Intense Clashes Between Russian and Ukrainian Forces, Journalist Killed in Drone Strike, and Eurosatory Defence Exhibition Focuses on Ukraine Conflict Lessons

Russian and Ukrainian forces engage in intense clashes with downed drones and repelled attacks. A Russian journalist falls victim to a drone strike by Ukrainian army. Eurosatory defence exhibition in Paris to address lessons from Ukraine conflict with a focus on military technology innovations.

Russian and Ukrainian Forces Clash Intensively Over Past 24 Hours

On Saturday, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that its forces had downed 54 Ukrainian drones and intercepted multiple HIMARS rockets in the last 24 hours. The ministry detailed that Russian forces had repelled several Ukrainian attacks, targeting Ukrainian military assets such as tanks, armored vehicles, and various artillery systems.

Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops had been involved in 74 encounters with Russian forces within the same time frame. The most intense fighting occurred in the Pokrovsk region, where Ukrainian forces reportedly repelled 29 Russian attacks.

Russian Journalist Killed in Drone Strike

News.Ru announced on Sunday that Russian journalist Nikita Tsitsagi was killed in a drone attack by the Ukrainian army in eastern Ukraine, near the Saint-Nicolas monastery in Vuhledar. Earlier, another Russian state television journalist was killed and one wounded in a drone strike in Golmivsky, Donetsk region. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated that at least 30 Russian journalists have been killed since the conflict began. No immediate comment came from the Ukrainian side.

Eurosatory Defense Exhibition Reflects Lessons from Ukraine Conflict

The Eurosatory defense exhibition, Europe's largest, begins on Monday in Paris. Charles Beaudouin, CEO of COGES Events, emphasized that the 2024 show will address feedback from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The exhibition has seen a record number of exhibitors, with over 2,000 compared to 1,750 in 2022.

Key focuses of the exhibition will include drones, mobile air defense, deep artillery fires, mine-clearing technologies, electronic warfare, and armor for high-intensity warfare. The prominence of drones and anti-drone systems will be highlighted, alongside developments in air-defense capabilities and artillery precision. The need for advancements in mine-clearing and resilient communication systems amid contested electronic environments will also be emphasized.

Armor and vehicle designs are anticipated to shift towards lower profiles with enhanced stealth and air-defense capabilities, reflecting lessons learned from the Ukraine battlefield.

By Rudy Ruitenberg, Europe correspondent for Defense News.