Russia said on Wednesday that its forces had shot down six U.S.-made ATACMS ballistic missiles fired by Ukraine aimed at the Taganrog military airfield in southern Rostov Oblast, while Ukraine reported on the same day that its troops had repelled multiple Russian attacks.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the Ukrainian forces on Wednesday launched a missile strike with Western high-precision weapons on the Taganrog military airfield in Russia's Rostov region.
Six U.S.-made ATACMS ballistic missiles were used, and two of them were shot down and the rest were deflected and downed by Russian electronic warfare systems, the ministry said, noting Russian forces had taken control of two more settlements in Russia's Kursk region.
Also on Wednesday, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that its forces had engaged in 140 clashes with Russian forces on the frontlines, with the most intense fightings taking place in the areas of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.
The regions of Sumy and Chernihiv were attacked by Russian airstrikes, the Ukrainian side said.
In Kursk region, the Ukrainian army repelled 15 Russian offensives, the Ukrainian side added.
In another development, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a press conference on Wednesday that Russia would not make concessions regarding the Ukraine issue, but it remains open to engaging with the United States in light of a negotiation plan put forth by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Zakharova noted that Russia has not yet received any substantial proposals from Trump's team.
She also said that peace is not a priority for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who claimed that Ukraine would not sign any peace agreement without security guarantees.
Russia says Ukraine attacked airbase with US missiles, Ukraine reports repelling Russian attacks
China on Wednesday called on all parties concerned to take practical actions to jointly advance a comprehensive political process led and owned by the Yemeni people so as to seek a political solution to the Yemen issue.
The UN Security Council held a meeting on the situation in Yemen at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday to promote unified action to end the Yemen conflict amid escalating regional tensions and growing humanitarian crisis.
Speaking at the meeting, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang said that Israel and the Houthi group have been attacking each other, with Israel recently saying it was considering launching a new large-scale attack on Yemen, which is deeply worrying.
Geng also noted the rapid change in the situation in Syria, which brought new instability to the entire Middle East region, including Yemen and the Red Sea.
China once again calls on the Houthi group to stop attacking merchant ships of various countries in the Red Sea and maintain the safety of waterways. China also calls on all parties concerned to remain calm and restrained to prevent the escalation of tensions, Geng said.
"I would like to once again call on all parties concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that may escalate the situation. I stress that Yemen's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected. I reiterate that the Yemen issue must ultimately be resolved politically. The current stagnation in the peace process is not in the long-term and fundamental interests of the Yemeni people. All parties should demonstrate political will, take practical actions, gradually build mutual trust, create conditions for restarting dialogue, and jointly advance a comprehensive political process led and owned by the Yemeni people," he said.
Other UN officials also noted that practical measures, including releasing hostages and transferring emergency relief fund, should be taken to prevent tension escalation.
Also at the meeting, Hans Grundberg, special envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, reported via video link that although three hostages arbitrarily detained in Yemen six months ago have been released, dozens are still not free, with some detainees having been held for up to a decade, and they should be released immediately and unconditionally.
Tom Fletcher, under-secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said internal conflicts still hound Yemen, and the country faces escalating regional tensions, a deteriorating economy and threats to the safety of humanitarian workers of UN and other organizations.
Fletcher also noted an estimated 2.5 billion U.S. dollars are needed to reach 10.5 million people across Yemen.
China calls for concerted efforts to seek political solution to Yemen issue
