Category: War in Ukraine

Ukraine has enough funds and ammunition to continue resisting Russia at least throughout the first half of 2025, even if U.S. assistance dries up, Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said in an interview with the El Pais newspaper published on Dec. 11.

Marchenko's comments come amid growing concern that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump might withdraw Washington's crucial support for Kyiv after he takes office in January.

"I believe that we have enough funds, enough weapons, missiles, and artillery shells to resist at least during the first half of 2025," Marchenko said. Ukraine is allocating necessary funds from its budget to purchase equipment and continues to receive U.S. arms, the minister explained.

"This means that at least during the first half of the year and beyond, we will be well-equipped to resist this aggression," he added.

The outgoing Biden administration has accelerated its weapons deliveries ahead of Trump's inauguration, announcing an arms package worth nearly $1 billion on Dec. 7. Washington has provided Ukraine with over $60 billion in arms and equipment since the outbreak of the full-scale war, making it by far the most important military donor.

The flow of supplies may soon dry up, as Trump recently said that Kyiv could expect a reduction of U.S. assistance after he takes office.

Marchenko noted that the possibility of Trump cutting aid is a "challenge." It is, therefore, in Kyiv's interest to "create the necessary conditions" for cooperation with the new administration, he added.

"We want to build a good relationship," Marchenko said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky met Trump in Paris on Dec. 7 for the first time since the latter's reelection. Reuters wrote that the two did not discuss the specifics of any concrete peace plan, but the Ukrainian president stressed the need for security guarantees.

Marchenko expressed his belief that full NATO membership remains the best possible guarantee to deter Russian aggression, with the "modern and strong Ukrainian military" as the only alternative.

US announces $20 billion loan for Ukraine as part of G7 initiativeThe U.S. Treasury Department announced on Dec. 10 that it will provide $20 billion in loan assistance to Ukraine, marking its contribution to a broader $50 billion initiative supported by G7 countries.The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Drones of the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence and the Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked an oil depot in the Bryansk region of Russia on the night of December 11. The attack damaged at least two tanks at the facility, which supplies fuel to the Russian army.

On the night of December 11, drones of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked a fuel and energy complex in the Bryansk region of Russia. As a result of the attack, at least two tanks of the fuel and energy complex were damaged. This was reported to UNN by intelligence sources.

According to intelligence sources, the attack on the Bryanskaya oil depot took place between 00:00 and 00:30 on December 11.

According to a source in the DIU, at least two tanks of the fuel and energy complex were damaged as a result of the attack by “restless birds”.

The Defense Forces emphasize that this facility is directly involved in supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine, including the supply of fuel and lubricants to the occupation army.

The results of the attack, including the pre-Christmas fireworks at the oil depot, are shared with enthusiasm by the local population on social media.

The General Staff confirmed the defeat of the Russian oil depot in the Bryansk regionDec 11 2024, 08:09 AM • 13189 views

Russian forces have incurred record-high casualties in manpower during hostilities in both November and December, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 11 after hearing a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Moscow's troops are advancing at a rapid pace in Ukraine's east, pushing back outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian defenders at the cost of staggering losses.

"As in November, the Russian military is using a record number of its men in December in battles and assaults," Zelensky said on Telegram.

"These months — November and December — saw record Russian losses," the president noted, adding that the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors in Donetsk Oblast remain the active parts of the front.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Dec. 1 that Russian losses throughout November amounted to 45,720 soldiers wounded, killed, or captured, as well as over $3 billion worth of equipment.

November also saw the record broken for the enemy personnel losses in one day with 2,030, the highest figure since Feb. 24, 2022. Ukrainian and Western estimates put Russian losses at between 600,000-750,000 killed, injured, or captured, while Moscow has not disclosed the exact figures.

Despite the losses, Russia holds the upper hand on the battlefield, advancing toward key Donetsk Oblast towns like Pokrovsk and chipping away at the Ukrainian position in the Russian border region of Kursk.

In his post, Zelensky also thanked Ukrainian forces for "tangible hits on Russian targets last night," namely "military facilities on Russian territory" and "energy and fuel facilities."

Earlier today, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported a successful strike against a Druzhba oil pipeline loading station near the Russian city of Bryansk, resulting in a large-scale fire.

Russian losses in Syria — BBC identifies 543 soldiers, Wagner mercenaries who died since 2015Of the total number, 346 were employees of the Wagner company, a private mercenary group also deployed in Russia’s war in Ukraine and elsewhere.The Kyiv IndependentBoldizsar Gyori

An aircraft repair plant in Taganrog, Russia, which is under sanctions because of the war in Ukraine, was attacked. The attack damaged the boiler room and burned 14 cars in the plant's parking lot.

On the night of December 11, an aircraft repair plant, which is under sanctions because of the war in Ukraine, was attacked in the Russian city of Taganrog, Rostov region. This was reported by Astra, UNN reports.

Astra journalists have analyzed and confirmed the authenticity of the video that was previously reported to be from the site of today's missile attack on Taganrog.

As Astra found out, the video was filmed near the parking lot of the aircraft repair plant on Tsiolkovsky Street. The footage was taken from the territory of the garages across the fence from the plant's parking lot. Earlier, the mayor of the city reported that a boiler house on the same street was damaged as a result of the attack.

The site of the attack is the 325 Aviation Repair Plant / OJSC 325 ARZ, an aircraft repair facility located in Taganrog. Due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the plant is under sanctions by all EU countries, the United States and Ukraine.

The 352nd aircraft plant is also located nearby. It is unknown whether the plants themselves were damaged. There is no information about the victims yet.

Previously

The acting governor of the Rostov region reported that a missile attack was carried out on Taganrog, an industrial enterprise was damagedand 14 cars in a parking lot were burned. Local residents claimed that the Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex named after G.M. Beriev (TASTC) was attacked.

Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least eight civilians and injured at least 57 over the past day, regional authorities reported early on Dec. 11.

Russia launched a missile attack against the city of Zaporizhzhia late on Dec. 10, destroying a clinic, killing seven people, and injuring 22, officials said. At least 20 residential buildings were damaged.

Russian attacks against Kharkiv Oblast injured 19 people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

The vast majority — 17 — were recorded in the town of Zlatopil after Russia struck the city with two Iskander-M missiles, according to officials. Sixteen residential buildings were damaged.

A 63-year-old man was also injured in the village of Zapadne, and a 59-year-old woman in the village of Ivashky, Syniehubov said.

In Kherson Oblast, one person was killed and 15 injured in Russian attacks, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

One civilian was injured during a Russian attack against Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Updated: Ukraine reportedly strikes industrial targets in Russia’s Rostov, Bryansk oblastsA Ukrainian missile struck a boiler plant in Russia’s Rostov Oblast overnight on Dec. 11, damaging critical infrastructure in the city of Taganrog, Russian officials claimed.The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

A Russian missile completely destroyed a private medical clinic in the center of Zaporizhzhia. The attack killed 7 people and wounded 22, including a 5-year-old girl.

Yesterday, on December 10, Russian occupants launched a missile attack on a private medical clinic in the center of Zaporizhzhia. The attack killed 7 people and injured 22 others. Among the victims are 12 women, 9 men and a 5-year-old girl.

This was reported by the press service of the National Police, according to UNN.

Details

The missile completely destroyed the clinic building where the doctors and patients were located. The blast wave damaged neighboring multi-storey buildings and vehicles.

So far, 29 people have been reported injured: 7 people were killed, 22 were injured, including 12 women, 9 men and a 5-year-old girl

– , the police said in a statement.

People may be trapped under the rubble. Rescuers, police and emergency services continue the search and rescue operation.

If you have lost contact with your family or friends, please call the special line “102” or 0504529195

– call the police.

Recall

As a result of an enemy strike on the city , 20 residential buildings and three non-residential buildings were damaged.

The Russian military summarily executed at least 109 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) in 2024, Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on national television on Dec. 10.

"In 2024 alone, we can confirm that Russian troops shot 109 Ukrainian prisoners of war," Lubinets said. Reports of murders, torture, and ill-treatment of POWs are received regularly by Ukrainian authorities.

The ombudsman added that 177 cases of POW executions were confirmed "during the previous years of the full-scale war."

It is not immediately clear whether he was referring to the overall figure of 177 captives who died in Russian captivity throughout the all-out war, as revealed by Victoria Tsymbaliuk, a representative of the Ukrainian Coordination Center for the Treatment of POWs, in October.

Nevertheless, the number of POWs killed in 2024 alone underscores an increased frequency of summary executions by the Russian military. This trend coincides with an accelerated pace of the Russian advance in Ukraine.

The figures refer only to officially confirmed cases, meaning the overall numbers may be higher.

"There are Russian representatives who are now cynically and publicly showing the whole world that they do not comply with international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, they abduct children, they commit torture against the civilian population of Ukraine, they kill Ukrainian prisoners of war," Lubinets said.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023 for the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

The Hague court also issued arrest warrants for ex-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian army. Shoigu and Gerasimov are charged with "directing attacks at civilian objects," "causing excessive incidental harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects," and the "crime against humanity of inhumane acts."

"Unfortunately, we do not see an effective reaction from the international community. We are very grateful for the deep concern, but as the war in Ukraine, which has been going on for more than 10 years, three years of full-scale war, shows, words do not stop Russia," Lubinets said.

Ombudsman denies Russian claim that Kyiv is delaying prisoner exchanges“Ukraine is not delaying and did not delay the exchanges, but on the contrary, declared its readiness to repatriate seriously injured and seriously ill prisoners by creating a mixed medical commission,” Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said.The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Finance Minister Marchenko said that funds and weapons are sufficient to counter the Russian Federation until mid-2025. Ukraine is preparing for possible changes in US support after the presidential election.

Ukraine has enough funds and weapons to fight against Russia for at least the first half of 2025 without the help of the United States under the new administration of Donald Trump, if it stops supporting Ukraine in the confrontation against the Russian Federation. This was stated by Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais, reports UNN.

Details

Answering the question of what will happen if the United States stops providing assistance to Ukraine under the new administration of Donald Trump, Marchenko said that "Ukraine should have a plan to create the necessary conditions for cooperation with the new administration. Ukraine's natural interest is to create good Trust for cooperation. I believe that this should be a priority strategy for both Ukraine and Europe. We want to build good relations.

He noted that Ukraine should use the time properly and be able to reach an agreement with the new administration.

Marchenko stressed that Ukraine will have enough funds and weapons to resist the Russian Federation until the first half of 2025.

I believe that we have enough funds, enough weapons, rockets and artillery shells to resist at least until the first half of 2025. We will provide sufficient budget allocations for the purchase of ammunition and necessary military equipment in 2025. We are now receiving the necessary weapons from the United States. This means that at least for the first half of the year and beyond, we will be well equipped to withstand this attack. Ukraine should use this time very wisely to conduct the necessary negotiations with our key allies in the United States

Marchenko noted.

recall

US President-elect Donald Trump at a meeting with Ukrainian and French leaders Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron in December reiterated that he wants an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine and negotiations to end the war as soon as possible.

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

A Ukrainian missile attack struck a boiler plant in Russia's Rostov Oblast overnight on Dec. 11, damaging critical infrastructure in the city of Taganrog, local Russian officials claim.

Yuri Slyusary, the acting governor of Rostov Oblast, claimed that an overnight Ukrainian missile attack struck an "industrial facility" in Taganrog, damaging the facility as well as 14 cars in the parking lot.

Taganrog Mayor Svetlana Kambulova later reported that heating supply had been disrupted in 27 apartment buildings in the city following an attack on a boiler plant within the city.

Videos posted on social media capture a series of loud explosions in Taganrog around 3:30 a.m. local time.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify any of the Russian claims, and Ukraine's military has not yet commented on the alleged attack.

The full extent of the damage was not immediately clear, although Slyusary claimed that there were no casualties as a result of the alleged attack. No additional details were provided by Russian officials.

The alleged attack on Russian critical infrastructure comes as Russia continues to increase its onslaught of attacks against Ukrainian energy facilities, as it seeks to plunge the country into another harsh winter aimed at testing Ukrainians' resolve.

In the most recent mass aerial attack on the country on Nov. 28, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that Russia struck a "massive blow" to the nation's power grid.

Situated on the Russia-Ukraine border, Rostov Oblast has become a regular target of Ukrainian attack since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Russian drone hits IAEA service vehicle near Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plantOn Dec. 10, a Russian drone struck and severely damaged an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) service vehicle on its way to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), President Volodymyr Zelensky reported.The Kyiv IndependentSonya Bandouil

As a result of the Russian strike on Zaporozhye, 6 people were killed and 22 injured, four are still under the rubble. During the day, the invaders launched 268 strikes on 10 settlements of the region.

The Russian army on Tuesday, December 10, struck Zaporozhye. As a result of the attack, 6 people were killed and 22 were injured. Among the injured is a child. A private Polyclinic was destroyed. This is reported by the head of Zaporozhye RMA Ivan Fedorov, writes UNN.

Already 6 dead and 22 wounded – the number of victims as a result of the enemy strike on the Voznesenovsky District of Zaporozhye has increased. At night, rescuers of the State Emergency Service took out two women from under the rubble-they are in the hospital. There are four more people in the ruins of a building disfigured by a Russian rocket."

– notes the chairman of Zaporozhye RMA Ivan Fedorov.

It is also noted that during the day, the invaders inflicted 268 strikes on 10 settlements of the Zaporozhye region.

– 150 UAVs of various modifications attacked Stepnogorsk, Kamenskoye, Gulyai-pole, Shcherbaki, Novoandrievka, Novodanilovka, Malaya Tokmachka, Belogorye and Novodarovka.

– 8 MLRS attacks covered Gulyai-pole, Novoandrievka, Novodanilovka and Malaya Tokmachka.

– 109 attacks were carried out on the territory of Kamenskoye, Gulyai-pole, Shcherbakov, Novoandrievka, Novodanilovka, Malaya Tokmachka, Belogorye and Novodarovka.

33 reports of destruction of residential buildings and infrastructure were received.

In Zaporizhzhia, rescuers pulled two women from the rubble who had called 101Dec 10 2024, 09:40 PM • 13167 views