Swedish defence equipment manufacturer Saab has signed a contract to deliver 16 Gripen E fighter aircraft to Ukraine in a deal valued at approximately 24.6 billion Swedish crowns ($2.54 billion). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the agreement on the Telegram messaging app, stating that the deal with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson included the purchase of the 16 aircraft along with technical support.
Delivery timeline discrepancies
There is a discrepancy between the delivery timelines provided by Zelenskyy and Saab. Zelenskyy indicated that deliveries would begin in 2027, while Saab stated that deliveries are scheduled for 2029-2030. The contract marks a significant enhancement of Ukraine's air capabilities amid the ongoing war with Russia.
Ukraine prepares for potential northern offensive
Ukraine's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said in an interview broadcast on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces are preparing for a possible new Russian attack from the north, though any attempt to advance on Kyiv is unlikely. Syrskyi, speaking on TSN Ukrainian television, also noted that an attack from neighbouring Belarus is unlikely, despite weeks of Ukrainian allegations that Moscow has been trying to pressure its ally to take a greater role in the war.
“The most likely scenario, and this is confirmed by several data sources, is possible offensive action in the north from the territory of Russia, from the Bryansk region,” Syrskyi said. “This is a realistic option, of course, and we are preparing for it.”
Russian glide bombs hit Zaporizhzhia
Russian glide bombs killed two people and injured at least 15 in the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Tuesday, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov. Writing on the Telegram messaging app, Fedorov said Russian forces deployed seven bombs over a 90-minute period in the city, which has been a frequent target of Russian attacks.
Denmark announces new military aid package
Denmark announced on Tuesday a new military donation package to Ukraine worth approximately 4.4 billion crowns ($671.8 million). The government said in a statement: “Around 1.3 billion crowns is allocated to ‘the Danish model’, which makes it possible to finance the Ukrainian state’s procurement costs through its own defence industry. In addition, more funds have been allocated for long-range artillery ammunition.” This is Denmark’s 30th military support package to Ukraine.
Monaco parcel bomb investigation
Police on Tuesday were searching for the suspect behind a parcel bomb that seriously wounded a sanctioned multimillionaire of Ukrainian origin and two others in Monaco. Officers in Monaco and neighbouring France were hunting for a man in a black fisher’s hat who appeared in surveillance footage after leaving a package in a residential building near the border, authorities said. The device exploded at around 9pm (1900 GMT) on Monday, leaving a man and a woman seriously wounded and a 13-year-old with lighter injuries, according to Monegasque authorities.
Monaco public prosecutor Stephane Thibault said as of Tuesday the man had been stabilised, but the woman’s condition remained “life-threatening”. He said the blast was being investigated as “attempted murder” but was not considered a “terrorist” act. He declined to name the presumed target, but several sources identified him as Ukrainian-born businessman Vadym Yermolaiev, a permanent resident of Monaco with Cypriot nationality. Yermolaiev is a sanctioned multimillionaire with a reportedly long list of enemies in his homeland. Kyiv alleges the 58-year-old maintained an alcohol business in Russia-annexed Crimea, paying taxes to Moscow even after its 2022 invasion.
Kenya moves to curb mercenary recruitment
Kenya’s cabinet on Tuesday approved the country’s accession to two international anti-mercenary treaties, a move aimed at curbing the recruitment of citizens into foreign conflicts and combating human trafficking. Kenya is among several African countries whose citizens have reportedly been forcibly conscripted into the Russian army to fight in Ukraine after being lured with promises of jobs abroad. The foreign affairs ministry officially estimates that 291 Kenyans have been victims of Russia’s “irregular military recruitment”, including 19 dead and 32 missing.
