On the 288th day of the war in Ukraine, Russian troops launched a rocket attack on civilian infrastructure in the Velykopisarevskaya community of the Sumy region. A development that adds up to the new heavy attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructures and Putin’s words which confirm his intention to continue on this path: “Reaching an agreement on Ukraine is inevitable”. The Russian president has attacked the West – “he has turned Ukraine into a colony” – and has threatened to cut oil production in the event of a price cap. Then he admitted logistical problems in the military operation. The only positive note is the exchange of prisoners between the United States and Russia: the release of the American basketball player Brittney Griner, who has already returned to Texas, and the arms dealer Viktor But.
Behind the scenes – Indian Prime Minister Modi’s spite against Putin: he missed the December meeting. Reason? Moscow’s repeated nuclear threats
The spectacular maneuver of the two Ukrainian helicopters to escape the Russian rockets
Updates hour by hour
23.31 – Pentagon: Russia is “expanding” its nuclear arsenal
Russia is “expanding” and “modernizing” its nuclear arsenal. This was claimed by the US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, quoted by the New York Times. The head of the Pentagon, speaking at the US air force base in Nebraska, added that Moscow has continued to enrich its stockpile of nuclear weapons, which according to experts amount to six thousand warheads. That number, military sources quoted by the New York newspaper say, is enough to destroy the world many times over.
23.25 – Zelensky: “Moscow’s army brought hell”
The Moscow army has brought “hell” to Ukraine under the Russian flag. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Especially in the frontline areas of Donbass in eastern Ukraine, the situation is “very difficult,” Zelensky said in his daily video speech, listing the hot spots of Bakhmut, Soledar and Kreminna. In these areas there is “no living space that has not been damaged by shells many times”. Also, the city of Bakhmut was destroyed by the occupiers. “Another city in Donbass that the Russian army has turned into burnt ruins.” Earlier, his adviser Mykhailo Podolyak had described the situation around Bakhmut as “hell on earth.” Away from the front, Ukraine continues to work by holding Russia legally responsible for the invasion and its aftermath. “We feel supported by states, international organizations and human rights institutions,” Zelensky said.