Russia shot down a US missile supporting Ukraine.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on December 19 that its forces had shot down four US-made anti-radiation missiles in the area bordering Ukraine.

The HARM missile is manufactured in the United States. Photo: Wiki

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said at a daily press briefing: "Four American HARM anti-radar missiles were shot down in the airspace of the Belgorod region." According to CNN, this is one of the first such statements Moscow has made since launching its military operation in Ukraine in late February.

HARM is a high-speed, anti-radiation air-to-ground missile. It is designed to seek out and destroy radar-equipped air defense systems, according to the U.S. Air Force. The HARM missile has a range of over 48 km and was first deployed in 1984. It has been modified to be fired from Ukrainian aircraft dating back to the Soviet era.

In response to media inquiries about whether the missiles had been shot down, the Pentagon said it could not confirm the information.

Ukrainian children are asking for weapons and air defense systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky said yesterday that Ukrainian children are asking Saint Nicholas (also known as Santa Claus) for weapons, air defense systems, and victory this Christmas.

Speaking online at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) leaders' summit on December 19, the Ukrainian President said: "Today is St. Nicholas Day... Russian forces have given a gift to Ukrainian children along with new attacks. Ukrainian children have written to St. Nicholas asking for air defense systems, weapons and victory - a victory for them, for all Ukrainian people. Our children understand everything. Let them act."

St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 19th in Ukraine.

President Zelensky called on leaders from the JEF – including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom – to continue supporting Ukraine with military aid to “accelerate the movement of Ukrainian armed forces toward victory.”