The Russians hit Kharkiv a few hours after the visit of the German Foreign Minister, Analina Berbock, to the devastated Ukrainian city: writes the governor of the region, Oleg Synigubov, on a telegram. The governor wrote to his citizens, “Stay in shelters. The invaders are bombing again!” Immediately, news sources claimed that they heard several explosions.
Ukrainian soldiers begin Patriot training in the United States next week. Two US officials told CNN. The training will take place at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where US forces usually conduct air defense system training programs. Laura Cooper, the US Under Secretary of Defense responsible for Russia and Ukraine, said the training would last “several months.” Joe Biden announced the defense systems during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington on December 21.
US and Ukrainian officials told CNN that Russian artillery fire has decreased sharply since its peak, by as much as 75% in some areas. There is speculation that Russia may be rationing artillery fire due to a shortage of supplies, or that the decision may be part of a broader reassessment of tactics in the face of a successful Ukrainian counterattack. In any case, the marked decrease in artillery fire is further evidence of Moscow’s increasingly weak position on the battlefield nearly a year after the invasion, the sources indicated.
“During a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, I briefed him on the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine’s urgent need to arm. We agreed to make joint efforts to implement the peace formula. It was a forecast from Ukraine’s future EU-summit.” So Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram after a phone call with Michelle.
This was stated by the head of the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Sergei Cherevaty “Only during our day, Solidar and its surroundings have been subjected to 86 Russian attacks with different artillery systems,” In remarks released by Ukrainska Pravda. in a small town
10 kilometers north of Bakhmut – Moscow’s main target at the moment – a battle rages between Ukrainian forces and mercenaries from Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner Group. Cherevaty stated that “The enemy suffers heavy losses, but try to advance, even a small tactical advance is a great achievement”
A few hours ago, it was The head of the Russian Wagner Mercenary Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced that fierce and bloody fighting is taking place on the outskirts of Solidar, a city in eastern Ukraine near Bakhmut, the fiercest spot on the front. “Let’s be honest. The Ukrainian army is fighting bravely for Bakhmut and Solidar. Fierce and bloody fighting is going on on the western outskirts of Solidar,” Prigozhin said in a telegram on his press service. “The Armed Forces of Ukraine honorably defend the territory of Solidar. Allegations of mass desertions from its ranks do not correspond to reality,” he added.
The town of Solidar, about 10km northeast of Pakhmut, is next to Pakhmutsky, a village that pro-Russian separatists said yesterday they had captured. Wagner’s forces play a leading role in the Battle of Bakhmut, a city of questionable strategic importance, but one that has acquired strong symbolic value as both sides have been fighting for control of it for months. Yesterday Prigozhin said that the attack on Solidar was carried out “exclusively” by members of his organization. Part of the fighting, the British Ministry of Defense aims to control the entrance to an old salt mine at Solidar, as its tunnels pass under the front line and can be used to “sneak behind enemy lines”.
Ansa agency
TASS announces his appointment, but the Kremlin does not confirm or deny (ANSA)
The UK Ministry of Defense, in its daily intelligence update of the situation in Ukraine, has claimed that Russian and Wagner forces may be in control of most of the town of Solidar. In the report, which was posted on Twitter, London comments that capturing the city may still be Moscow’s main direct operational objective. The Russian Solidar axis, according to the ministry’s experts, is an attempt to isolate Bakhmut from the north and disrupt Ukrainian communication lines. Despite the increasing pressure on Bakhmut, the report concluded that Russia is unlikely to encircle the city anytime soon, as Ukrainian forces maintain stable defensive lines in depth and control of supply routes.
On the other hand, the military commissar of the Russian Samara region, Alexei Vdovin, announced this The authorities will not publish a list of names of those killed or wounded in the New Year’s attack on Makevka, where, according to Moscow, “at least 89 Russian servicemen” were killed. According to Kyiv “about 400”. This was reported by the online newspaper Meduza, which indicated that local activists had asked to publish the names of the dead soldiers, and a petition with this request has so far collected 49,000 signatures. According to various media outlets, many of the bombing victims were reservists who were mobilized for the war in Ukraine and originally from the Samara region.. 63.ru writes – as quoted by Meduza – that Vdovin explained the refusal to disclose the names of the victims by the fact that these lists contain personal data and can lead to “provocations” by foreign intelligence agencies.
German Foreign Minister Analina Berbock visited Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, the first time a senior Western official has visited the war-torn city near the Russian border. This was announced by the German Foreign Ministry. At the invitation of her counterpart and “friend” Dmytro Kobyla, Berbuk said Ukrainian residents can “count on our solidarity and support” in providing generators, transformers and fuel or blankets to survive the harsh winter, according to statements from the Second City. From the country, and forwarded through the German Ministry.
“Freelance social media evangelist. Organizer. Certified student. Music maven.”
