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
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
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.
Zelensky unveils new Ukrainian new missile-drone — 'Peklo'
Crimean Bridge closed after reported Ukrainian drone strikes on Kerch
Ukrainian partisans sabotage railway line linking Moscow to Kursk Oblast, group claims
Estonian company to test AI-guided anti-drone missiles in Ukraine, CEO says
Putin replaces Kursk Oblast governor due to management 'chaos' after Ukraine incursion, media reports
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 6 announced that the first batch of a new missile-drone hybrid called Peklo (Hell) had been delivered to Ukraine's Armed Forces.
In a post on social media, Zelensky did not reveal the number of the supplied weapons but said the aim now was to "scale up production and deployment," adding they already have "proven combat effectiveness."
Long-range domestic weapons are seen as critical to Ukraine’s defense strategy, providing the country's military with an alternative to Western arms whose use is often under restrictions.
While some details of Peklo's capabilities remain undisclosed for security reasons, Zelensky highlighted the weapon as a "fundamentally new type."
The Peklo has a range of 700 kilometers (430 miles) and a speed of 700 km/h (430 mph). During the unveiling, officials reportedly said that the system has already been successfully deployed five times.
The officials also noted that the missiles are cost-effective and rival some Russian cruise missiles in performance.
Ukraine's missile development program has gained momentum since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on Dec. 4 that the Palianytsia, a lightweight missile-drone hybrid, has also entered serial production.
These advancements come as Western partners have only recently permitted strikes on Russia’s Kursk Oblast using foreign-made missiles, while attacks deeper into Russian territory remain restricted.
Crimean Bridge closed after reported Ukrainian drone strikes on Kerch
The Crimean Bridge was closed on the morning of Dec. 6 amid reports of Ukrainian drones targeting the area.
According to the pro-Ukrainian Crimean Wind Telegram channel, explosions were heard in the city of Kerch near the "Zaliv" shipyard, and air defense systems were reportedly activated in the Kerch Strait,according to Krym.Realii.
"Vehicular traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been temporarily suspended," the Crimean Bridge: Operational Information Telegram channel said.
Russia's Defense Ministry stated on Dec. 6 that air defense systems shot down one Ukrainian drone over Crimea overnight. The ministry also claimed that Russian Black Sea Fleet naval aviation destroyed two Ukrainian uncrewed boats heading toward Crimea in the Black Sea.
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.
Construction on the 19-kilometer-long bridge which links occupied Crimea with the Russian mainland, began after the illegal occupation of the peninsula in 2014, and was completed in 2018.
After becoming a critical supply route for Russian forces after the launch of Moscow's full-scale invasion, it has been attacked by Kyiv's forces on several occasions, and was heavily damaged by Ukrainian strikes in October 2022 and July 2023.
On Sept. 27, reports suggested Russia was strengthening defenses around the Crimean Bridge, including deploying underwater drone traps.
Russian proxy authorities in occupied Crimea regularly shut down traffic on the bridge amid reports of explosions and drone strikes.
The Crimean Bridge is the subject of a dispute between Ukraine and Russia at the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Speaking there on Sept. 23, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Anton Korynevych, said Russia "wants to take the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait for itself."
"So it has built a great gate at their entrance, to keep international shipping out while allowing small Russian river vessels in," he said, adding: "The bridge is unlawful, and it must come down."
Ukrainian partisans sabotage railway line linking Moscow to Kursk Oblast, group claims
The Atesh partisan group sabotaged a key railway line linking Russia's Moscow and Kursk oblasts, disrupting Russian supply lines, the group claimed via Telegram on Dec. 6.
An operative burned down a relay cabinet near the village of Chekhov in Moscow Oblast, Atesh said, posting undated video footage of the alleged sabotage.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify the group's claims.
The operation aimed to disrupt Russian military logistics, Atesh reported. The targeted railway connected Moscow to Kursk Oblast, which has been partially occupied by Ukrainian forces since August.
"Deliveries of fuel and military equipment intended to supply Russian troops on the front line were delayed," the group said.
Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Kursk Oblast in early August, seeking leverage against Moscow in future prisoner exchanges and peace negotiations. Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops, including North Korean soldiers, in an effort to take back the border region.
The Atesh movement regularly commits sabotage attacks on Russian territory and in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. The group reported a similar action against a railway in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Nov. 16.
Estonian company to test AI-guided anti-drone missiles in Ukraine, CEO says
Estonian defense firm Frankenburg Technologies plans to begin testing its innovative anti-drone missiles in Ukraine in 2025, ERR reported on Dec. 6.
The company, recognized as a leading defense technology startup in Europe, has developed missiles designed to intercept Iranian Shahed drones at altitudes of up to two kilometers.
A key feature of the system is its artificial intelligence capability for autonomous targeting.
"The technology is promising, and we will start testing it in Ukraine in the new year," Kusti Salm, CEO of Frankenburg Technologies, told ERR.
Production will begin with a few dozen units per week and is expected to ramp up to hundreds by the third quarter of 2025.
The missile tests aim to confirm the system’s effectiveness under real combat conditions, the company added.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur emphasized supporting Ukraine's military production capabilities.
Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum, Pevkur told The Hill that Ukraine can manage its defense effectively if adequately resourced.
"Ukrainians can handle all of this when we deliver everything they need to fight Russia," he said.
The need for anti-drone missiles is underscored by Russia’s surging use of Shahed-type kamikaze drones against Ukraine.
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Moscow deployed 2,576 drones in November, up from 2,023 in October.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in September plans to boost drone production nearly tenfold, signaling continued nightly assaults on Ukraine.
Putin replaces Kursk Oblast governor due to management 'chaos' after Ukraine incursion, media reports
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Kursk Oblast Governor Alexei Smirnov due to management "chaos" following Ukraine's incursion, opposition outlet Verstka reported on Dec. 6, citing sources.
On Dec. 5, Putin appointed State Duma Deputy Alexander Khinshtein as interim governor of the oblast. According to Verstka, the Kremlin began seeking Smirnov's replacement in early November, but only finalized Khinshtein's appointment just a day before the announcement.
Ukraine launched a surprise offensive into Russia's Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6. While Russian forces have since reclaimed about half of the territory seized during the initial attack, the operation has inflicted significant losses on Russia.
During Smirnov's tenure, key issues reportedly included widespread discontent and protests among displaced residents from areas occupied by the Ukrainian army, and clashes with local municipal leaders.
Verstka cited claims that Smirnov's handling of defensive structures along the Ukrainian border contributed to his dismissal, with the fortifications proving ineffective.
Khinshtein, a former journalist and television presenter, has been a member of Russia’s State Duma since 2003, and is affiliated with Putin’s United Russia party.
Russia has ramped up pressure in Kursk Oblast to dislodge Ukrainian troops holding positions there since early August. Reuters reported on Nov. 23 that Ukraine had lost over 40% of territory previously captured during the incursion.
According to Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi last month, Russia had suffered 7,905 soldiers killed, 12,220 injured, and 717 captured over three months of fighting in Kursk Oblast.
As a result of the enemy strike on Kryvyi Rih, people were killed, 19 people were injured, including a 6-year-old boy. The administrative building and 11 residential buildings were damaged.
On Monday, a day of mourning will be declared in the city of Kryvyi Rih . This is reported by the chairman of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council Alexander Vilkul, reports UNN.
Recall
As a result of the enemy strike on Kryvyi Rih by the invaders, unfortunately, there are victims. In addition, 19 people were injured, including a 6-year-old boy, who, along with seven other wounded, is in the hospital. All have moderate injuries, doctors provide the necessary assistance. The fate of another person is still unknown, and a search and rescue operation is underway.
The impact damaged an administrative building, six apartment buildings and five private houses.
Vilkul confirmed the rocket attack on the cityDec 6 2024, 02:34 PM • 13929 views
Russian forces attacked the city of Zaporizhzhia on Dec. 6, killing nine people and injuring 17, including two children, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.
An air raid alert was issued in the oblast around 5:30 p.m. local time, with the first explosions reported in the city at about 6 p.m. Before the attack, Ukraine's Air Force had warned of Russian guided aerial bombs heading toward Zaporizhzhia.
The children sustained shrapnel wounds and head injuries but are not in critical condition, Fedorov said. Emergency services remain on-site responding to the strike.
The attack damaged a service station, and some areas in the region experienced power outages, local authorities reported.
Zaporizhzhia, home to approximately 710,000 residents before Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, is frequently targeted by Russian forces.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way to resolve the war in Ukraine. According to him, the international community should promote direct dialogue between the parties.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way to resolve the "Ukrainian crisis," as Beijing calls Russia's war against Ukraine, and the international community should promote direct dialogue between the parties. This was stated by Lin Jian at a briefing on December 6, writes UNN.
China's position on the Ukrainian crisis is consistent. We believe that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way to resolve the crisis. The international community must create conditions for the resumption of direct dialogue between the two sides. Only when all major countries play a positive role can this conflict see an early prospect of a ceasefire
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
China reiterates call for calm and restraint after Russia launches new ballistic missiles at UkraineNov 22 2024, 01:58 PM • 17603 views
Russian forces attacked Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Dec. 6, killing at least one man and injuring eight, including a six-year-old boy, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.
The strike, which occurred around 5 p.m. local time, targeted with a ballistic missile an administrative building.
Four people, including a boy, were hospitalized in moderate-to-severe condition.
Rescuers are inspecting the damaged building. The number of casualties is still being confirmed, Lysak said.
Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky, remains a frequent target of Russian missile attacks. With a population of about 660,000, it is the second-largest city in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, located roughly 70 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of the nearest front-line zone.
The Kyiv IndependentMaria Yeryoma
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