Russia Ukraine struggle dwell: Putin’s forces hit by ‘mouse fever’ | EUROtoday

Ireland’s prime minister Leo Varadkar has develop into the newest sufferer of pro-Kremlin Russian telephone pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, his workplace confirmed.

The former YouTubers, who moved to streaming platform Rumble after their web page was suspended, have tricked a few of the world’s most high-profile politicians, together with Justin Trudeau, Boris Johnson and most not too long ago Italy’s Georgia Meloni.

The pranksters spoke to Mr Varadkar whereas pretending to be representatives of the African Union Commission, in keeping with a video of the decision posted on-line on Tuesday.

During the course of the decision, the Irish chief seems to say it’s “not very likely” that Ukraine will be a part of the European Union within the close to future, and that he hopes to see a united island of Ireland “in my lifetime”.

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The Russian military has about 4 occasions extra lively army personnel than Ukraine some 1,330,900 males and 250,000 reservists. As of 2021, Russia had a male inhabitants of round 66 million.

In July, the Russian parliament raised the utmost age at which males may be conscripted from 27 to 30, rising the variety of younger males answerable for a 12 months of obligatory army service from 1 January 2024.

It means males might be required to hold out a 12 months of army service, or equal coaching throughout increased schooling, between the ages of 18 and 30, slightly than 18 and 27.

The legislation additionally prevents males from dodging the draft by banning them from leaving Russia from the day they’re summoned to a conscription workplace.

Ukrainian troops had been pictured capturing rockets from a self-made rocket launcher on Wednesday.

The images had been taken from the frontline within the Donetsk area and are of the 228 Separate Battalion of the 127th Separate Territorial Defence Brigade.

The U.S. imposed new sanctions on alleged violators of a $60 per barrel worth cap on Russian oil and tightened compliance guidelines for insurance coverage corporations and shippers, Wednesday.

Firms throughout the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong had been recognized for financial sanctions, together with UAE-based Sun Ship Management D Ltd., which Russian state-owned fleet operator Joint Stock Company Sovcomflot owns.

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As the Ukrainian military says they want one other 500,000 troops mobilised, my colleague Alexander Bulter has calculated what number of troopers they have already got:

The Ukrainian military counted round 500,000 servicemen, 200,000 of that are lively army personnel, current figures present.

If the figures are correct, the Ukrainian military’s suggestion would deliver the entire variety of servicemen to just about a million.

Under Ukrainian legislation, solely males aged 27 to 60 may be mobilised for the entrance line, though youthful males can volunteer to combat. As of January 2022, Ukraine had a male inhabitants of 19 million.

Men aged 18 to twenty can’t be despatched to the battlefield. Most Ukrainian troopers on the entrance are believed to be volunteers, lots of whom have been combating for the reason that begin of Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Estimates of the variety of Ukrainian males killed within the battle have different between 30,000 and 70,000. In November, a Ukrainian civic group put the demise toll at 30,000.

But US army sources have recommended the quantity is nearer to 70,000. Kyiv treats its losses as a state secret and officers say disclosing the determine might hurt its struggle effort.

Ukrainians are gearing as much as have a good time their first Christmas in keeping with a brand new calendar, one other step in the direction of erasing all traces of Russian affect as their army fends off a Kremlin invasion.

“It turns out that Ukrainians used to celebrate Christmas on December 25, just like the rest of Europeans,” stated Tetiana, a 25-year-old believer who stated she would have a good time on Dec. 25 for the primary time.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked nations who proceed to help Ukraine.

His message of gratitude comes after the Empire State Building in New York was lit up in blue and yellow to indicate solidarity.

“I am grateful to every country that has stood with Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began,” Zelensky wrote on X. “This support provides strength to our people.”

Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin met in Beijing on Wednesday to debate the 2 nation’s ties.

“Maintaining and developing China-Russia relations well is a strategic choice made by both sides based on the fundamental interests of the two peoples,” Xi Jinping was quoted as saying by the Chinese international ministry.

The South China Morning Post reported that Xi Jinping additionally pledged that Beijing would proceed to develop “high-level” political and financial relations with Moscow.

Ukraine’s largest cellular community has restored all providers following a large-scale cyber assault final week.

Ukraine’s Kyivstar, which supplies mobile and web providers to 24.3 million cellular subscribers and over 1.1 million dwelling web customers, got here below a lethal cyberattack final Tuesday.

It silenced air raid alerts in some components of Ukraine at a time Russia began firing ballistic missiles on civilian areas, worn out providers, and broken IT infrastructure.

A supply near Kyivstar stated army communications haven’t been affected by the assault.

Kyivstar stated: “Our specialists have resolved the communication difficulties that arose this morning in a number of cities in the west and south of Ukraine.

“The services are now operating as usual.”

Kyiv plans to provide 1,000,000 FPV (first-person-view) drones and greater than 11,000 medium- and long-range assault drones subsequent 12 months, Ukraine‘s minister for strategic industries said on Wednesday.

Ukraine has used FPV drones – small drones originally for personal civilian use, but modified for the battlefield – since the first days of the 2022 Russian invasion as a cheap but effective option for attacks.

The tactic was subsequently adopted by Moscow’s troops, now estimated to have many extra such drones at their disposal.

“All production facilities are ready, and contracting for 2024 begins,” Oleksandr Kamyshin, the minister, stated on Telegram messenger.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy later stated the problem of drones, each in inventory and being deployed, was mentioned at a gathering of commanders and officers on Wednesday

“Logistics will be faster. We are also working on making the use of drones, particularly FPV drones, more efficient in all areas,” Zelenskiy stated in his nightly video deal with.

“This is an obvious priority for our country and a very concrete way to protect the lives of our soldiers.”

Ukraine has been working to extend its home weapons manufacturing as a way to safe secure deliveries, not rely solely on companions’ support, and make stronger the financial system.