Did you miss the latest events on the war in Ukraine? 20 Minutes takes stock for you every evening. Between the strong declarations, the advances on the front and the results of the fighting, here is the essential part of this Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the 1,029th day of the war.
Fact of the day
Russia holds a suspect for the assassination of General Igor Kirillov, which occurred Tuesday in Moscow in the explosion of an electric scooter and claimed by kyiv. The Russian Investigative Committee announced this Wednesday the arrest of an Uzbek national. “A national of Uzbekistan, born in 1995, was arrested on suspicion of having committed the attack which cost the lives of the commander of the Russian radiological, chemical and biological defense forces, Igor Kirillov, and his assistant Ilia Polikarpov” , he said in a press release. The suspect claimed to have been “recruited by the Ukrainian special services”, add the investigators.
The Kremlin immediately accused kyiv of an “act of terrorism”. “It is obvious who is behind this act of terrorism. This demonstrates once again that the kyiv regime does not shy away from terrorist methods,” declared its spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov.
Today’s statement
« So, be careful! After all, in London, anything can happen…” »
Not really known for his temperance, the former Russian president and now vice-president of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev openly threatened journalists from the Times. The British daily considered in its morning editorial that the assassination of General Kirillov was an act of “self-defense on the part of a threatened nation”.
“The perpetrators of crimes against Russia […] always have accomplices. And they too are now legitimate military targets. Among them are perhaps the ugly jackals of the Timeswho cowardly hid behind an editorial. That is, the entire management team of the publication,” wrote Dmitry Medvedev. Chilling.
The number of the day
2. The number of localities “liberated”, according to the established term, by Russian troops this Wednesday. The Defense Ministry said in a statement cited by Russian news agencies that its men took control of Stari Terny and Trudové, very close to Kurakhové, a mining town in eastern Ukraine, target of Russian assaults. for several weeks. In this sector, the Ukrainians, numerically inferior and lacking weapons, continue to retreat.
Today’s trend
Influencers under influence? According to Jean-Noël Barrot, the resigning head of French diplomacy, Russia is trying to manipulate influencers in European countries including France. This accusation comes at a time when The World reveals that thousands of influencers, including French, were approached by people close to the Kremlin to spread pro-Russian propaganda.
The daily cites “a source within the French intelligence services” who claims that more than 2,000 European content producers have been contacted. “Around twenty of them, including nine French people, would have accepted the deal.” “Investigations are underway and we call on content creators, like their subscribers, to be extremely vigilant regarding these threats which weigh on our public debate,” assures Jean-Noël Barrot. “And in this area, you have to be resolute, keep your cool. We must understand the threat. “Build a united front and choose the right tools to respond,” he continues, specifying that France has strengthened its tools “to detect and characterize digital interference.”
