Ukrainian forces maintain their positions against Russian forces in the eastern Donbass region and are making slight progress in some areasVolodymyr Zelensky said. The Ukrainian President added His nightly video title That Kyiv has strengthened its anti-aircraft capacity and will strengthen it in the new year to protect itself and the entire European continent. His claims could not be verified.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that Vladimir Putin has not given up on his plans to “take control of Ukraine”. He warned everyone to “prepare for the long haul”. Stoltenberg told the dpa news agency that Russia had mobilized “many new forces” and “showed its willingness to endure painful losses.” “This isn’t over yet,” He said. “We should not underestimate Russia.”
Vladimir Putin has invited his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to pay a state visit to Moscow Next northern spring, as Russia seeks to deepen its relations with China amid increasing international isolation due to the war in Ukraine. Speaking to Xi via video conference, Putin said that Russia’s relations with China are “the best in history” and expressed His desire to expand military cooperation.
The call between the two leaders came hours after Ukraine was once again attacked by Iranian-made “kamikaze” drones. The Ukrainian military said it had shot down 16 drones that it said were sent from the southeast and north. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said there were no casualties in the strikes.
Belarus summoned the Ukrainian ambassador, saying it had shot down a Ukrainian air defense missile on the territory of Belarus. Alexander Wolfovich, Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council He accused Ukraine of trying to “stoke a regional conflict”claiming that it was “unlikely” that it was a Ukrainian air defense missile Thursday It entered Belarusian airspace by accident. A Ukrainian military spokesman said the crash was “the result of air defence”.
Zelensky repeated his earlier warnings that Moscow might plan to plunge Ukraine into darkness ahead of the New Year holidays. The latest drone attack comes at the end of a week when Russian forces launched a series of deadly bombardments on the recently liberated city of Kherson.
Exiled Moscow chief rabbi says Jews should leave Russia while they still canBefore they become scapegoats for the hardship caused by the war in Ukraine. Pinchas Goldschmidt he told the Guardian: “Whenever we look back in Russian history, whenever the political system is in danger, I see the government trying to redirect the anger and resentment of the masses towards the Jewish community… We are witnessing a rise in anti-Semitism as Russia reverts to a new kind of Soviet Union.” Goldschmidt resigned and left Russia in July after refusing to support Putin’s war.
Unilaterally declared republics of Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR)Both are occupied regions of Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed. They adopted new “constitutions”.the This was reported by the Russian state-owned news agency TASS. Denis Bushilin, who was installed as the acting leader of the DRC, was quoted as saying Praising “the return of Donbass into the bosom of Russian cultural and historical traditions.
The richest members of Russia’s oligarchs have lost nearly $95 billion this year amid sanctions imposed by Western countries About the Ukraine war – Shedding $330 million a day Since the Kremlin launched its invasion. Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been the biggest loser, with his fortune down 57% to $7.8 billion this year, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Britain says it has given Ukraine more than 1,000 metal detectors and 100 bomb disposal kits to help clear minefields. In the latest state of military support. “This latest package of UK support will help Ukraine safely clear land and buildings while reclaiming its rightful territory,” said UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, he said in a statement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin He “warmly congratulated” the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on the coming New YearThe Kremlin added that the “mutually beneficial relations” between the two countries were developing “very dynamically”. She added that Putin does not wish a happy new year to Joe Biden, Olaf Schultz, Emmanuel Macron or the leaders of other “unfriendly countries”.
President EurovisionMartin Osterdahl for BBC Radio Russia’s continued ban from the International Song Contest has been difficult, but the event must represent the “fundamental and ultimate values of democracy.”.