Ukraine Daily summary - Monday, December 16 2024

[Vblog] Russia’s wars, from Syria to Ukraine -- Ukraine destroys Russian train with 40 fuel tanks in Zaporizhzhia Oblast -- Hundreds of North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in Kursk Oblast -- Lithuania and Estonia introduce new sanctions against Georgian officials -- and more

Monday, December 16

Russia’s war against Ukraine

an apartment building at night with smoke coming out of the window

Scouts of the Plast National Scout Organization carry the Bethlehem flame of peace during an air alert at a railway station bomb shelter in Kyiv, on Dec. 15, 2024. (Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukraine destroys Russian train with 40 fuel tanks in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, source claims. The source said that the aim of the operation was to disrupt a supply line used to transport fuel from Crimea to the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia.

Two Russian oil tankers reportedly sink in Kerch Strait. Both vessels were carrying approximately 4,000 tons of fuel oil on board each, according to Baza.

Sinking of two Russian oil tankers may cause ‘significant environmental impacts,’ Greenpeace warns. “If (the oil) is driven ashore, then it will cause fouling of the shoreline which will be extremely difficult to clean up,” the head of Greenpeace Research Laboratories, Dr. Paul Johnson, said in a statement.

Zelensky rejected opportunity to discuss Christmas truce with Orban, Hungarian minister claims. Hungary has maintained close economic and diplomatic relations with Moscow despite Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It has repeatedly criticized EU sanctions against Russia and obstructed efforts to provide military aid to Kyiv.

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‘Hundreds’ of North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in Kursk Oblast, ambassador says. “We have seen hundreds of (North Korean soldiers) on the battlefield already, and (Ukraine is) successfully fighting them as we are fighting with the Russians,” Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova told CBS News. “We see them now in Kursk Oblast only, and our brave defenders were not only able to kill a lot of them, but also keep the positions.”

Pope Francis refers to Ukraine, Russia as ‘brothers,’ calls for peace during Sunday Mass. The pope has earned a controversial reputation in Ukraine with his earlier remarks that relativized the responsibility of Russia’s war, encouraging Ukrainians to have the “courage” to negotiate for peace.

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Ukraine war latest: North Korean troops joining Russian assaults in Kursk, Zelensky says

A “significant number” of North Korean soldiers have begun fighting alongside Russian forces in assault operations in Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Dec. 14.

Photo: Ed Jones / AFP via Getty Images

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Russia’s wars, from Syria to Ukraine | Ukraine This Week

Human cost of war

2 injured in Mykolaiv amid Russia’s overnight missile and drone attack, Governor reports. Two people were injured and an infrastructure facility was damaged in the city of Mykolaiv amid Russia’s overnight drone and missile attack, Governor Vitalii Kim reported on Dec. 15.

International response

Scholz’s Social Democratic Party rejects sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine in election program, media reports. “We stand by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s decision not to deliver the Taurus cruise missile from the Bundeswehr’s stocks,” the SPD program reportedly reads, adding that weapons deliveries should come with “prudence and a sense of proportion.”

Georgia’s opposition parties appeal to EU following election of pro-Russian president, Sova reports. In a joint letter, Georgian opposition leaders urged the release of all detained politicians, activists, and peaceful demonstrators; the introduction of targeted sanctions against those responsible for “undermining democracy;” the suspension of visa-free travel and visa restrictions for Georgian Dream officials; and the declaration of the “self-proclaimed regime” of Bidzina Ivanishvili as illegitimate.

Trump picks former intelligence director Richard Grenell as “envoy for special missions.” Grenell previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Germany during Trump’s first term, as acting National Intelligence Director in 2020, and as Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations from 2019 to 2021.

Lithuania and Estonia introduce new sanctions against Georgian officials. Lithuania and Estonia have imposed sanctions against Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and several government officials, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budris announced on X on Dec. 15.

Peace cannot be achieved without territorial loss for Ukraine, Slovak president says. “When it comes to peace, I believe that realism must be maintained. Today, probably no sensible person in Europe believes that peace can be achieved without some partial territorial losses for Ukraine,” Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said.

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