Volodymyr Zelenskey calls for “urgently strengthening Ukraine on the battlefield”
At a meeting of ten European countries in Estonia on Tuesday, the Ukrainian president urged his Western allies to “urgently strengthen Ukraine on the battlefield, politically and geopolitically”while kyiv’s forces have been retreating for months against the Russian army. “We all understand that next year could be the year the war ends, and we must ensure that this is the case”he said. Volodymyr Zelensky considers it necessary “to establish peace in such a way that Vladimir Putin can no longer break it”, in order to obtain “lasting peace”.
The Russian army launched an “intense” counter-offensive in its Kursk region
Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrsky said on Tuesday that Russia had launched a counter-offensive «intense» for three days, with the participation of North Korean troops, in the Kursk region partially occupied by Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian leader assured that his troops “held firmly” the lines “destroying enemy personnel and equipment.” The Kremlin army, for its part, claimed this Tuesday the capture of a new town in eastern Ukraine, Gannivka. It is located 10 kilometers south of Kourakhové, a town near a large deposit of lithium, a rare mineral. This announcement comes the day after the satisfaction addressed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to his troops, who, according to him, have “initiative across the board” head-on. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, in 2024, its army conquered 189 Ukrainian localities and 4,500 km² of territory.
Ukraine says it arrested Russian ‘agents’ who were spying on F-16 fighters
The Ukrainian security services (SBU) announced on Tuesday that they had arrested 12 members of the “largest network of agents” Russians responsible for spying on military airfields, which can accommodate planes such as F-16s, supplied by the West. Ukraine received its first batch of this type of American-designed fighter plane in early August. kyiv had requested these devices for two years to help it intercept Russian missiles. Valuable for the Ukrainian armed forces in their fight against the Russian forces, their location is kept secret.
Russian general killed in Moscow explosion
To Moscow, “the commander of the Russian radiological, chemical and biological defense forces, Igor Kirillov, and his assistant, were killed” in the explosion of a scooter, announced this Tuesday the Russian Investigative Committee, which notably opened an investigation for “assassination” and “attack”. Ukrainian security services claimed responsibility for the assassination. The senior Russian officer was sanctioned in October by the United Kingdom “for the deployment of barbaric chemical weapons in Ukraine.” Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, he is the highest-ranking Russian military official to have been killed.
The United Kingdom announces aid of 42 million euros to Ukraine
London announced on Tuesday that it would send emergency aid of 42 million euros (35 million pounds) to Ukraine, to repair the country’s energy infrastructure and help the population of this country which is entering its third winter of war. The UK also imposed sanctions on 20 additional ships from the “ghost fleet” which allows Russia to export its oil by circumventing Western restrictions. For Prime Minister Keir Starmer, “These sanctions will increase pressure on Putin’s already seized up war economy” while the aid will make it possible to carry out “repairs to the energy system to support Ukrainians”. 20 million pounds will be dedicated to “essential repairs to the electricity transmission network”.
Ukrainian justice opens investigation for “abuse of power” of commanders
The Ukrainian General Prosecutor’s Office announced this Tuesday that it was launching a criminal investigation into “abuse of power” alleged by commanders of a military brigade. They are accused of having assaulted soldiers who consumed alcohol while on duty, something prohibited during service, and of extorting money from them. The Ministry of Defense and the army general staff immediately announced that they were launching internal investigations into this matter, and suspended the unit’s commander, Oleg Poberejniouk. He has also already been indicted in a case of abuse of power, accused of having involved four of his soldiers in the construction of his own house in 2023.
