KYIV: Russia intensified its long-range missile and drone strikes on Ukraine in September, AFP analysis of data from Kyiv’s air force showed, attacks that came amid a spate of alleged Russian airspace violations into Europe and as peace talks froze.
NATO boosted its defenses along its eastern borders throughout the month as it accused Moscow of testing the alliance’s air defenses with drone incursions into several members and by flying military jets in Estonian airspace.
Russia fired some 5,638 long-range drones and 185 missiles in overnight attacks throughout the month — up 36 percent compared with August.
Moscow had temporarily scaled back its strikes ahead of the August 15 summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump.
But that meeting failed to make any progress. Russia said in September that talks with Ukraine were “on pause” and vowed to press its offensive.
September also saw Russia launch its largest ever aerial bombardment of the war, firing 810 drones at Ukraine on the night of 6-7 September.
That barrage hit the Ukrainian government building in the center of Kyiv, the first time it had been struck since Russia invaded in February 2022.
The data covers the air force’s initial estimates of how many incoming long-range drones and missiles it detected in overnight strikes.
The air force said it shot down or intercepted 87 percent of the Russian drones and 68 percent of the missiles.
Russia has fired drones at Ukraine every single night since May 10, after a three-day “truce” announced by Putin to coincide with a grand military parade in Moscow ended.
To counter the attacks, Ukraine deploys a mix of mobile air defense units, electronic jammers and new interceptor drones.
Kyiv has also begun talking to NATO members about sharing their experience in downing Russian drones amid a spate of alleged airspace violations by Russia into NATO members.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Ukraine was deploying an anti-drone military team to Denmark “for exercises.”
Several NATO members, including the United States, Germany and France have deployed military equipment to Copenhagen to help protect a summit of EU leaders on Wednesday.
Denmark has seen repeated airport closures in recent weeks over drone sightings that have ramped up fears about a heightened threat from Russia.
Russia upped drone, missile strikes on Ukraine in September, analysis shows
https://arab.news/p23zq
Russia upped drone, missile strikes on Ukraine in September, analysis shows
- Russia fired some 5,638 long-range drones and 185 missiles in overnight attacks throughout the month
- Russia said in September that talks with Ukraine were “on pause” and vowed to press its offensive
Brazil court rejects new Bolsonaro appeal against coup conviction
- The far-right firebrand, in office from 2019 to 2022, was found guilty of having led a scheme to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after Bolsonaro’s failed re-election bid
BRASILIA: A Brazilian Supreme Court judge on Friday rejected a fresh appeal by jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro against his coup conviction, declaring it inadmissible, according to a court document seen by AFP.
Bolsonaro, 70, began serving a 27-year sentence in November after the country’s highest court declared he had exhausted all appeals.
Nevertheless, his attorneys filed an appeal on the merits of the case three days after he was jailed.
Bolsonaro’s earlier failed legal effort targeted “ambiguities, omissions, and contradictions” in the trial.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the trial against Bolsonaro, said he did not recognize the fresh appeal, which requires two judges to have voted against a conviction.
Only one of five judges on the Supreme Court panel voted not to convict Bolsonaro.
The far-right firebrand, in office from 2019 to 2022, was found guilty of having led a scheme to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after Bolsonaro’s failed re-election bid.
He has maintained his innocence, declaring he was a victim of political persecution.
The conservative-controlled Congress this week passed a law that could reduce Bolsonaro’s sentence to just over two years.
Lula has vowed to veto the law, however Congress has the last word and can override him.
On Friday, in response to a request from Bolsonaro’s lawyers, the Supreme Court authorized his transfer to a hospital in Brasilia for surgery to treat recurring hiccups and an inguinal hernia.
Earlier Friday, police said in a statement that an official medical exam confirmed Bolsonaro has a hernia “that requires elective surgical repair.”
According to the statement, medical experts recommended the procedures take place “as soon as possible” due to the impact of Bolsonaro’s health issues on his sleep and eating habits, and an “increased risk of complications from the hernia.”
Bolsonaro has a history of abdominal issues after being stabbed during his 2018 election campaign, and has required several follow-up surgeries.
His lawyers have also requested Bolsonaro be allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest for health reasons, but Moraes rejected that request Friday.
Bolsonaro had been under house arrest until shortly before the official start of his jail term, when he was detained after he took a soldering iron to his ankle monitoring bracelet in what the court saw as an escape attempt.
The former president said he was acting under medication-induced paranoia.
