Russian invasion: drone attacks on kyiv, military aid from London

Europe1 .fr 6:50 a.m., December 19, 2022, modified at 6:54 a.m., December 19, 2022

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The Ukrainian capital was attacked by drones on Monday morning, the military administration of the city of Kyiv said, urging the population to be ready to take shelter.

"The enemy is attacking the capital," the administration wrote on Telegram.

At this stage, nine "enemy" drones have already been shot down in kyiv airspace, she added.

She specifies that the Russian forces carried out barrage fire, using Iranian "Shahed" drones - used in the shelling of kyiv in recent weeks.

The city administration issued a first air alert at 1:56 am local time (23:56 GMT) which lasted just over three hours.

A second alert was issued at 05:24 (03:24 GMT), and canceled within half an hour.

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When the sirens of such alerts sound, the population is summoned to take shelter.

The main information: 

- kyiv was attacked by drones on Monday morning.

The population was ordered to take shelter. 

- British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is due to announce the delivery of a large quantity of artillery ammunition to Ukraine on Monday during a meeting with leaders from Northern Europe, the Baltics and the Netherlands in Latvia. 

- During this meeting in Riga, current efforts to counter Russia in the Nordic and Baltic regions will be discussed.

- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy will also address participants in the JEF meeting, which brings together the leaders of Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Bas, from Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom.

London provides defensive aid to Ukraine

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is due to announce the delivery of a large quantity of artillery ammunition to Ukraine on Monday during a meeting with leaders from Northern Europe, the Baltics and the Netherlands in Latvia. 

During this meeting in Riga, ongoing efforts to counter Russia in the Nordic and Baltic regions will be discussed.

Rishi Sunak, who will arrive in Latvia on Monday, will ask the other leaders of the countries participating alongside the United Kingdom in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) to maintain or exceed in 2023 the level of support given this year to Ukraine, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's office. 

He will also announce that London will deliver "hundreds of thousands of artillery munitions next year under a £250 million ($304 million) contract that will ensure a steady flow of essential munitions for the artillery to Ukraine throughout 2023,” according to the statement. 

The UK has shown the way by "providing defensive aid to Ukraine, including sending multiple rocket launchers and, recently, 125 anti-aircraft guns", the prime minister's office continued. 

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"We have also provided more than 100,000 munitions since February," the month Russia launched its offensive, he added.

Last month, Rishi Sunak traveled to Kyiv to offer further support to Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces. 

"The UK and our European allies responded in synchrony to the invasion of Ukraine and we remain steadfast in our ambition to bring peace to Europe," Rishi Sunak said in the statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy will also address participants at the JEF meeting, which brings together leaders from Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands , Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom.