Russia launches its biggest drone barrage against Ukraine in 7 months. No injuries are reported
Kyiv (AP/PTI): Ukrainian forces shot down all 89 Shahed drones launched by Russia in a nighttime attack on the country, Ukraine's air force said Wednesday, in what was one of the largest drone barrages this year.
No damage or injuries were immediately reported in the bombardment, which mostly targeted the region of Kyiv, the capital.
Russia used the same number of Shahed drones in a Jan. 1 attack, an air force statement said.
Both Ukraine and Russia have relied extensively on explosive drones during the war and have scrambled to come up with more countermeasures.
The Russian drones are being shot down by Ukraine's Soviet-era aircraft, according to Anatolii Khrapchynskyi, an aviation expert in Kyiv.
“The air force is using electronic jamming against the drones' GPS which forces the drones to fly at a higher altitude, which then makes it easier for Ukrainian aircraft to strike them down," he told The Associated Press.
He said that tactic will likely also be used when U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets are delivered in coming weeks by Kyiv's European partners.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces said they struck more military targets on Russian soil overnight.
They hit a warehouse for weapon storage and military equipment in the border region of Kursk, a statement from Ukraine's General Staff said.
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First-ever life-size Vivekananda statue in US unveiled in Seattle
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New York (PTI): The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the US was unveiled in Seattle, honouring the renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual leader.
The life-size bronze statue, installed at the busy Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, is the first such installation hosted by a city government anywhere in the US, officials said.
Sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, it was jointly unveiled on Saturday by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta.
"From Chicago 1893 to Seattle 2026! Seattle's skyline has a new Indian icon: Swami Vivekananda! City of Seattle becomes the first city government to host the Swami Vivekananda Monument in the heart of downtown Seattle," the Consulate General of India in Seattle said in a social media post.
Addressing the event, Wilson said the monument reflects Seattle's inclusive spirit and strengthens cultural ties between India and the diverse metropolitan tech hub in the US Pacific Northwest.
The statue has been gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle in recognition of its "in recognition of the city’s rich multicultural character and spirit of inclusivity", the Indian mission in Seattle said in a statement.
The unveiling of the statue was held on the occasion of the celebration of ICCR Day and is part of India's broader cultural diplomacy initiatives aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties between India and the US Pacific Northwest, the Consulate said.
Located at the bustling Westlake Square, which sees over 400,000 visitors daily, the monument stands near prominent landmarks including the Amazon headquarters ‘Spheres’, the Seattle Convention Centre and the Seattle Centre Monorail.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by several local leaders, including mayors from cities in the Greater Seattle area, community representatives and members of the Indian-American diaspora.
Swami Vivekananda had delivered his historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, introducing Hindu philosophy to a global audience.
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