Did you miss the latest events on the war in Ukraine? 20 Minutes takes stock for you every evening. Between the strong declarations, the advances on the front and the results of the fighting, here is the essential part of this Friday, the 1003rd day of the war.
Fact of the day
“We will continue these tests, especially in combat situations, depending on the situation and the nature of the threats to Russia’s security. » Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ordered the mass production and continued combat testing of the new Orechnik hypersonic ballistic missile, used Thursday to strike the city of Dnipro in Ukraine.
“It is necessary to begin mass production,” said Vladimir Putin, praising the “power” of this weapon. He assured that Russia had a “reserve” of these missiles “ready for use” and affirmed that “no one else in the world” currently had this type of weaponry. According to him, the development of this type of missile is of “vital importance” for Moscow in the face of “new and growing threats”.
On Thursday, Russia said it had struck the city of Dnipro, in Ukraine, with this new Orechnik missile of intermediate range (up to 5,500 km), which did not carry a nuclear charge. Vladimir Putin said it was a response to two Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory using Western missiles, and threatened to strike countries supplying weapons to kyiv.
This firing of a new Russian missile, which however did not cause any casualties according to kyiv, marks a new escalation of tensions in the conflict between Moscow and Ukraine supported by its Western allies.
Today's statement
« We are already in discussions with our partners for new air defense systems, precisely the kind of systems that can protect lives in the face of new risks. »
The words, expressed in a video message on social networks, are signed Volodymyr Zelensky and refer to the air defense equipment that Ukraine would need to deal with the new type of hypersonic missile that Russia possesses.
Western capitals condemned Thursday's Russian missile launch as a dangerous “escalation” and denounced Moscow's “irresponsible” rhetoric on the use of nuclear weapons. China called for “restraint”.
This Friday evening, Volodymyr Zelensky estimated on Friday that Russia was ridiculing the calls for restraint from its Chinese ally by firing this experimental missile. “On the part of Russia, this ridicules the position of states like China, of the southern states, of certain leaders who call for restraint every time,” Mr. Zelensky said.
The number of the day
“200-300 meters per day”. This is the progression carried out every day by the Russian army near Kurakhové, one of the important localities which could soon fall, according to the admission of the Ukrainian general staff this Friday. A sign of these advances, the Russian army claimed Friday the capture of Novodmytrivka, a town north of Kourakhové. The area notably contains a large lithium deposit.
Near Pokrovsk, other localities which serve as a major logistical node for the Ukrainian forces, the situation is more favorable and “has practically not changed over the last two months”, according to this military source.
Despite this Russian advance in the east, the Ukrainian forces, which lack recruits and equipment, do not intend, at this stage, to withdraw from the Russian region of Kursk, of which they still control “around 800 km2,” reported this source.
The trend
The ruble fell on Friday, reaching its lowest level against the dollar since March 24, 2022, according to official figures from the Central Bank of Russia (BCR). The Russian currency, very volatile for three years, was officially trading at 102.58 rubles against the greenback, according to the rate set by the BCR, above the symbolic threshold of 100. One euro was trading for its part against 107.43 rubles Friday.
The fall of the ruble comes the day after a Russian launch of a new generation hypersonic missile against Ukraine, following which Vladimir Putin warned the West that Russia was “ready for all” scenarios, in a conflict which took on a “global character”.
Our file on the war in Ukraine
A few hours later, the American government announced a series of sanctions targeting around fifty Russian banks, including Gazprombank, the financial arm of the state gas giant, Gazprom, used in particular for energy payments with foreign customers. These restrictions also apply to other small or medium-sized establishments.
“There is a significant risk that the weakening of the ruble will continue,” Yevgeni Kogan, professor at the prestigious Moscow High School of Economics, warned on Telegram.
Related News :