Russian ballistic missile strike hits Zaporizhstal plant

Day 1661 of the Russo-Ukrainian war saw Ukraine's Neptune missile successfully reaching a Russian warship at its own pier. Accompanying the missile were drones, with a total of three additional Russian vessels and the port's fuel-oil storage also targeted that evening. One Russian drone impeded seven flights in Moldova, coinciding with President Zelenskyy's trip to Norway for the funeral of King Harald V. The drone traversed Moldova twice that afternoon, forcing airspace closures over the country's center for over an hour.

Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces struck Russia-Iran logistics hubs in the Caspian Sea, damaging three Russian warships. One such attack triggered a fire at the Makhachkala port, resulting from the destruction of its oil infrastructure. In response, Ukraine's former top general, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, emphasized the importance of technology in modern warfare, stating that the Cold War missile has evolved into a cost-effective weapon deployed in large quantities.

Despite Ukraine's military showing promise in deploying jet-drone interceptors, the challenge remains in scaling them up to match their success against slower drones. Canada has pledged to contribute a third of its future drone output to Ukraine, following a defense cooperation declaration. However, money, not engineering, remains the primary obstacle in securing Ukraine's victory over Russia's fastest drones.

Meanwhile, Canada has sanctioned eight Russians over the deportation of Ukrainian children, affecting their property rights within the country. This sanction took effect a week before President Zelenskyy's arrival for talks.