What's happened
Ukraine launches drone strikes on Russian oil depots in the Smolensk region, part of a campaign targeting critical infrastructure in Russia. This comes as Ukraine expresses gratitude for a new US military aid package, which includes $61 billion in aid approved by the US Senate.
Why it matters
The drone strikes on Russian oil depots mark an escalation in Ukraine's efforts to target Russian infrastructure. The US aid package is crucial for Ukraine's military capabilities, as they have been facing shortages of essential supplies. These events highlight the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the international support Ukraine is receiving.
What the papers say
The Independent emphasizes the importance of the US military aid package for Ukraine, highlighting the impact of the aid on the ongoing conflict. The Moscow Times reports on the drone strikes by Ukraine on Russian regions, providing details on the attacks and the responses from Russian officials.
How we got here
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing for more than two years, with Ukraine facing challenges in defending itself against Russian forces. The delays in US military aid have hindered Ukraine's ability to combat the Russian invasion, leading to shortages of essential supplies.
Common question
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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The Moscow Times is an English-language online-only newspaper based in Moscow. It was in print from 1992 until 2017, with a peak circulation of 55,000.