Russia-Ukraine Fighting Intensifies in Eastern Ukraine
Fierce clashes erupted once again around the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian General Staff reported 35 Russian attacks in the region on Wednesday. Regional commander Viktor Trehubov highlighted the presence of three Russian armies concentrated in this strategic area.
Russia launched a large-scale Christmas Day offensive involving cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones. The attacks:
- Injured six people in Kharkiv, according to local authorities.
- Killed one person in Dnipropetrovsk, as confirmed by regional governor Serhii Lysak.
Energy Infrastructure Under Fire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the “inhumane” assault that involved over 170 missiles and drones, causing power outages in several regions.
United States President Joe Biden called the attack “outrageous”, emphasizing its aim to disrupt heating and electricity supplies during the harsh winter months. United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed these sentiments, lamenting the lack of respite even during Christmas.
Civilian and Regional Impact
- Russia claimed five casualties in its border regions of Kursk and North Ossetia due to Ukrainian strikes and drone debris.
- Australia is investigating reports of an Australian citizen captured by Russian forces while fighting alongside Ukraine. Russia’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged receiving inquiries about the matter.
Military Aid and Support
President Biden announced that the Pentagon would continue ramping up weapons deliveries to Ukraine, bolstering the country’s defense amid intensified Russian aggression.
Diplomatic Efforts and Humanitarian Concerns
- Pope Francis, during his Christmas address, called for global peace, highlighting crises in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “extremely grave.”
- Russian opposition leader Ilya Yashin, previously released in a prisoner swap, was listed as “wanted” by Russian authorities. Yashin had been sentenced in 2022 for condemning the killings of civilians in Bucha.
Regional Security and Incidents
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused NATO of turning Moldova into a logistical hub for supplying Ukraine’s army and advancing its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.
- Finnish electricity grid operations chief Arto Pahkin flagged potential sabotage after an undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia broke, following a series of similar Baltic Sea incidents.
- A Russian cargo ship, the Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean under suspicious circumstances on December 23. The state-owned Oboronlogistika company cited a possible terrorist attack but did not specify a culprit.
Other Developments
- A tragic Azerbaijan Airlines crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, resulted in 38 fatalities. The aircraft had diverted from a Russian area recently targeted by Ukrainian drones.
- Drone strikes were also reported in Ingushetia and North Ossetia, adjacent to Chechnya.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/26/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1036
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