced on Saturday that they had arrested four minors suspected of wanting to carry out a bomb attack in Yekaterinburg, in the Urals. The four individuals, born between 2007 and 2008, “planned to commit a terrorist act using an improvised explosive device in busy places in the city of Yekaterinburg,” said the FSB, cited by press agencies. . Russians.

Two of the four suspects are also accused of “torching” a police car, according to Russian news agencies. The state agency TASS published a video presenting, according to it, one of the arrested minors who, on camera, admits to following “neo-Nazi channels on the social network Telegram”.

“I read on these channels that action should be taken against the police“, says this individual with a blurred face. Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, Russian security organs have frequently announced the arrest of individuals suspected of collaborating with kyiv. The trials for “treason”, “terrorism”, “sabotage” or “espionage”, which always carry heavy penalties, are increasing in number in Russia. Thousands of people have been sanctioned, threatened or imprisoned because of their opposition to the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia says it intercepted 8 US ATACMS missiles and promises “retaliation”

Russia claimed on Saturday January 4 that it had intercepted American ATACMS missiles fired by Ukraine the day before and promised “retaliation”, this type of attack being presented by the Kremlin as a red line in the conflict. “These actions of the kyiv regime, which is supported by its Western guardians, will be subject to reprisals”warned the Russian army in a press release.

In recent weeks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to order his army to strike the city center of kyiv in response to Ukrainian attacks carried out with American ATACMS or British Storm Shadows, without however following through on his remarks to this effect. stadium.

Earlier on Saturday, the Russian army said it had intercepted the day before, during this attack“eight missiles” ATACMS which targeted the Russian region of Belgorod, on the border with Ukraine, and more than “72 drones”. However, Moscow’s forces did not specify whether this Ukrainian attack had caused casualties or material damage.