Joint Russian And Chinese Naval Exercise Ends With Rockets Fired In The East China Sea

Russia's Defence Ministry showed the final moments of the joint naval exercise with China in newly-released footage.

The images apparently show Russian and Chinese military ships firing rockets in the waters of the East China Sea on the final day of the operation.

The exercise, dubbed Marine Interaction 2022, was held in the East China Sea from 21st to 27th December, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Newsflash obtained the footage from the Russian MoD on 28th December, along with a statement: "During the exercise, the sailors of the Russian Navy and the Chinese Navy trained to free the captured ship and improved joint search and rescue operations at sea, conducted joint tactical manoeuvring, and communications training.

"The ships of the two countries, with the support of anti-submarine aviation, jointly searched for a mock enemy submarine and fired a salvo of jet depth charges.

"Artillery firing was also carried out at a target imitating a surface warship, air targets were hit by anti-aircraft missiles and artillery.

"In total, more than 10 combat exercises were jointly performed during the period of the exercise."

Afterwards, naval crews held a farewell ceremony at sea and ships greeted each other with sound signals, according to the statement.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 308th day of the invasion.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 28th December, Russia had lost about 103,770 personnel, 3,017 tanks, 6,037 armoured combat vehicles, 1,999 artillery units, 418 multiple launch rocket systems, 212 air defence systems, 283 warplanes, 267 helicopters, 1,707 drones, 653 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,660 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 179 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported the number of civilian casualties in Russia’s war on Ukraine has reached as many as 6,884 people, including 429 children, who are believed to have died in Ukraine between 24th February to 26th December 2022.

But the actual figure could be "considerably higher", the agency said, "as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration."

Air raid warnings continue to be in effect in Ukraine’s capital, according to the Kyiv city state administration.

The bodies of 42 Ukrainian servicemen who died while fighting have been returned to Ukraine, the Ukrainian government reported.

The European Union has announced that it will support "more than 700,000 Ukrainians in the winter" as the war rages on.

Britain’s Defence Ministry said the front line in eastern Ukraine remains little changed despite fierce fighting on both sides, but without making any major advances.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the situation along the eastern front line in Donbas "difficult and painful".

An Australian man has reportedly died fighting in Ukraine, according to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Sage O’Donnell, from the south-eastern state of Victoria, was allegedly killed just before Christmas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree according to which Moscow will ban oil sales to countries to nations participating in an imposed cap from February 2023.

The gas cap is to be set at EUR 180 (GBP 157) as of 15th February after European officials agreed to intervene in the energy crisis.