Russia: 50 Ukrainian drones shot down overnight. Odessa and Dnipropetrovsk under attack, at least 28 injured
According to Rodion Miroshnik, Russian Foreign Ministry's roving ambassador for the 'crimes' of the 'Kiev regime', 'mercenaries from Japan, Ireland, Norway and the Netherlands are fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces'
Russian air defences shot down 50 Ukrainian drones over several regions of Russia overnight. This was announced by the Russian Defence Ministry. "Between 9pm Moscow time on 17 May and 7am Moscow time on 18 May, in-service air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 50 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aircraft," the ministry indicated in a note. According to the statement, the drones were shot down over Belgorod, Voronezh, Kursk, Oryol, Rostov and Tula regions, Krasnodar territory, Crimea and the Sea of Azov.
Russian air defence forces destroyed two drones flying towards Moscow, the mayor of the Russian capital Sergei Sobyanin said today. "The Defence Ministry's air defence forces have destroyed two drones heading towards Moscow. Emergency services specialists are at work at the scene of the incident,' Sobyanin informed.
Russian attacks in Odessa and Dnipropetrovsk, at least 28 injured
At least 28 people were injured in new Russian missile and drone attacks on central and southern parts of Ukraine, more than four years after the start of the large-scale Russian invasion. This was denounced by local authorities. In Odessa drones hit several buildings, injuring an 11-year-old child and a 59-year-old man, Ukrainska Pravda reports. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, it further reports, at least 26 people were injured - 18 of them in Dnipro - after drone, missile and artillery attacks hit six districts. In Dnipro, local authorities claim, buildings, a place of worship, a university and some shops were damaged.
Media: Uri armed forces use mercenaries from various countries
Mercenaries from Japan, Ireland, Norway and the Netherlands are fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces. This was stated by Rodion Miroshnik, travelling ambassador of the Russian Foreign Ministry for the 'crimes' of the 'Kiev regime', quoted by Russian media. "We receive a lot of data about numerous people who arrived from Latin America," Miroshnik said. "Recruitment companies paid for their travel, signed a contract with them, established contact with the Ukrainian army and conducted training." According to Miroshnik, the phenomenon does not only affect Latin America. "Many countries are involved, including Japan, Ireland, Norway and the Netherlands. There are also people from Africa and Asia,' he added.
