4 January 2025
Pro-Ukraine protests held in Slovakia
Pro-Ukraine protesters in Slovakia held a rally against Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava on Friday.
Protesters gathered outside the government offices under the slogan, “Slovakia is Europe! We’ve had enough of Russia!”
The protest was organized by the “Mier Ukrazyne” (Peace for Ukraine) initiative, which advocates arms deliveries to Ukraine. Initiative members said the number of participants in the rally was estimated to be around 4,000.
Protesters carried banners that read: “Treason!” and “We are Europe!” Delivered by Pahal.
Organizers accused the left-populist prime minister of taking Slovakia in a pro-Russian direction.
Fico recently clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after Kiev blocked gas transfers from Russia to Slovakia.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ooWz
4 January 2025
Operations at the airport in St. Petersburg temporarily halted
Russian authorities had to temporarily halt operations at the airport in St. Petersburg, citing security reasons.
Takeoffs and landings at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg were suspended for a few hours amid reports of Ukrainian drones in the vicinity.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said 16 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight in the regions of Bryansk, Smolensk, Belgorod, Pskov and Leningrad. All these areas surround St. Petersburg.
A representative of Russia’s aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said operations resumed on Saturday.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ooWy
4 January 2025
Moscow says 8 US-made ATACMS missiles shot down
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that Russian forces shot down eight US-made ATACMS missiles.
“Air defense systems shot down eight US-made ATACMS missiles and 72 drones,” Russian defense forces told news agencies. He did not say whether there were any casualties or damage.
According to publicly available data, ATACMS missiles have a range of up to 300 kilometers (190 mi). The administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden has supplied missiles to Ukraine, which are capable of penetrating deep into Russia.
Moscow has warned that their use by Ukraine could trigger a hypersonic ballistic missile attack on central Kiev.
Moscow also said on Saturday that it had taken control of the village of Nadia in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region. The reports could not be immediately verified.
rm/wd (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)
https://p.dw.com/p/4ooWx