Visit of new French foreign minister, blockade on Romanian border and another massive Russian attack: highlights
The newly appointed French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné arrived in Kyiv for the first time on an official visit. Overnight, the Russian army conducted another air strike on Ukraine using missiles and drones. Romanian farmers started and later stopped blocking truck traffic through the Porubne—Siret checkpoint on the border with Ukraine. We have collected the main news for January 13.
Attack on Ukraine
Overnight, the Russian occupation forces launched a missile attack on Ukraine, firing 40 air strikes:
- 7 S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles;
- 3 Shahed-136/131 attack drones;
- 6 X-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles from six MiG-31K aircraft;
- up to 12 X-101/X-555/X-55 cruise missiles from 11 Tu-95MS strategic bombers;
- 6 X-22 cruise missiles from Tu-22M3 bombers;
- 2 X-31P guided missiles from two Su-35 aircraft;
- 4 X-59 guided missiles from two Su-34 aircraft.
The Ukrainian military destroyed seven X-101/X-555/X-55 cruise missiles and one X-59 guided missile. More than 20 other air strikes failed to reach their targets.
The air defense forces were operating in Poltava, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytskyi, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. There is damage in some areas. The city of Shostka in Sumy Oblast was also hit, and a woman was injured.
Visit of the French minister
Newly appointed French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné arrived in Kyiv today,. This is his first official visit to Ukraine. During his visit, he met with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In particular, the two leaders discussed the strengthening of Ukraine's air defense, steps towards European Union membership, and cooperation between defense companies.
Fire in a shopping center in Kyiv
In Kyiv, a fire broke out on the fourth floor of the Cosmopolitan shopping and entertainment center in the Solomianskyi district on the right bank of the capital. About 200 people were evacuated from the center. Preliminarily, the fire started in a children's room.
Three victims turned to doctors. These are a woman and a man who work in the mall, as well as an 8-year-old girl who was in the facility. All of them complained of combustion product poisoning.
Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russian troops have used chemical weapons in Ukraine 626 times. In January 2024 alone, 51 cases were recorded. Every day, the Ukrainian military records up to 10 cases of chemical use, and the dynamics are growing.
Blocking the border
On the evening of January 13, Romanian farmers on the border with Ukraine began blocking truck traffic through the Porubne-Siret checkpoint. The SBGS stated that the reasons and approximate duration of the blockade were unknown. However, the farmers later stopped the blockade.
Domestically, protests by transporters and farmers have been ongoing since January 10 due to dissatisfaction with the laws in these areas. In addition, farmers are demanding that the Romanian authorities stop importing Ukrainian grain.