Ukraine Downs Russian Barrage As Hours Before China Envoy Due
NDTV
Beijing's special envoy, high-ranking diplomat Li Hui, is expected to arrive in Kyiv for a two-day visit, as part of a European tour to promote Beijing-led peace negotiations on the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine said on Tuesday it had downed an entire barrage of Russian drones and missiles overnight -- including six advanced Kinzhal missiles -- hours ahead of a visit from a special envoy dispatched by China.
The wave of strikes came just over a week after Kyiv announced it had shot down a Kinzhal missile for the first time, using US-supplied Patriot systems.
Ukraine's mounting success in taking out dozens of Russian drones and missiles illustrates its bolstered air defences, after a winter of systemic strikes on key infrastructure.
"Another unbelievable success for the Ukrainian Air Forces!" Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in a Twitter post.