Ukraine Daily

Wednesday, December 14

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Nadiya Vasilenko, 71, living alone for months in a five-story building, is seen in front of her partially damaged house after an airstrike amid Russia-Ukraine war during an exclusive interview in Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec.11, 2022. Civilians, whose houses are heavily damaged, do not leave their houses even when they are unable to access gas and power in fallen buildings in Ukraine. (Photo by Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Russia attacks Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast with drones. According to the Kyiv City Military Administration, debris from the drone damaged two administrative buildings in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Deputy Head of the President’s Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko reported on Dec. 14 that a private house in the village of Vyshneve in Kyiv Oblast was also damaged as a result of the morning attack.

Zelensky calls on West to allocate $843 million to support Ukraine’s critical infrastructure in winter. “This is significant. But significantly less than what a blackout in Ukraine could cost us all,” Zelensky said.

Poll: Most Ukrainians will donate part of their New Year’s budget to army, charity. More than 60% of Ukrainians plan to spend at least part of their budget for New Year’s and Christmas shopping to help the Armed Forces or those affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to a Deloitte survey.

Prime minister: Ukraine’s GDP may halve if Russian attacks on infrastructure continue. Russia’s continued attacks may add 10 percentage points to Ukraine’s predicted GDP drop, he added.

Russia rules out withdrawal from Ukraine by end of 2022. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Dec. 13 that Kyiv needs to accept new territorial “realities,” dismissing a peace proposal by President Volodymyr Zelensky that would include the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

Poll: 85% of Ukrainians believe victory in war with Russia requires liberating all territories, including Crimea and Donbas. According to a recent poll conducted by the Rating Group, 9% of Ukrainians said they would consider a victory in liberating territories controlled by Ukraine before Russia’s full-scale invasion started on Feb. 24.

Official: Ukraine launches production of 152-mm, 122-mm projectiles. Ukraine has launched the production of 152-millimeter and 122-millimeter artillery shells as the stocks of Soviet ammunition are running out, Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, said on Dec. 13.

Parliament approves agreement allowing to launch Bayraktar production in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has ratified the agreement on Turkey-Ukraine cooperation in the field of high technologies, aviation, and space industries, the Member of Parliament Oleksii Honcharenko said on Dec. 13. The document will allow the construction of a factory in Ukraine to produce Turkish Bayraktar drones.

Belarus conducts sudden inspection of troops’ combat readiness. Belarus’ Defense Ministry said on Dec. 13 that it is conducting an impromptu inspection of its troops’ combat readiness following an order from Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Prosecutor General’s Office records 154 cases of sexual violence by Russian soldiers since Feb. 24. “New facts of sexual violence related to the conflict are being discovered in the liberated territories. Joint mobile groups of prosecutors, international experts, and psychologists are working there,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said.

Read our exclusives here

Understanding Russia’s relentless assault on Bakhmut.

Water-logged trenches, shredded tree lines, and an undulating, colorless landscape of mud: The visual experience of the battles outside Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast have proved to transcend centuries.

Photo: Narciso Contreras/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

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Ukraine war latest: US plans to send Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine, officials say.

The U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration is finalizing plans to deliver the Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, CNN reported on Dec. 13, citing two U.S. officials and a senior administration official.

Photo: Getty Images

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Zelensky signs law to liquidate Ukraine’s most notorious court.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 13 signed into law a bill to liquidate the Kyiv District Administrative Court, headed by Ukraine’s most scandalous judge Pavlo Vovk. Earlier on the same day, the bill was approved by parliament.

Photo: Pavlo Vovk / Facebook

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The human cost of Russia’s war

Governor: Russian forces kill 3 people, wound 15 in liberated Kherson over past day. Russian troops shelled Kherson Oblast 57 times with artillery, mortars, and MLRS, reported Kherson Oblast Governor Yaroslav Yanushevych.

Governor: Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast kill 3 people, injure 16 over past day. Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported on Dec. 13 that Russian forces attacked several communities near the front line.

General Staff: Russia has lost 95,260 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on Dec. 13 that Russia had also lost 2,966 tanks, 5,930 armored fighting vehicles, 1,931 artillery systems, 404 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defense systems, 264 helicopters, 281 airplanes, 1,617 drones, and 16 boats.

International response

Allies pledge over $1 billion to support Ukraine throughout winter. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna announced that some 70 countries and international organizations will be involved in allocating funds.

CNN: US to supply Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems. U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration is finalizing plans to deliver Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, which may be announced this week, CNN reported on Dec. 13, citing three U.S. officials.

UK sanctions 12 Russian military commanders following mass strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The U.K. also sanctioned Iranian businessmen and officials involved in the production and supply of drones to Moscow used to attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

In other news

Parliament approves bill to protect ethnic minorities. The bill describes who will be considered ethnic minorities in Ukraine, establishes their rights and obligations, and provides for the creation of advisory bodies with representatives of minorities.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Teah Pelechaty, Thaisa Semenova, Toma Istomina, Dinara Khalilova, Oleg Sukhov, and Anastasiya Gordiychuk.

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