Russia shoots down US missile supporting Ukraine

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

HARM missile made in the US. Photo: Wiki

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

HARM is a high-speed, air-to-surface, anti-radiation missile designed to seek out and destroy radar-equipped air defense systems, the Air Force said. The HARM missile, which can fly more than 30 miles, was first deployed in 1984. It has been modified to be fired from Soviet-era aircraft in Ukraine.

In response to media questions about the missiles being shot down, the Pentagon said it could not confirm the information.

Ukrainian children ask for weapons, air defense systems

Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenski 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 with new attacks. Ukrainian children wrote letters to St. Nicholas asking for air defense systems, weapons and victory - a victory for them, for all Ukrainians. Our children understand everything. Let them act."

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

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