After storm: Power outages in southern Russia and occupied East Ukraine
13.44 o’clock: Following severe storms, hundreds of thousands of people in southern Russia and in the occupied parts of eastern Ukraine were left without power. The Ministry of Energy in Moscow announced that nearly 600,000 residents in the Rostov region as well as in the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which Russia unlawfully annexed, had been cut off from the energy supply.
It was later reported that at least more than half of the households in Rostov had been restored. The region had experienced unusually heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and storms.
Rostov is located on the Sea of Azov and borders Ukraine, against which Russia has been waging a war of aggression for almost 22 months. Russian troops have occupied large parts of the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
Lithuania repairs damaged German Leopard 2 tanks in Ukraine
04.48 o’clock: In Lithuania, the first Leopard 2 tanks delivered to Ukraine and damaged in the fight against Russia have been repaired. The refurbished combat tanks are expected to return to the battlefield in the Baltic EU and NATO country soon. “Lithuania consistently supports Ukraine’s fight for independence and not only sends military aid but also helps in the repair of Leopard tanks,” emphasized Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas.
The Leopard 2 tanks were repaired at a maintenance center established in Lithuania by the two German arms companies Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall. They were demonstrated and tested at the Lithuanian training area in Gaiziunai – they are expected to be transported back to Ukraine at the beginning of January. “What can I say? A powerful tank,” Anusauskas said after a short test drive on Friday.
Moscow: 26 Ukrainian drones intercepted over Crimea
02.16 o’clock: According to Moscow, the Russian army intercepted more than two dozen Ukrainian drones over Crimea on Friday evening. 26 unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed over the peninsula within two hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the Telegram online service.
Uncertainty about the whereabouts of convicted Moscow local politician
01.25 o’clock: A former Moscow local politician, who was sentenced to seven years in prison last year for criticizing the Russian offensive in Ukraine, has been missing for days according to his supporters. Alexei Gorinov is no longer in the penal colony in Pokrov, around 200 kilometers east of Moscow, where he was previously serving his sentence, his support group announced on Friday on the Telegram online service.
Gorinov’s lawyers had been trying all week to obtain information about his whereabouts and health, the group said. They expressed concern about the 62-year-old’s health. “We assume and hope that Alexei Gorinov has been transferred to a hospital,” the statement said.
According to the supporters, one of the lawyers found during a visit to Gorinov on December 8 that he was in “very poor health” and did not have the strength to sit and speak. Gorinov suffered from bronchitis and breathing problems. Necessary medications had been withheld from him. The former local politician has been suffering from chronic lung problems since 2016.One lung lobe has been removed.
Gorinow was sentenced to seven years in prison in July 2022 after public criticism of the Russian offensive in Ukraine. A court in Moscow found him guilty of spreading “knowingly false information” about the Russian army.
Russian drone attack on Kiev
00.38 AM: During the night to Saturday, the Ukrainian capital Kiev once again became the target of a Russian drone attack. Air defense is in operation, wrote Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Telegram. Explosions could be heard in the central district of Podil. He later added that the hostile aircraft were over the center. A reporter for the German Press Agency reported that the anti-aircraft fire could be heard and was getting closer. There was no information available about possible damage or casualties.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, several regions of Ukraine were attacked by Russian drones. In Kiev, there is also the danger of missile strikes. Russia has intensified its air attacks on Ukraine in recent days, using drones, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, and cruise missiles. The drones used are mostly of Iranian origin and are launched in swarms, flying with many course changes before plunging onto a target with their explosive charge.
Lindner: The Ukraine war cannot be defined as an acute emergency
Saturday, December 16, 00.01 AM: Lindner defended the decision not to declare the current Ukraine aid as an emergency, which would have allowed bypassing the debt brake. “The war is terrible, but in terms of the Basic Law, constitutional definitions count. There are two years between the start of the war and today. It is not a situation that suddenly and unpreparedly comes upon us in 2024,” said the Finance Minister and FDP Chairman.
There is also “no blanket decision to lift the debt brake for further funds for Ukraine”. However, he also said that it was right to make new decisions in the event of a new situation.
Lindner urged other European countries to contribute more to Ukraine’s aid. Germany already contributes 50 percent of European support for Ukraine – with an actual financing share in the EU of over 25 percent. “If new financial resources should be required, attention must also be paid to fair international and European burden sharing. Because the threat does not only exist for Germany, but for Europe as a whole.”
Ukrainian soldiers reveal new brutal war tactic
21.04 PM: Currently, the fronts in the Ukraine war are hardened. Territorial gains are rare. Now, Ukrainian soldiers have revealed to the “Bild” newspaper that they have a new motto. And that is: Kill as many Russians as possible.
This is also confirmed by another soldier, according to the newspaper: “Now there is no more pressure to push, so the aim is simply to maximize enemy losses. Positions are irrelevant, the main thing is that the most Ukrainians stay alive.”
Due to Russian superiority, the numerically inferior Ukraine has decided to prioritize inflicting losses on Russian troops and equipment such as tanks for the time being.
Zielsetzung erstellen.
Schwere Auseinandersetzungen um südostukrainische Stadt Marjinka in London gemeldet
18.41 Uhr: Britische Militärexperten berichten von anhaltenden heftigen Kämpfen um die südostukrainische Stadt Marjinka und ihre Umgebung. Dies geht aus dem täglichen Geheimdienstbericht des Verteidigungsministeriums in London hervor, der am Freitag zum Krieg in der Ukraine veröffentlicht wurde. Laut den Briten hat Russland die verbliebenen Gebiete, die noch unter ukrainischer Kontrolle stehen, weiter reduziert. Eine operative und bedeutende russische Durchbruch in diesem Sektor wird jedoch als äußerst unwahrscheinlich eingeschätzt.
Marjinka befindet sich knapp 30 Kilometer südwestlich des Stadtzentrums von Donezk. Der Ort hatte vor dem Krieg etwa 9000 Einwohner, ist jedoch mittlerweile nahezu vollständig zerstört.
Das britische Verteidigungsministerium veröffentlicht seit dem Beginn des Kriegs gegen die Ukraine im Februar 2022 täglich Informationen zum Kriegsgeschehen. Moskau wirft London Desinformation vor.
Orbán fordert Freigabe aller EU-Mittel für Ungarn als Voraussetzung für Zustimmung zu Ukraine-Hilfen
Freitag, 15. Dezember, 9.43 Uhr: Der ungarische Regierungschef Viktor Orbán hat seine Zustimmung zu weiteren EU-Hilfen für die Ukraine von der Freigabe blockierter EU-Mittel für sein Land abhängig gemacht. Ungarn verlangt “nicht die Hälfte, nicht ein Viertel, sondern alles”, sagte Orbán in einem Interview im ungarischen Radio mit Blick auf EU-Gelder in Höhe von zwölf Milliarden Euro, die aufgrund von Rechtsstaatsverfehlungen nach wie vor zurückgehalten werden. Beim EU-Gipfel am Donnerstag hatte der ungarische Regierungschef die Auszahlung weiterer EU-Hilfen für die Ukraine in Höhe von 50 Milliarden Euro mit seinem Veto blockiert.
Scholz bringt den entscheidenden Vorschlag nach stundenlangen Verhandlungen ein
22.34 Uhr: Die überraschende Entscheidung Orbáns, seine Ablehnung einer EU-Kandidatur der Ukraine aufzugeben, kam überraschend. Einstimmig beschlossen die EU-Staatschefs, Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der Ukraine aufzunehmen. Diese Entscheidung fiel einstimmig, da der größte Gegner nicht anwesend war. Viktor Orban hatte den Saal kurz vor der Abstimmung verlassen.
Die Idee zu diesem Schachzug stammte von Olaf Scholz. Laut dem Magazin “Politico”, schlug Scholz nach stundenlangen Verhandlungen vor, dass Orban die Runde verlassen könne, damit die übrigen Mitglieder einstimmig abstimmen könnten. Dies geschah dann auch, obwohl Orban später von einer “schlechten Entscheidung” sprach, Verhandlungen mit der Ukraine und Moldau aufzunehmen.
mmo, al, ja, til, pip, shu, ter, daz, fil, sca, wop, lro, juw/mit Agenturmaterial
