Ukraine-Russia battle – reside: Putin’s forces unleash new offensive as UK sends recent weapons to Kyiv | EUROtoday

A Ukrainian soldier has described to The Independent the “very difficult” scenario going through these preventing in Avdiivka, a small city in jap Ukraine that has turn out to be the flashpoint of the frontline.

Serhiy Zhuykov, a Ukrainian part chief and sniper at present stationed close by to the city, mentioned: “We try to stay but there are many, many Russian attacks on our army. It is difficult, very difficult.”

A British Ministry of Defence replace from this morning urged that as a lot as 40 % of fight engagements throughout the frontline in the meanwhile are occurring close to Avdiivka.

Russia will hold its presidential election in four annexed regions of Ukraine, Interfax news agency quoted the country’s central election fee as saying on Monday.

Russia claimed final 12 months to have annexed the Ukrainian areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, although it doesn’t management all their territory. Moscow has imposed martial legislation within the areas of the 4 areas that it does management.

President Vladimir Putin confirmed final Friday, in feedback to Russian troopers who’ve fought in Ukraine, that he’ll run once more for president within the election due in March 2024.

Live: Grant Shapps and Norwegian defence minister launch Ukraine functionality coalition

Below are among the newest photographs from Ukraine.

Below is a have a look at the aftermath of a Russian ballistic missile strike on a southeastern district of Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.

A collection of loud explosions rang out in Ukraine’s capital simply after 4 am native time this morning, in response to accounts of occasions on Telegram, as town was underneath its nightly curfew, adopted by air raid sirens.

The Ukrainian air pressure mentioned all eight missiles have been intercepted.

But the Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko mentioned that within the Darnytskyi district of jap Kyiv the particles of an intercepted missile fell with out catching hearth.

The aftermath of that may be seen on the video beneath.

One particular person was injured in the course of the nightly assault, although it’s unclear if that particular person was residing within the Darnytskyi district.

Workers on Saturday (9 December) dismantled the Soviet-era monument of Red Army General Mykola Shchors from Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, as a gesture of the nation’s “‘de-Communisation” process.

The Ministry of Culture gave permission to take down the statue and authorities were seen working for hours to dismantle the statue.

A few passers-by watched the proceedings and clapped when workers finished taking down the monument.

Heorhii Lukianchuk, a Kyiv resident, said he ran to witness this “historical moment” and that it will “be on the pages of history books.”

Nearly 40 percent of fighting on the frontline is taking place at times around one town in eastern Ukraine, the British Ministry of Defence has said.

During its latest intelligence update, the MoD said nearly “40 percent of all combat engagements have likely taken place” around Avdiivka, a small town in Donetsk Oblast most famous for its larging coking plant.

The Russian forces appear to have prioritised this area, committing up to eight brigades and hundreds of heavy vehicles to capturing the town, but have made only minor territorial gains, measurable in kilometres.

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has said it would be “devastating” for both Ukraine and the European Union if EU leaders do not give his country the green light for membership talks at a summit later this week.

“I cannot imagine, I don’t even need to discuss concerning the devastating penalties that can happen shall the (European) Council fail to make this resolution,” Kuleba advised reporters as he arrived for a gathering with EU overseas ministers in Brussels.

As Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky travels from Argentina to Washington DC at the moment, again dwelling in Kyiv, residents are recovering from one other night time of Russian strikes on the capital.

At least one particular person was injured as eight missiles have been intercepted by air defences. Russia seems to have resumed its marketing campaign of winter strikes that focused crucial infrastructure throughout Ukraine all through this time final 12 months.

• Mr Zelensky’s workplace mentioned he would arrive in Washington at the moment to fulfill his counterpart Joe Biden and maintain a “series of meetings and discussions”. Further conferences are anticipated on Tuesday.
• Britain mentioned it had delivered two mine-hunting ships to Ukraine to assist preserve a crucial route for service provider transport travelling throughout the Black Sea.
• Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the principle successor to the Soviet-era KGB, mentioned on Monday that it had cracked a community of Ukrainian brokers in Crimea who have been concerned in makes an attempt to assassinate pro-Russian figures.
• Slovak truckers will restart a partial blockade of the nation’s sole freight highway crossing with Ukraine at 3:00 pm (1400 GMT) on Monday, a hauliers’ affiliation mentioned. The protesters need to finish Ukrainian truckers’ permit-free entry to the EU.