Russian Forces Capture 2 More Settlements in Eastern Ukraine

05 November 2024, Ukraine, Tschernihiw: erman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (C) visits a command post with Lieutenant General Serhij Dejneko, head of the National Border Guard Service. Photo: Jörg Blank/dpa
05 November 2024, Ukraine, Tschernihiw: erman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (C) visits a command post with Lieutenant General Serhij Dejneko, head of the National Border Guard Service. Photo: Jörg Blank/dpa
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Russian Forces Capture 2 More Settlements in Eastern Ukraine

05 November 2024, Ukraine, Tschernihiw: erman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (C) visits a command post with Lieutenant General Serhij Dejneko, head of the National Border Guard Service. Photo: Jörg Blank/dpa
05 November 2024, Ukraine, Tschernihiw: erman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (C) visits a command post with Lieutenant General Serhij Dejneko, head of the National Border Guard Service. Photo: Jörg Blank/dpa

Russian forces have captured two more settlements in eastern Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday, citing the Defense Ministry.

They named the settlements as Maksymivka and Antonivka.

Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield report.

Ukraine's air defense units destroyed 38 out of 63 Russian drones overnight, Ukraine's air force said on Wednesday.

Another 22 Russian drones were lost over the Ukrainian territory and its airspace, the air force said on the Telegram messaging app, without providing further detail.

The air force has said before that lost drones are usually intercepted by electronic warfare.

The attack on energy infrastructure in the southern region of Mykolaiv cut power to some consumers and the repair work was ongoing, the regional authorities said.

Kyiv regional authorities also said that drone debris caused a fire in an open area without dealing damage to critical infrastructure.

The air force reported that Russia launched two missiles on the southern Odesa region late on Tuesday. The local authorities did not provide any additional details on damage there as of Wednesday morning.



Spanish Flood-Hit Towns Brace for Another Storm

A bulldozer removes damaged cars in the flood-hit municipality of Paiporta, province of Valencia, Spain, 12 November 2024. (EPA)
A bulldozer removes damaged cars in the flood-hit municipality of Paiporta, province of Valencia, Spain, 12 November 2024. (EPA)
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Spanish Flood-Hit Towns Brace for Another Storm

A bulldozer removes damaged cars in the flood-hit municipality of Paiporta, province of Valencia, Spain, 12 November 2024. (EPA)
A bulldozer removes damaged cars in the flood-hit municipality of Paiporta, province of Valencia, Spain, 12 November 2024. (EPA)

Flood-hit towns near the eastern city of Valencia were rushing on Tuesday to clear the sewage system of mud and debris, pile sandbags and cancel school classes as they prepared for another approaching storm.

Two weeks after the worst floods in Spain's modern history killed more than 200 people, national weather service AEMET issued an orange alert, the second-highest, for strong or torrential rains expected on Wednesday in the same area.

AEMET forecasts as much as 120 mm (4.7 inches) of rain in 12 hours. While the storm is not expected to be as powerful, it could be devastating for the towns that are still recovering.

The impact of the rain could be severe because of the quantities of mud already on the ground and because of the condition of the sewage system, Rosa Tauris, a spokesperson for Valencia's emergency committee, told reporters.

Thousands of workers are cleaning buildings while removing the mud that accumulated on roads and sidewalks and clogged the sewage pipes and drains in towns and suburbs around Valencia.

The emergency committee issued a special warning requesting that municipalities and organizations take preventive measures, including closing schools.

Tauris recommended citizens work remotely when possible, avoid non-essential travel and follow emergency services' updates.

The town council of Chiva, one of the worst-hit sites, cancelled classes and sports activities, while in nearby Aldaia, workers piled up sandbags to protect the town.

"We are placing sandbags to replace the floodgates that the previous floods tore down," municipal worker Antonio Ojeda said, hoping this would prevent the Saleta ravine from overflowing again.

They are also cleaning the ditches and drains that are obstructed with trees, tires and car parts.

On Monday, 10,000 tons of furniture, appliances and clothing were removed, almost as much waste as Valencia disposes of in a year.

Valencian authorities suspended classes and activities at recreational centers in the flood-hit suburbs, advising volunteers who flocked to the area to help clean up to avoid travel.

The AEMET's weather alerts cover much of the Mediterranean coast of Catalonia, Valencia and Andalusia and the Balearic Islands.