Ukraine war: Russian missiles shot down, alliance for Ukraine's F-16s, Scholz to talk to Putin soon

euronews.com:

Ukraine shot down ten missiles and 25 drones launched by Russia overnight attacks in the cities of Kyiv and Dnipro and eastern regions, Ukrainian officials said on Friday.The Ukrainian air force said it had shot down 10 missiles fired from the Caspian Sea, 23 Iranian-made Shahed drones and two reconnaissance drones, according to US-based news agency Reuters.A total of 17 missiles and 31 drones had been launched starting at about 10 pm local time on Thursday, the Ukrainian side claimed.The attacks continued until the early hours of Friday with several drones and missiles hitting the targets in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.

The officials have not confirmed any deaths so far. “It was a very difficult night," Serhiy Lysak, the Dnipropetrovsk regional governor, said on the Telegram. "It was loud – the enemy launched a mass attack on the region with missiles and drones.

Dnipro has suffered.”Lysak said several infrastructures were damaged by the attacks, including civilian houses, cars, and companies, including a transport company and a gas station.

European allies are developing a coordinated program to train Ukrainian forces on the F-16 fighter jet, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday.Austin said the allies recognize that in addition to training, Ukraine will also need to be able to sustain and maintain the aircraft and have enough munitions.But Pentagon leaders warned that it will be a costly and complex task and won't be a magic solution to the war."The Russians have a thousand fourth and fifth-generation fighters, so if you’re going to contest Russia in the air, you’re going to need a substantial amount of fourth and fifth-generation fighters," said Army Gen.