Enemy troops advanced near Novotroitsk, Shevchenko, Dalny, Novoolenovka and Toretsk.
The enemy advanced in several sectors of the front line on the front line. This is reported by DeepState, reports UNN.
Details
The situation at the front remains tense. The terrorists made an advance in several areas near the settlements of Novotroitskoe, Shevchenko, Dalneye, Novoolenovka, as well as in Toretsk, Donetsk region.
Recall
According to the General Staff, there were 163 military clashes at the front. The invaders launched 2 missile and 7 air strikes, using 13 guided aerial bombs (kab). There were also 512 attacks by kamikaze drones and 3,270 attacks on Ukrainian positions.
Ukrainian defenders drive enemy out of Novyi Komar in Donetsk region – DeepStateDec 4 2024, 11:14 PM • 16668 views
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has convinced the family of Barcelona starlet Arnau Pradas to move to England ahead of a transfer, according to reports.
The Gunners bounced back from a run of four winless Premier League matches to defeat Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Manchester United in their last three league fixtures.
That has got them back on track a bit, although leaders Liverpool are seven points ahead of the Gunners and Chelsea, and Arteta will be hoping his side push on in the festive period as they look to close the gap on Arne Slot’s side.
Arsenal have six fixtures in all competitions until the January transfer window opens but it seems Arteta and the north London club are already planning for business.
Reports in Spain claim that Arsenal are ‘very close to signing’ Barcelona youngster Pradas after Arteta ‘convinces [his] family to swap’ Barcelona for north London.
Gunners boss Arteta ‘has personally contacted a pearl of La Masia to convince him not to renew his contract, and start a new adventure in London, where he promises that he will be in dynamic with the first team, and could be an important piece’.
Barcelona have been ‘working’ on a new contract for the young winger, who is yet to make his senior debut for the Catalan giants, but it seems that the La Liga side have ‘already lost the fight’.
Arsenal are ‘very close to being able to reach an agreement’ with Pradas after Arteta has ‘convinced with a very interesting and almost irresistible economic and sporting proposal.’
Pradas is ‘aware that it will be very difficult for him to play in the Barca first team in the short term’ and now ‘everything indicates that he will end up at the Emirates Stadium’.
Arsenal travel to London rivals Fulham on Sunday with former Gunners midfielder Paul Merson claiming that Arteta’s men will win at Craven Cottage.
Merson told Sportskeeda: “It all depends on what happens with Fulham tonight. If they beat Brighton, they will cause problems to Arsenal. But if they lose, they will be in trouble against the Gunners.
“Fulham are a decent team but I just think Arsenal are on an incredible run and it will be tough to stop them. Let’s not forget that Arsenal lost this fixture last season and that eventually led to them losing the Premier League title so they will be very careful.
“Liverpool also have the advantage of playing early this weekend and that puts pressure on Arsenal. You play first and if you get all three points, then it’s a different challenge for the teams chasing you. So this is still a really difficult game.
“Arsenal can definitely put pressure on Liverpool. If you look at the fixtures, Arsenal have had a really tough start. It’s almost been unkind to them! Now they will play some fixtures that are 100 percent winnable and if they manage to secure seven or eight victories on the trot, they will close that gap with Liverpool.
“I can’t help but admire what Arsenal have done with their set-pieces. They always look like they will score and it’s absolutely amazing. You watch other teams’ set-pieces and they swing it in but the goalkeeper comes out and catches it easily. Arsenal send in each corner with so much power and it gives the goalkeepers no chance, that strategy is working so well for them. Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Arsenal.”
The Vega C launch vehicle successfully launched the Sentinel-1C satellite into 700 km orbit after a two-year upgrade. The launch took place from the Kourou Cosmodrome in French Guiana after the installation of a new French nozzle.
Almost two years after the failed launch, the European Vega C launch vehicle finally took to the skies. On Thursday evening, Vegas launched the Sentinel-1C satellite into orbit at an altitude of 700 km.
Transfer UNN iz posilannam to Niederösterreich ta EFE.
The new European Vega-C rocket was launched from Kourou (a city and municipality in France, in the overseas department of Guiana) at 18:20 on Thursday, 5 December. The rocket launched a Sentinel-1C satellite into orbit for the European Union's Copernicus Earth Observation Programme.
It is believed that the successful launch of Vega-C and the launch of Sentinel-1C is crucial for Europe's autonomy in access to space.
Context
Due to the failure of its first commercial mission, when two satellites that Vega C was carrying were lost due to a failure of the Zefiro-40 engine nozzle, the rocket was improved on Earth over the next two years. although the rocket was originally expected to take off again in 2023, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its partners, especially the Italian main contractor Avio, considered it necessary to continue testing it.
Fire at the Spaceport: Japan suspends testing of Epsilon S rocketNov 26 2024, 01:57 AM • 18375 views
A new French nozzle was installed. The improved nozzle design passed two successful fire tests in May and October 2024, which demonstrated the engine's ability to provide reliable operation under various pressure and burning conditions.
The recent launch marks Vegas ' return to flight, a key step in restoring Europe's independent access to space.
for Reference
The Sentinel-1C satellite will enter orbit at an altitude of 693 kilometers, at the site left by its predecessor 1B, which ended its service in 2022 due to electrical problems, and will work in coordination with 1A, which has been active since 2014.
Among the new features, it has an automatic identification (AIS) antenna that improves ship tracking to avoid collisions and sea surveillance.
Add
The useful life of the satellite is seven years, which can be extended to twelve, and is designed to re-enter the atmosphere after the mission is completed. The Sentinel-1 mission is equipped with advanced radar technology that allows you to get images of the Earth's surface anywhere.
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilityNov 18 2024, 03:15 PM • 15963 views
One of Russia's largest microchip manufacturers, Angstrem (Zelenograd), has been declared bankrupt.
Source: The Moscow Times
Details: The company has been put under observation, and the decision to declare the debtor bankrupt was made at the request of Zenit Bank on 2 December 2024. As the case file shows, the court ordered in November 2019 that RUB 1 billion (about US$9.94 million) in compensation be paid out to Zenit by Angstrem, but the plant has not done so in more than six years.
The plant was a landmark for Russia and was supposed to become the largest player in the production of microchips. It was supervised by Leonid Reiman, a former communications minister close to Putin.
He received US$1 billion in state funding – his company attracted a €815 million credit line from the Russian state development corporation and investment company VEB in 2008 to set up production of processors, smart cards, and electronic passports. The project was supported by the Russian government and the Security Council.
Having accumulated more than RUB 100 billion (about US$1 billion) in debts, Angstrem suddenly stopped paying back its loans. In 2014, Angstrom did not have the funds to continue its operation, the tax service said.
The tax service said Angstrem has 108 enforcement proceedings worth RUB 147.6 billion (about US$1.5 billion). It also has unfinished legal proceedings worth more than EUR 500 million.
Background: Russia has been circumventing sanctions by purchasing electronic components from Western companies for its missiles, paying twice as much for them.
Romania's Supreme Court has annulled the results of the first round of presidential elections due to evidence of Russian interference. 85 thousand cyber attacks on the voting system were recorded, and repeated elections were scheduled.
The Supreme Court of Romania has decided to cancel the results of the first round of presidential elections after accusations of Russian interference in the electoral process. This is reported by voice of America, reports UNN.
Details
Now the country will hold repeated elections, and the current President Klaus Iohannis will remain in office until the election of a new head of state.
The court's decision was a response to declassified data indicating "hybrid attacks" during the electoral process by a terrorist country. In this context, the Romanian Supreme Security Council confirmed that the country has faced numerous cyber attacks and interference on the electoral platform. In particular, 85 thousand cyber attacks were aimed at exploiting vulnerabilities in the voting system.
At the center of the scandal was far-right candidate Celin Giorgescu, who won in the first round of elections, although polls before the vote predicted much lower chances for him. Giorgescu actively used Tik Tok during the election campaign, which brought him significant support on social networks, but now there are suspicions about illegal financing of his campaign and external interference.
Following the court's decision, President Klaus Iohannis promised to conduct an investigation and create a new government to ensure that re-elections are organized. At the same time, he stressed that Romania remains a stable country with a reliable economy and is able to provide security for its citizens.
Romanian elections: right-wing forces gain a third of the vote, but Social Democrats leadDec 2 2024, 03:18 PM • 15628 views
Russian troops operated a torture chamber on Belarusian state-owned property in 2022, journalistic investigation reveals.
Over 150 Russian drones flew into Belarusian airspace in November — three times the previous monthly record of incursions.
The European Parliament urges stronger sanctions on Belarus, Iran, and North Korea for aiding Russia’s war effort.
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Sanctioned Belarusian potash producer Belaruskali files 1 billion euro arbitration claim against Lithuania over terminated transit.
Nineteen foreign nationals jailed in Belarus for alleged "undercover activities," Viasna human rights group reports.
Russian troops operated torture chamber for Ukrainians in Belarus in 2022, media reports
Russian troops operated a torture chamber on government-owned property in Belarus in the spring of 2022, the Belarusian Investigative Center (BIC) reported on Nov. 28.
Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians abducted from Ukraine’s Kyiv Oblast were held in the town of Naroulia, some 50 kilometers from the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, according to BIC.
The torture chamber was reportedly operated between March and May 2022, in the early days of the full-scale invasion.
Lawyer Yulia Polekhina, working with the Sich human rights group, said that prisoners were tortured there. Polekhina’s claims echo those of former prisoners who went through Naroulia.
“They beat civilians there really hard – you could hear constant screaming there,” Bohdan Lysenko, a soldier with the Ukrainian Armed Forces who was captured by the Russian military and brought to the camp in March 2022, said in a comment to BIC.
According to the investigation, the camp in Naroulia was located in a compound on Kamsamolskaya Street — premises owned by the state-owned catering and food procurement company Pripyatski Alyans.
The company did not comment on the allegations and said local authorities should be contacted with requests for information.
151 Russian drone crossed into Belarus in November, record-high number
One hundred and fifty-one Russian drones crossed into Belarusian airspace in November, which was a nearly three-fold increase on the previous month, the Belarusian Hajun military monitoring group has reported.
Russian drone incursions into Belarus began in July, and have since grown from infrequent, isolated instances to record high numbers.
In November, Belarusian Hajun spotted 148 Kamikaze-type drones and three reconnaissance drones of unknown type. Amid almost daily incursions, Belarusian aviation downed three UAVs; while another 82 drones returned to Ukraine or Russia, and the locations of a further 66 were lost, the monitoring group says.
Fragments of a Russian UAV Shahed-136 (Geran-2) lie on the ground at the site where rescue workers extinguish the fire at warehouse and trade buildings damaged by Russian attack on Nov. 7, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Roman Petushkov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Russia’s overnight attack on Ukraine on Nov. 24-25 with 145 UAVs saw a record 38 Shakhed-type drones veer off course and head into Belarus.
The spike of incursions has occurred in tandem with intensified Russian drone attacks on Ukraine, to which Ukraine says it has responded with improved electronic warfare measures. The Institute for the Study of War wrote, citing Ukrainian military expert Petro Chernyk, that Ukrainian forces can either “ground” the Shaheds, render them “locationally lost,” or misdirect them to fly into Russian or Belarusian airspace.
Belarusian authorities have so far confirmed downing only two Russian drones over Belarus: over the southern city of Homel and its surrounding oblast on Sept. 5 and on Oct. 20. One UAV crashed over Kalinkavichy on Oct. 4. Although no casualties were reported, authorities subsequently detained the owner of the house from which a video of the crash was recorded.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has previously said that the Belarusian Air Force downs “a lot of drones,” claiming on Oct. 4 that both Russian and Ukrainian drones had breached Belarus’s airspace.
No proof of Ukrainian drones entering Belarusian airspace has ever been presented by the Belarusian authorities, however.
Minsk never publicly raised objections about the reported drone incursions with Moscow — a key ally.
European Parliament calls for strengthened sanctions against Belarus, Iran, North Korea
The European Parliament has urged its member states to “further broaden and strengthen sanctions” against Belarus, Iran, and North Korea for aiding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, according to a resolution published on Nov. 28.
Sanctions have already been imposed on Belarus for its role as a co-belligerent in Russia’s war. However, not having faced such a strict Western embargo as Moscow, Minsk has been helping Russia to side-step sanctions on military and dual-use goods.
According to the resolution, as well as providing its territory for Russia to stage attacks on Ukraine, Belarus has supplied Russia with “substantial deliveries” of arms and ammunition.
In addition to broadening sanctions against Belarus, Iran, and North Korea, the MEPs called to add Chinese entities and individuals supportive of Russia’s aggression to the EU sanctions list.
The parliamentarians denounced Belarus, Iran, and North Korea and warned of the implications of authoritarian states forming alliances.
Commenting on the new resolution, Pavel Latushka, a member of Belarusian exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s shadow cabinet, emphasized the need for the harmonization of sanctions.
“It is a big mistake to help Ukraine while allowing Russia to bypass sanctions through Lukashenko,” Latushka said.
Belarusian companies supplied Russia with $125 million worth of microchips, $400,000 of which Russia obtained in circumvention of sanctions imposed on both countries, according to a recent investigation by the Belarusian Investigative Center (BIC). About 10,000 microchips, including ones from the United States, Germany, and Finland, used in producing Su-34 and Su-35S fighter jets and Kalibr cruise missiles, were reportedly delivered between September 2022 and June 2024.
Norwegian risk consultancy firm Corisk estimates that 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) worth of goods reached Russia via Belarus in 2022-2023.
Sanctioned Belarus’s potash fertilizer producer files 1 billion euro arbitration claim against Lithuania
Belarusian potash fertilizer producer Belaruskali has filed a statement of claim against Lithuania in the arbitration process worth 1 billion euros (over $1.05 billion), Belarusian state-owned news agency Belta reported on Dec. 3.
The world’s second-largest producer of crop fertilizers and Belarus’s top exporter, Belaruskali, faced European sanctions in 2021 over its key role in funding the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, and the repressions against workers on strike, following the fraudulent 2020 presidential elections.
In February 2022, Lithuania terminated the transit agreement of its state-owned railway company with Belaruskali, forcing the company to reroute from the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda to Russian ports.
In March 2022, the European Commission banned the import and transit of Belarusian potash due to the Lukashenko regime’s support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Belaruskali and its then-director Ivan Halavaty and exporting company BKK tried to argue against the ban in the Court of Justice of the European Union.
However, the court refused to lift the sanctions on Sept. 18, 2024, confirming the role of Belaruskali in funding the Lukashenko regime and involvement in the suppression of civil society.
19 foreigners jailed in Belarus for ‘undercover activities,’ Viasna reports
At least 19 foreign citizens have been tried and sentenced in Belarus for alleged “undercover activities,” the Viasna Human Rights Center reported on Nov. 29.
Persecution of foreign nationals intensified following the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the Belarusian human rights organization.
Political prisoners from Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Japan, and Germany have been charged under vaguely defined cases of “cooperation” with an unspecified wide range of foreign or international entities.
The crime does not imply the handling of classified information, but still comes with a stiff three to seven-year prison sentence for those convicted.
Among the accused was Japanese citizen Nakanishi Masatoshi, who was arrested in July 2024 for alleged gathering of military intelligence. In another case, Ukrainian citizen Artem Makovey, who has been living in Belarus since 2009, was charged with six years of imprisonment. As with most “undercover activities” cases, the trials were held behind closed doors, so the exact nature of the accusations remains unknown to human rights groups.
According to Ukraine’s ambassador at large, Ihor Kyzym, at least 12 Ukrainians are being held in Belarus in politically motivated cases.
As part of the historic East-West prisoner swap in August, Belarus released a German citizen, Rico Krieger, who had been sentenced to capital punishment. His charges also included “undercover activities.“
After crushing public protests following fraudulent presidential elections in 2020, Lukashenko’s regime resorted to politically motivated trials to silence its opponents. Since the onset of the all-out Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belarusian law enforcers have also been cracking down on any form of support of Ukraine.
Currently, Belarus has 1,289 political prisoners. As of February 2024, at least 94 Belarusians were sentenced to prison terms, and 1,671 underwent detention for expressing pro-Ukrainian views.
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In the capital of Adygea, strong explosions were heard at night near the local airfield. After the explosions, a fire broke out, the causes of the incident are still unknown.
On Saturday night, a series of strong explosions occurred in Maikop, the capital of the Republic of Adygea (russia). This is reported by rossmi, reports UNN.
Details
According to preliminary data, the epicenter of the incident was the area of the local airfield. Eyewitnesses report a fire that broke out shortly after the explosions.
The network is actively spreading suggestions that air defense was working on the site, but there is no official information about the causes of the explosions yet.
Explosions in Crimea: Russian Defense Ministry claims to have destroyed ten missilesJan 4 2024, 02:58 PM • 25469 views
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia on the evening of 6 December, saying that Russia’s words mean nothing.
Source: Zelenskyy on social media
Quote: "Russia’s words mean nothing, but its bombs and missiles speak very clearly.
On the evening of St Nicholas Day, the bombs hit Zaporizhzhia – fell directly onto a repair shop, on cars with people inside. So far, we know about four wounded, all of whom are being treated. Nine people are listed as dead.
A missile strike on Kryvyi Rih hit an ordinary city building. Seventeen people were injured. Two of them were killed. And these are just two Russian strikes on two Ukrainian cities in one day."
Details: The president added that Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin does not need real peace: "He only needs the opportunity to do this to any country – with bombs, missiles, and all other violence."
As of 20:00, two people have been reported killed in the Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih. Seventeen people were injured, including a six-year-old boy.
Background:
On the evening of 6 December, the Russian military attacked Zaporizhzhia, leaving 9 dead and 17 injured.
Also on 6 December, Russian forces attacked Kryvyi Rih: reports indicate that there are fatalities, including a child.
The rebels have captured the last village near Homs and are approaching the city. Taking the city could cut off the Assad regime from the coast with Russian bases and Alawite support.
Syrian rebels have announced a successful offensive and advance towards the central city of Homs, which could be another strategic blow to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. This is reported by Reuters, reports UNN.
Details
The rebels claim that they have already occupied the last village on the outskirts of the city and are now on its walls.
According to the information, the capture of Homs could lead to strategic consequences, as it will cut Damascus off from the coast, which is a stronghold of the Alawite minority – the main support for the Assad regime. The coast is also important because of the presence of Russian military bases.
There is no official confirmation of these events yet.
Syria claims Israeli strikes on Damascus and military base near Homs: says one soldier killed and 7 woundedOct 24 2024, 11:32 AM • 20144 views
For children around the world, the winter holidays are about gifts and a joyful time with their families.
But for some Ukrainian children, the season is bittersweet, as it highlights the absence of one or both parents killed by Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Nearly 1,800 Ukrainian children have become orphans due to the war, the National Social Service of Ukraine said in a comment to the Kyiv Independent in March. A lot more children have lost one parent, as more than 11,970 civilians and at least 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since 2022.
Another devastating toll shows that almost 600 children have been killed and over 1,711 have been injured across Ukraine since the start of the invasion.
Forced to face the pain of loss and adapt to life without the guidance and support of their parents, often at a very young age, the war has robbed these Ukrainian kids of their childhoods.
There are organizations in Ukraine that have stepped in to help. In Kyiv Oblast, a private school called "7Fields" supports children who have lost parents to the war with the help of the Children of Heroes charity foundation.
The school has 40 such children in its boarding program, where they have lessons, along with psychological support, and various other activities.
They are of different ages and come from various regions of Ukraine, but are united by the painful loss of a parent killed in the war. Most of them are children of fallen Ukrainian soldiers.
Viktoriia Drahan, 12, during a music lesson at the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent)Children decorate their room with Christmas decorations at the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent)
"Our focus is specifically on psychological rehabilitation, dedicating as much attention as possible to helping balance the children emotionally," says Alina Kozhuhivska, who works at the school.
"These children have endured trauma, not only from losing their parents but also from having their childhood stolen. Our mission is to help them reclaim their childhood, allowing them to experience it for as long as possible while still children."
"We, as adults, can not return what the war has taken from them, but we can help them build a new foundation, give them faith in humanity, and a chance for a future. These children are our responsibility and our hope," says Tetiana Novytska, the CEO of the Children of Heroes.
The Kyiv Independent visited the school before the St. Nicholas Day holiday, which is celebrated in Ukraine on Dec. 6. We spoke with the children about their stories, as well as their dreams and wishes this holiday season, while they wrote letters to St. Nicholas.
Anna Romashchuk, 13
For 13-year-old Anna Romashchuk from Odesa Oblast, this is the third St. Nicholas Day she is spending without her parents.
Both civilians, her parents were killed in a Russian attack on Serhiivka on July 1, 2022. Russian missiles hit the residential area of the village overnight, taking the lives of 21 people, including children.
"I was at home with my parents. When the first explosion happened, they moved me to the hallway, to the sturdiest wall. They surrounded me with pillows, blankets, and whatever else they could find."
As they went back to another room to grab some documents, a Russian missile hit their home.
L: Anna Romashchuk, 13, writes the letter to St.Nicholas at the "7 Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent) R: Anna Romashchuk's letter to St.Nicholas at the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent)
"I was screaming and begging for help. Then, I returned to the apartment and tried to enter my parents' room. I kept calling for them, knowing they were home, but I couldn't understand why they weren't answering or what I needed to do to help them."
"Then I finally heard my dad's voice — he was calling for me."
Later in the day, when Anna's older brother arrived at the site of the attack from Odesa, where he was living at the time, they were told their parents had not survived.
"They were so kind and wonderful," Anna says. "They always helped those in need. In our village, there were many older adults, and they would always give them rides to and from church. They would buy them medicine whenever they needed it."
"My kindness… Maybe it's something I got from them," Anna says.
Children rest on the sofa in the hall at the "7 Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent)
Learning to live without her dearest and closest people has taken her a lot of time and strength.
"I don't think about them constantly. Sometimes, maybe once every couple of months, when the sadness of missing them hits, but otherwise, I try not to dwell on it. I focus on moving forward."
Since she knows how hard it is to overcome such a traumatic experience, Anna wants to become a psychologist in the future. However, one of her biggest wishes remains to "fulfill her parents' dream of seeing Greece or Spain."
"This dream may not be easily achievable, but it can come true if you keep dreaming and thinking about it," she wrote in her letter to St. Nicholas.
Rodion Shcherbakov, 13
Rodion Shcherbakov, 13, from Chernihiv Oblast, can see his father only in his dreams now.
"He appears in my dreams often. And those dreams are very happy, like joyful and bright memories from my childhood," Rodion says.
He explains that they were very close, and no words can describe the way he misses his "tatko" (an affectionate, informal term for "father" in Ukrainian).
Rodion's father joined the Armed Forces shortly after the full-scale invasion started after he had brought his family to a safer part of Chernihiv Oblast.
L:Rodion Shcherbakov, 13, writes the letter to St. Nicholas at the "7 Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent) R: Rodion Shcherbakov's letter to St. Nicholas at the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent)
Russian troops partially occupied the oblast, which is bordered by both Belarus and Russia, in the early stages of the invasion.
The boy does not know the details of his father's military service, only recalling that he tried to be helpful as much as possible and that he rescued civilians from the front line areas.
The body of Rodion's father was found and identified only a year ago.
"He was taken prisoner for three months. He was taken to Belarus. I remember that his name was not on the list of prisoners, but he was in captivity," Rodion says.
"I don't know how he died, but a year ago, just before New Year's, we went to the police; they took a saliva sample with a cotton swab because… they eventually found my dad somewhere in the forest."
Rodion Shcherbakov plays tennis at the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent)
Though he misses his father a lot, Rodion derives strength from the support of his mother and his older brother, a soldier, too, just like their dad. Inspired by their service, he is also thinking of joining Ukraine’s Navy.
Rodion takes a moment to decide what he would wish for St. Nicholas and Christmas, saying he has no big dreams. "Maybe going to the Carpathians one more time would be nice," he says.
As for the childhood memories with his father, Rodion cherishes them, describing those moments as "the happiest times."
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Viktoriia and Tymur Drahan’s father was killed while defending the town of Bucha in Kyiv Oblast in the spring of 2022.
Zhytomyr Oblast residents Viktoriia and Tymur do not have many memories with their father, as their parents divorced years ago. Still, they miss his attention and kindness, especially during the holidays.
One of Tymur's fondest memories is of their father bringing them a "huge pizza" to share one weekend.
R: Viktoriia Drahan, 12, photographed at the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent) L: The letter Viktoriia Drahan wrote to St. Nicholas at the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent)
"It wasn't for the holidays or some special occasions, but just for us," Viktoriia recalls.
"He was very, very kind," says Tymur.
In just a few weeks, the children will head home for the holidays to see their mother and friends, something both Tymur and Viktoriia say they are very excited about.
"I have like 200 friends in my hometown," Tymur laughs.
Although they both have different wishes — Tymur dreams of going to Chernihiv, flying in an airplane, having "a mountain of bananas," and a new photo camera, while Viktoriia wants new headphones — both also wish for the war to be finally over and their childhood to be peaceful.
Tumyr Drahan photographed while writing a letter to St. Nicholas at the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent) L: The letter Tymur Drahan wrote to St. Nicholasat the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent)
"I want to tell you (St. Nicholas) that you're very interesting and made many wishes true for children. Well done! That's a wonderful thing to do, and you work so hard to bring joy to kids," Viktoriia writes in her letter.
"St. Nicholas, you're doing a great job — keep giving more gifts and creating emotions for children."
Tymur Drahan, 10, goes downstairs at the «7Fields» school at the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent)
Ameliia Nikulysheva, 13
Russia’s war took the life of 13-year-old Odesa resident Ameliia Nikulysheva’s father.
"My parents divorced when I was three years old, but I still saw him often," Ameliia says. "We were very close."
Due to Russia’s heavy bombardment of Odesa, Ameliia and her older sister fled the city in the early days of the full-scale invasion. One day in the autumn of 2022, their mother called and asked them to come back home urgently.
L: Ameliia Nikulysheva poses for a photo at the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent) R: Ameliia Nikulysheva's, letter to St. Nicholasat at the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent)
As they returned, Ameliia found out that her father had been killed at the front line. She says her father has been in the military since the start of the war in Donbas in 2014.
"He was a very close person to me. I can't say that my mom was any closer. It was almost on the same level. But still, he was a very, very, very close person to me," she says.
"He was exactly like me. We were just identical," Ameliia says. "In terms of appearance, we were exactly the same. The only difference is that he was bald, and I have hair. That's it.
Everything else was the same. He also was very kind."
"I miss my dad so much, and I really miss his presence. But I won't let myself be sad because life goes on, and everything will be okay," she writes in her letter to St. Nicholas.
Ameliia Nikulysheva sits on the floor in the hall of the "7Fields" school near Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 5, 2024. (Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent)
Note from the author:
Hi! Daria Shulzhenko here. I wrote this piece for you. Since the first day of Russia's all-out war, I have been working almost non-stop to tell the stories of those affected by Russia’s brutal aggression. By telling all those painful stories, we are helping to keep the world informed about the reality of Russia’s war against Ukraine. By becoming the Kyiv Independent's member, you can help us continue telling the world the truth about this war.
The Kyiv IndependentMaria Yeryoma
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