Category: War in Ukraine

Ukraine is not going to prolong the transit settlement for Russian gasoline by its territory, set to run out on Dec. 31, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Dec. 19 throughout a press convention in Brussels.

The choice beforehand prompted issues from Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, and Austria, whose state-owned vitality firms known as for the continuation of gasoline transit by Ukraine in a joint declaration.

Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine wouldn’t enable Moscow to “earn extra billions” whereas persevering with its aggression towards Ukraine.

“We is not going to have interaction in extending the transit of Russian gasoline. We is not going to give (Russia) the chance to earn extra billions on our blood,” Zelensky mentioned.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressing the problem throughout his annual press convention on the identical day, confirmed the tip of the contract, expressing confidence within the Russian state-owned vitality large Gazprom's means to endure the loss.

“This contract will now not exist. Every little thing is evident. We are going to survive, Gazprom will survive,” Putin mentioned.

Whereas the European Union has made efforts to cut back dependency on Russian fossil fuels following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many international locations, together with Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria, stay reliant on Russian gasoline.

The EU solely launched its first sanctions focusing on the Russian gasoline business, particularly liquefied pure gasoline (LNG), earlier this yr.

Following discussions with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal mentioned that Ukraine is open to negotiating gasoline transit agreements for non-Russian sources.

‘Dumbass’ — Zelensky blasts Putin’s Oreshnik threats, ‘high-tech’ duel proposal with the WestAt a press conference in Brussels on Dec. 19, President Volodymyr Zelensky blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent threats of using the new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile against Kyiv to test Western air defense systems in what he called a “high-tech duel” with the West.The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

The President of Ukraine has responded sharply to Putin's proposal to carry a “technological duel” utilizing a “plow truck” in Kyiv. The pinnacle of the OP Yermak additionally commented on the Russian dictator's assertion.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has as soon as once more reacted to Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin's statements a couple of "technological duel" by calling him a "dumbass," UNN reviews.

"Individuals are dying, and he’s ''… Dovbo*ob," Zelensky reacted on social media platform X to Putin's phrases a couple of ‘technological duel’ wherein he proposed to focus on Kyiv, deliver all air protection to town, after which the Russians would strike with an "oreshnik.

The pinnacle of the Presidential Workplace, Andriy Yermak, additionally commented on the state of affairs, calling Putin "an outdated, loopy cretin.

Putin equates battle with “dzhuzhukha” and proposes an experiment with “oreshnik”Dec 19 2024, 10:19 AM • 11322 views

Later, Putin advised the propagandist Pavel Zarubin that he didn’t truly name for a duel: "I didn't say I used to be difficult you to a 'duel'. I mentioned that Western specialists who doubt the effectiveness of the Oreshnik ought to provide those that pay their salaries to carry such a 'duel'.

Recall

Earlier, throughout a press convention in Brussels, Zelenskyy reacted to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's "provide" as follows: "An enough particular person wouldn’t provide a 'technological duel'.

At a press convention in Brussels on Dec. 19, President Volodymyr Zelensky blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest threats of utilizing the brand new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) towards Kyiv to check Western air protection techniques in what he referred to as a "high-tech duel" with the West.

Putin proposed the "high-tech duel" throughout his annual press convention on Dec. 19. He instructed launching an Oreshnik at a website in Kyiv whereas difficult the West to deploy their air defenses to intercept it, claiming the missile was unbeatable.

"Do you suppose that is an ample particular person? They’re simply thugs," Zelensky mentioned whereas commenting on Putin's threats.

Putin's remarks adopted his earlier threats to make use of Oreshnik missiles to strike at "decision-making facilities" in Kyiv.

Russia first launched an Oreshnik on the metropolis of Dnipro on Nov. 21. The strike was accompanied by a Russian propaganda marketing campaign claiming the assault was carried out in response to the U.S. and U.Okay.'s resolution to elevate restrictions on Ukraine's long-range strikes inside Russia and geared toward undermining Western assist for Kyiv.

Zelensky additionally commented on the 2022 Istanbul negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and Putin's peace proposal again then, dismissing them as a sham.

“He merely provided Ukraine to give up, freeze the battle, shift allegiance to Russia, and quit our independence,” Zelensky mentioned.

“This particular person calls these some type of agreements. He’s simply an previous fantasist residing in his personal aquarium.”

The draft of the Istanbul settlement was printed in full by The New York Occasions in June. In accordance with it, each side agreed to exclude Ukraine's Crimea from the treaty, leaving it beneath Russian occupation with out Ukraine recognizing Russian sovereignty over it whereas the standing of different Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine was to be determined in later talks between presidents Zelensky and Putin.

Ukraine provided to desert aspirations to hitch NATO or every other navy alliance, however the treaty allowed Kyiv to enter the EU. Russia additionally demanded the lifting of all sanctions, repealing Kyiv's legal guidelines associated to language and nationwide identification, and limiting Ukraine's Armed Forces.

Putin claims Russia wasn’t ‘defeated’ in Syria“Everything what is happening in Syria is not a defeat for Russia,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said.The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

The President of Ukraine said the necessity for safety ensures for the return of residents. At a gathering with NATO Secretary Normal, they mentioned strengthening air protection and help for Ukraine.

Ukraine wants safety ensures so that folks returning to the nation perceive what awaits them tomorrow. This was said by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy throughout a press convention in Brussels, UNN experiences.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy famous that Ukraine must have a transparent place with none surprises.

“We wish to finish the battle, we wish peace, we have to know what safety ensures we can have tomorrow. We’re residents of Ukraine and residents of Europe. We have now about 8 million Ukrainians overseas right now. How will folks return residence, help the nation's financial system, pay taxes in the event that they have no idea what’s going to occur tomorrow,” Zelensky stated.

Recall

The President of Ukraine met with the NATO Secretary Normal in Brussels to debate strengthening air protection. They mentioned the supply of 19 essential infrastructure safety programs and financial help for Ukraine.

A court docket in Ternopil took into custody Colonel Oleh Poberezhniuk, the commander of the 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade, who’s suspected of abuse of energy, the Prosecutor Basic's Workplace reported.
The court docket set the bail for Poberezhniuk at Hr 908,400 ($21,600).

He was charged with abuse of workplace after he allegedly had 4 of his subordinates assist construct his home in Khmelnytskyi Oblast within the fall of 2023. Whereas performing the service for Poberezhniuk, the 4 service members obtained full salaries and fight funds and had been formally listed in a working go to to Mykolaiv Oblast.

On Dec. 16, Ukrainska Pravda reported that the unit's officers had crushed service members, extorted cash from them, and even tied one soldier to a picket cross as a punishment.

In response to the media investigation, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi ordered an inspection and suspended Poberezhniuk. Protection Minister Rustem Umerov additionally ordered an investigation into the alleged abuse, extortion, and humiliation of troopers.

The 211th Brigade, fashioned in August 2023, performs engineering work, builds defenses within the rear, and doesn’t take part in direct fight.

In line with Ukrainska Pravda, the circumstances of abuse surfaced after the beginning of official checks within the spring of 2024.

The outlet's sources named now-Captain Vladyslav Pastukh, Poborezhniuk's godson and the son of the unit's chief of employees, as one of many foremost perpetrators. The officer was stated to have extorted cash from troopers on account of being associated to the unit's most senior officers.

Although Pastukh not serves within the unit, the media investigation recognized virtually a dozen circumstances of fathers and sons or husbands and wives serving collectively within the 211th Brigade.

The revelations come as Ukraine faces mounting challenges in replenishing the ranks of its Armed Forces, going through low enlistment charges and even circumstances of desertion. Mykhailo Drapatyi, the brand new commander of the Floor Forces, just lately introduced wide-ranging reforms specializing in recruitment and coaching.

As US pushes Kyiv to lower draft age, why won’t Ukraine conscript younger men?One thing stands out when looking at Ukraine’s Armed Forces — it is made up predominantly of older men. Ukraine has never publicly released information about the age of its troops, but the average age is reportedly around 43 years old. Exact figures on the size of Ukraine’s armedThe Kyiv IndependentElsa Court

Russian troops have deployed a good portion of their strategic reserves in key areas. About 150,000 Russian troops are focused on the Pokrovske, Kurakhove and Vremivske instructions.

Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesman for the Khortytsia Joint Process Pressure, mentioned that Russian troops had deployed a good portion of their strategic reserves to assist offensive actions in a number of key areas. These are the Kupyansk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove and Vremivsk instructions. He mentioned this throughout a telethon, UNN stories.

Particulars

In response to Voloshyn, the enemy has a numerical benefit in manpower, weapons and tools.

Three massive Russian teams of troops are working within the three most lively tactical areas – Pokrovske, Kurakhove, and Vremivske: “Middle”, ‘South’ and ‘East’. In whole, their forces quantity to about 150 thousand personnel:

– About 70 thousand troops are concentrated within the Pokrovsk sector;

– 35-36 thousand at Kurakhivske;

– Vremivske – about 40 thousand.

Distribution of forces by course

On the outskirts of Chasovyi Yar, within the Kramatorsk course, they’re lively:

– 4th separate motorized rifle brigade;

– The eighty fifth and 88th separate motorized rifle brigades;

– 98th Airborne Brigade.

The items of three Russian mixed arms armies – the 2nd, forty first and 51st armies of the Central Navy District, in addition to hooked up items – are concentrated within the Pokrovske course.

The Kurakhove and Vremivsk instructions are underneath assault:

– ninetieth Tank Division;

– twentieth Motorized Rifle Division;

– The fifth and one hundred and tenth motorized rifle brigades.

The forces of the fifth and thirty sixth Mixed Arms Armies, the fifth Separate Tank Brigade, in addition to two Russian Marine Brigades – the fortieth and 336th – are additionally deployed within the Vremivsk sector.

Beforehand

UNN wrote that Russian troops are focusing their foremost efforts on the Pokrovske and Kurakhove instructions and have considerably elevated strain on the Kramatorsk, Toretske and Vremivske instructions.

Russia is planning to construct a hoop street across the Azov Sea, passing by the occupied territories of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned throughout his annual press convention and a call-in program on Dec. 19.

The street is predicted to run by Russia's Rostov Oblast, the occupied Ukrainian cities of Mariupol, Melitopol, and Henichesk within the nation's east and south, and thru Dzhankoi in occupied Crimea.

Moscow has already constructed a 40-kilometer-long (25 miles) section between the Russian metropolis of Taganrog and Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast, in accordance with Putin.

"We plan to carry the roads to Russian requirements inside three years," he mentioned.

The Kyiv Unbiased couldn’t confirm these claims.

Russia can be illegally developing a railroad between Russia's metropolis Rostov-on-Don and Crimea, which might run through occupied Donetsk, Mariupol, and Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The railroad will possible function a substitute for the Kerch Bridge, which connects the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula and have become a vital provide route for Moscow's forces after the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's army intelligence mentioned the Russian railway might pose "a significant issue" and is "an essential goal" for Kyiv.

Putin proposes to ‘experiment’ on Western air defenses by launching Oreshnik at KyivSpeaking during his annual press conference and a call-in program, Vladimir Putin again claimed that Russia’s “new” Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) cannot be intercepted by air defenses.The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

The Danish Ministry of Protection has introduced the twenty third bundle of army help to Ukraine value DKK 2.1 billion. The funds shall be used to strengthen air protection, assist F-16s, and buy CV90 infantry combating automobiles in cooperation with Sweden.

The Danish Ministry of Protection has introduced the twenty third support bundle for Ukraine, which supplies for two.1 billion Danish kroner (over 281 million euros), amongst different issues, to strengthen Ukraine's air protection and fight aviation capabilities. As well as, funds have been allotted for extra armored personnel carriers, the Danish Ministry of Protection mentioned on Thursday, UNN reported.

Particulars

Reportedly, the brand new support bundle is aimed toward strengthening Ukraine's air protection, which is offered by means of Denmark's worldwide companions. As well as, the bundle supplies for a monetary contribution to the operation of Ukrainian F-16s.

“One in all Ukraine's most pressing wants proper now’s the power to guard itself from Russian air strikes. That’s the reason we’re prioritizing extra assist for air protection. As well as, the bundle comprises a monetary contribution to the functioning of Ukraine's fight aviation, within the improvement of which Denmark has performed a particular function by offering F-16 fight plane and coaching,” mentioned Danish Protection Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.

As well as, Denmark, in cooperation with Sweden, is donating quite a lot of CV90 infantry combating automobiles, Denmark can also be sending extra personnel to NATO's enhanced assist for Ukraine and rising its contribution to the EU army mission to assist Ukraine, the Danish Protection Ministry mentioned.

Sweden and Denmark ordered infantry combating automobiles for 25 billion: Ukraine will obtain 40 unitsDec 6 2024, 01:36 PM • 53589 views

Ukraine won’t agree to cut back its Armed Forces even when Kyiv receives an invite to affix NATO, President Volodymyr Zelensky advised journalists in Brussels in a single day on Dec. 19, in keeping with a Kyiv Impartial reporter.

"Demilitarization" was one of many insincere excuses that Russian President Vladimir Putin used to justify a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Moscow demanded Ukraine to cut back its military to 50,000 individuals, 5 instances fewer than the nation had by 2022, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) investigation mission Sistema reported in November, citing an obtained first draft of Moscow's peace provide to Kyiv.

In keeping with Zelensky, Western ensures to offer Kyiv with army and monetary support usually are not sufficient to ensure that Putin won’t assault Kyiv once more.

"Subsequently, the very best factor is a robust military, a big military, the biggest military in Europe. We merely don’t have any proper to restrict the power of our military in any case," the president mentioned.

Kyiv's membership in NATO could be the very best safety assure, Zelensky reiterated throughout a briefing after assembly French President Emmanuel Macron in Brussels on Dec. 19.

"We don’t count on (an invite to NATO) from anybody, (however) we’re combating for this proper," he added. Zelensky additionally advised journalists that Ukraine will make each effort to be sturdy sufficient in 2025 to finish the conflict by diplomacy.

Earlier, Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Workplace, mentioned that Kyiv shouldn’t be ready to enter negotiations with Russia because it lacks enough Western help to have interaction from a place of power.

"We are going to do the whole lot in order that subsequent yr we could be sturdy and transfer on to diplomacy," Zelensky mentioned.

"I don't imagine that Putin desires the conflict to finish, so we are going to determine it out. In any case, on our half, we’re doing the whole lot to finish this conflict pretty for us, for Ukraine."

Ukraine has shifted its rhetoric amid rising expectations of attainable ceasefire talks as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump mentioned he goals to push Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating desk.

Zelensky sees ‘positive response’ from some European leaders on potential peacekeeping force in UkraineUkraine is “discussing ideas with European leaders” on the potential deployment of European peacekeeping forces to the embattled country, President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters during a press briefing on Dec. 18.The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

Russia has elevated the manufacturing of kamikaze drones to 600 models per thirty days, however has diminished their high quality because of a scarcity of imported components. the occupiers are modifying UAVs to make them black and stronger.

Russia has elevated the manufacturing of assault UAVs used within the battle in opposition to Ukraine. Specifically, the aggressor produces about 600 “Shahed” sort kamikaze drones each month. This was acknowledged by the top of the army analysis laboratory, Andriy Kulchytskyi, UNN studies.

Particulars

“We now have already seen drones with serial numbers over 5000. After making calculations, we decide that the month-to-month manufacturing is about 600 models,” Kulchytsky instructed DW.

In accordance with him, KFI specialists notice modifications within the manufacturing of kamikaze drones. Specifically, Russians have begun to pay much less consideration to the standard of drones. Beforehand, they used many foreign-made components, together with Japanese bearings, however now they’re more and more utilizing simplified analogs.

GUR attacked a manufacturing unit assembling Shaheds in Russia: what is understood about this manufacturing and what does Tinder should do with itApr 2 2024, 09:02 AM • 511150 views

“This may occasionally point out a scarcity of imported elements because of sanctions or provide restrictions. For instance, drone engines are more and more missing components in comparison with the primary analysis samples: there isn’t a starter, flywheel, and many others. All the weather are simplified for mass use with a purpose to fly,” Kulchytsky stated.

He additionally recalled that the Russians modified the colour of the Shahadis to black to make them tougher to detect at night time by air protection forces. As well as, the physique of the brand new kamikaze drones has develop into stronger.

Strike drones may change course and altitude.

On the identical time, Ukrainian defenders are adapting their strategies of counteraction: cellular teams, air protection programs, helicopter strikes and the event of FPV interceptor drones. In accordance with specialists, a strategically essential step might be using Ukrainian assault drones to destroy Shahed manufacturing vegetation in Russia and Iran.

Add

Earlier, the Kyiv Scientific Analysis Institute of Forensic Experience (Kyiv Scientific Analysis Institute of Forensic Experience) reported that in the course of the assaults on the territory of Ukraine on October 26-29, the Russians used assault drones with a thermobaric warhead.

It’s value noting that the Russians are continually attempting to switch and modernize all varieties of missiles and drones they’ve, that are used for assaults on Ukraine. In a commentary to UNN , KFI specialists defined, what options are concerned and what position Western elements play within the modifications to enemy weapons. The enemy makes use of not solely Western elements. In accordance with Oleksandr Ruvin, director of the Kyiv Scientific Analysis Institute of Forensic Experience, elements for UAVs utilized by the enemy to assault Ukraine are equipped by about 50 producers from China .

As well as, specialists of the Kyiv Scientific Analysis Institute of Forensic Experience discovered that the Russian X-69 missiles utilized by the occupiers to hit Ukraine are product of a number of varieties of weapons and have overseas elements.