Russia announced the interception of a German fighter jet approaching its border over the Baltic Sea in the northwest of the country, while Ukraine renewed its demand for allies to provide it with warplanes in preparation for a counteroffensive it is preparing soon in the east of the country.
The Russian Defense Ministry said via Telegram that on April 12, 2023, Russian air traffic controllers over the Baltic Sea spotted "an air target approaching the Russian border."
It said a Sukhoi-27 fighter immediately took off and found that the target was "a core German Navy P-3C Orion patrol aircraft."
As soon as the Russian fighter arrived, "the foreign military aircraft moved away from Russia's borders and the Russian fighter returned safely to its base", she said. The statement stressed that the flight of the Russian plane was carried out in full accordance with international law and rules, and without any "dangerous maneuvers."
More weapons
In the development of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmihal on Wednesday called on the United States to supply his country with warplanes. Shmihal stressed that his country also needs more heavy weapons and armored vehicles in order to make its counteroffensive against the Russian army a success.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov with his Spanish counterpart Margarita Robles (Reuters)
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said during a visit to Madrid on Wednesday that he had asked his Spanish counterpart to supply his country with air defense systems, including F-16 fighter jets, and more ammunition to repel the Russian attack.
Ukraine's defense minister told a news conference with his Spanish counterpart Margarita Robles: "For us, the absolute priority is air defense."
Reznikov said he had also asked Madrid for 150mm and 105mm artillery shells and amphibious vehicles.
Robles said the six Leopard tanks that Madrid had pledged to supply to Kiev would arrive in Ukraine "before the end of the month". It said Spain would send 20 armoured personnel carriers with tanks.
Battles of Bakhmut
On the ground, the Interfax news agency quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as saying that its forces repelled a unit of the Ukrainian army reserve that tried to penetrate into Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry said Wagner's military special forces had taken control of three new districts in Bakhmut. The spokesman for the ministry also announced that Ukrainian forces suffered heavy losses on a number of fronts.
In the opposite camp, the Ukrainian General Staff announced that its forces had repelled more than 50 attacks on the fighting axes in eastern Ukraine, twenty of them towards Bakhmot.
The General Staff noted that Russian forces carried out a failed attack attempt on the town of "Bagdanivka" northwest of Pakhmut.
The commission also announced that its forces launched thirteen air strikes targeting positions of Russian forces, in addition to bombing sites containing weapons and equipment, and shooting down two drones.
Russian war correspondents showed images they said were of destroyed Ukrainian military vehicles on the only supply route for Ukrainian troops to the city.
Wagner Group commander Yevgeny Prigozhine has confirmed that Russian forces have tightened their control over 80% of the city, where the fiercest fighting has been taking place for months.