Ukraine news latest — Putin lackey dismisses chance of ‘Christmas ceasefire’ as Russia leaves thousands without power
A KREMLIN spokesperson has dismissed the chance of a so-called "Christmas ceasefire" in Ukraine, as Putin continues to bombard the country.
When asked if a ceasefire could occur this Christmas, Putin lackey Dmitry Peskov said: “No, no such offers have been received from anybody. This topic is not on the agenda.”
This comes as residents in the Ukrainian city of Kherson have been left without electricity once again, according to the head of the regional military administration for the region.
Yaroslav Yanushevich stated on Thursday that the region does not have working electricity due to Russian shelling that killed two people this morning.
Posting on the Telegram messaging app, he said: "At the first opportunity, the power industry will begin to restore power grids."
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Russian Embassy in Washington warns US about providing Patriot to Ukraine
The Russian Embassy in Washington has issued a warning against supplying Ukraine with the Patriot missile defence system.
The embassy posted on Telegram: “Even without providing the Patriot, the US is getting deeper and deeper into the conflict in the post-Soviet republic.
“The United States is responsible for prolonging and escalating the Ukrainian conflict.”
Officials in Washington have hinted an announcement on the decision to provide the Patriot to Ukraine could be made today.
Credit: AFP Over a third of Ukrainian refugees who fled to Germany would like to stay
A German poll has shown that the majority of Ukrainian refugees who fled to Germany feel welcome, and 37% would like to live there permanently.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees’ poll showed 34% plan to stay until the end of the war, with 27% undecided on where they will settle in the future.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, over a million refugees escaped to Germany. Only Poland has welcomed more.
Intelligence update on situation in Ukraine
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) posted an intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine yesterday.
The MoD tweeted: “Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 15 December 2022
“Find out more about the UK government’s response:
“”
Olympic neutral flag for Russia rejected by Ukraine
The US has been open to the possibility of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing at the Olympics under a neutral flag, but on Wednesday Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told IOC chief Thomas Bach that Kyiv wants Russia’s “complete isolation”.
Last week Bach said the status of Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation in the 2024 Paris Games was unclear.
But Zelensky said in a statement: “One cannot try to be neutral when the foundations of peaceful life are being destroyed and universal human values are being ignored.”
He said the only response is “the complete isolation of the terrorist state on the international stage. In particular, this applies to international sports events.”
Russian forces have killed 184 Ukrainian athletes since the war started, according to Kyiv.
Zelensky later said in a video address: “We can only say one thing: a white or any neutral flag is impossible for Russian athletes, as all their flags are stained in blood.”
No electricity in Kherson following heavy Russian shelling
There is currently no electricity in the city of Kherson following heavy Russian shelling which left two people dead.
According to Yaroslav Yanushevich, head of regional military administration for the region, the city does not have any working electricity due to the early morning bombardment.
In an attempt at reassurance, Yanushevich posted on Telegram: “At the first opportunity, the power industry will begin to restore power grids.”
Children’s torture camps discovered in previously Russian-occupied territories
During the occupation of Kharkiv and Kherson, Russian forces set up torture chambers for children, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian parliament commissioner for human rights, told reporters in the Ukrinform media centre on December 14.
The children held in torture chambers were reportedly deemed to have resisted, with Russian occupiers claiming the children had been abandoned by their parents, or that the children would not return to them.
Lubinets said: “There was a 14-year old boy who was detained and held in the torture chamber for photographing Russian equipment on his phone.”
Ukrainian forces shell Russian-controlled Donetsk, officials say
Ukrainian forces shelled the Russian-controlled eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk overnight in some of the biggest attacks for years, Russian-installed officials in the annexed areas said on Thursday.
“At exactly 7.00 o’clock this morning they subjected the centre of Donetsk to the most massive attack since 2014,” Alexei Kulemzin, the Russian-backed mayor of the city, said on Telegram.
“Forty rockets from BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers were fired at civilians in our city,” Kulemzin said. He cast the attack as a war crime.
Reuters was unable to immediately verify Kulemzin’s account of what happened, and there was no immediate response to his comments from Ukrainian officials.
Kulemzin told Russian state TV that preliminary information indicated that five people had been hurt in the shelling, including a child.
Video footage released by Russia’s state RIA news agency showed smoke rising from damaged buildings, debris-strewn yards and streets, burnt out cars, and what appeared to be a blood stain on a pavement next to someone’s hat.
Firefighters were seen dousing flames.
Russian shelling kills two in Kherson
Ukraine said Russian shelling this morning has killed two people in the southern city of Kherson, which has been routinely targeted since Kyiv’s forces recaptured it last month.
Deputy head of administration Kyrylo Tymoshenko said: “The enemy hit the centre of the city again. One hundred metres from the Kherson region administrative building…
“There is information about two people killed. Emergency services are on site.”
Ukraine's Sumy region hit 58 times today
The Sumy region was bombarded 58 times today, according to the region's governor.
Dmytro Zhyvytskyi revealed the Russian attacks mainly hit Myropillya and Krasnopillya near the Russian border.
No casualties have been reported as of now.
This follows similar attacks in the recently-liberated city of Kherson that left thousands without power.
Top Ukrainian general 'knows' he can beat Russia
Speaking in an interview with the Economist today, Ukraine's commander-in-chief, General Valeriy Zaluzhny, said he "knows" his troops can defeat Russia.
“I know that I can beat this enemy,” the general said.
“But I need resources. I need 300 tanks, 600-700 ifvs (infantry fighting vehicles) 500 Howitzers.”
This comes just days after it was announced 70 nations from across the globe had donated $1billion in aid to Ukraine this winter, in a bid to help repel Russia's advances.
Top Ukrainian official warns Kremlin wants to 'conquer all of Ukraine'
Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defence Hanna Malyar warned the world against "relaxing" their opposition to Russia.
“We and the world should not relax, because the ultimate goal of the Russian Federation is to conquer all of Ukraine, and then it can move on,” said Malyar.
This comes after the Kremlin launched a new wave of attacks at the under-siege nation, leaving thousands without power.
Ukrainian armed forces advance almost 1.5km near Dibrova
Ukrainian armed forces have advanced almost 1.5km near the village of Dibrova, Luhansk Oblast.
During a briefing today, Oleksii Hromov, brigadier general deputy head, said: “During the offensive actions, the Armed Forces have advanced by 1.5 kilometres in the area of the village of Dibrova.”
No chance of a 'Christmas ceasefire' says Kremlin
The Kremlin confirmed this week that it has no intentions to agree on a Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “No, no such offers have been received from anybody.
"This topic is not on the agenda.”
Ukraine agrees to new deal with the International Energy Agency
The Ukrainian government has today signed a new deal with the International Energy Agency to develop renewable energy sources across the country.
This new, two-year, plan comes amid constant Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, often leaving millions without power.
Interfax news agency reported that the energy minister, German Galushchenko, said: “Tightened security and transition to carbon-free energy are fundamental principles on which the recovery of Ukraine’s energy sector will be based. We are not dropping our previous plans to develop renewable energy sources and join the global green transition trend.
“The joint programme should help utilise high-quality expertise and widely implement best international practices and advanced technology for rebuilding Ukraine’s modern energy system.”
Children’s torture camps discovered in previously Russian-occupied territories
During the occupation of Kharkiv and Kherson, Russian forces allegedly set up torture chambers for children, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian parliament commissioner for human rights, told reporters in the Ukrinform media centre on December 14.
The children held in torture chambers were reportedly deemed to have resisted, with Russian occupiers claiming the children had been abandoned by their parents, or that the children would not return to them.
Lubinets said: “There was a 14-year old boy who was detained and held in the torture chamber for photographing Russian equipment on his phone.”
Russia to overcome impact of sanctions by selling gas to eastern neighbours
Vladimir Putin said Russia will overcome sanctions imposed by western countries by developing relationships with countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Putin intends to do this by strengthening ties with Russia’s eastern neighbours.
Putin said: “We will remove restrictions in logistics and finance.
“Let me remind you that by introducing sanctions, western countries were trying to push Russia to the periphery of world development.
“But we will never take the route of self-isolation.
“On the contrary, we are broadening, and will broaden, cooperation with all who have an interest in that.”
Russia’s GDP is expected to fall by 2.5% in 2022.
Credit: EPA Holodomor famine recognised as genocide by European parliament
Holodomer, the great famine between 1932 and 1933 in Soviet Ukraine in which millions of Ukrainians and Kazakhs died, has been recognised as genocide by an overwhelming majority in the European parliament.
Historians widely agree the famine was caused by Soviet policy decisions, such as rejecting outside aid, confiscating food and restricting population movement.
The name Holodomor combines the Ukrainian words for “starvation” and “to inflict death”.
Stella Kyriakides, European commissioner for health and food safety said: “The Holodomor is one of the major tragedies of the 20th century.”
Ministry of Defence publishes map of frontline between Ukraine and Russia
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has published a map showing the frontline between Ukraine and Russia.
The MoD tweeted: “The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing.
“The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 15 December 2022”
“Find out more about the UK government's response:
““
Entire Kherson Fine Arts Museum collection stolen by Russian officials
The Kherson Fine Arts Museum has been almost completely emptied by Russian officials, according to reports.
Nearly nothing remains from over 14,000 works previously in its collection.
A key component of Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson was the looting of anything deemed to be of cultural or financial value.
Items stolen include public monuments, hospital equipment and a raccoon living in Kherson Zoo.
One of Russia’s wealthiest oligarchs sanctioned by US
Vladimir Potanin, former Russian deputy prime minister and one of Russia’s wealthiest oligarchs, has been sanctioned by the US government for ties to the Russian war in Ukraine and Vladimir Putin.
Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, said: “The United States continues to impose costs on Russia for its war of aggression against Ukraine.
“Russia’s attacks have devastated Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and caused extraordinary death and destruction.
“Today, we are announcing additional sanctions measures on the Russian federation and its enablers.
“Our actions today are a clear message that the United States will not hesitate to continue to use the tools at our disposal to promote an end to, and accountability for, president Putin’s unconscionable war.”
Russia seeks long confrontation in Ukraine says nation’s military
Russia is seeking to turn the war in Ukraine into a long military confrontation and is training new divisions on the territory of neighbouring Belarus, a senior Ukrainian military officer said on Thursday.
Brigadier general Oleksiy Gromov told a news briefing that the likelihood of a military operation being launched from Belarusian territory remained low.
Mr Gromov said: "The Kremlin... is seeking to turn the conflict into a prolonged armed confrontation."
Head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, posted on Telegram: "The enemy is shelling Kherson, trying to pretend to be active in the north.
“They are crawling like zombies on our positions in Bakhmut, creating pressure in the south of the Donetsk region."
Russia using propaganda to bring Ukrainian government to negotiating table
During a briefing at the Military Media Centre, Hanna Mailar, Ukraine’s deputy defence minister, accused Russia of using propaganda, such as focusing on the energy crisis in Ukraine and highlighting Russia’s military strength, to force Ukrainian government into negotiations.
Mailar said: “With each missile attack, Russia hopes to change the course of the war in its favour.
“With each missile strike, the Kremlin hopes to plunge us into total darkness. With each missile strike, the terrorist state hopes to break the Ukrainians, turning our nation into the same slaves of the system as the Russians.
“However, these attempts turn out to be useless, time and again.”
Commander-in-chief says Ukraine needs more equipment, not soldiers
Armed forces of Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said today the country needs more equipment rather than additional military personnel.
Speaking with , Zaluzhnyi said: "We are already conducting [mobilisation] as it is.
“We have enough people, and I can clearly see what I have. I have enough. I don’t need hundreds of thousands more."
"We need tanks, we need [armoured personnel carriers], infantry fighting vehicles. And we need ammunition.
He added: “Please note, I’m not talking about F-16s right now."
Russian forces target infrastructure facilities in Kharkiv
Russian forces have attacked critical infrastructure in Kharkiv today, causing multiple explosions, according to the city’s mayor Ihor Terekhov.
Terekhov posted on Instagram: “Explosions in Kharkiv. The enemy is targeting infrastructure facilities.
“I am asking everyone to exercise utmost caution and stay in shelters if possible.”