Ukraine shoots down 9 drones in Russian attack

Ukraine’s military said on Tuesday it destroyed all nine Russian drones used in nighttime attacks targeting several regions of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Air Force said the interceptions took place in the Kherson, Nikolayev, Khmelnytsky, Poltava, Cherkasy and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

There have been no reports of damage or injuries from the falling wreckage of the drone.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday called on Western allies to show the same “solidarity” toward Ukraine that Israel showed when it thwarted Iranian air strikes against Israel.

In a post on Telegram, Zelensky thanked allies for providing more air defense assistance to Ukraine but said “the intensity of Russia’s attacks requires greater unity” as they have shown in defending Israel.

“Ukraine can also be protected from terrorist attacks because Ukraine, like Israel, is not a member of NATO,” he continued. He called on Ukraine’s allies to show “political will” as Ukraine is increasingly short of ammunition and urgently needs more air defense systems to repel Russian attacks.

American aid bill

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Monday that the House of Representatives will consider a bill to provide additional military aid to Ukraine.

President Joe Biden supports a $95 billion aid package that includes about $60 billion for Ukraine, in addition to aid for Israel and other countries.

The measure passed the Democratic-controlled Senate, but Johnson refused to bring it to the House floor for a vote.

Johnson said on Monday the House would consider separate bills targeting aid to Israel, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific allies, as well as domestic border security.

Many conservative Republican lawmakers, particularly those close to former President Donald Trump, have been skeptical of assisting Kyiv in its fight against Moscow and have strongly opposed adding billions of dollars to Ukraine.

Information for this report was provided in part by Reuters, The Associated Press and AFP.