The General Staff of Ukraine reports that the Moscow forces have launched a strong offensive against Ukrainian forces along the front line in the eastern city of Adviika.
The city of Avdiivka in the east has seen heightened fighting, as Moscow is trying to surround troops from Kyiv. Ukrainian forces have also been defending themselves in Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, and Zaporizhzhia, according to officials.
Vadym Filashkin, the governor of Donetsk region, reported that a Russian artillery attack in the town of Toretsk resulted in the death of one civilian and injuries to two others. The town is situated less than 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) away from Bakhmut.
According to Moscow, a Ukrainian attack on a bakery in the Russian-occupied city of Lysychansk resulted in the deaths of at least 28 people on Sunday.
According to Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, there were numerous civilians in the building during the attack and Western weapons were utilized.
According to Leonid Pasechnik, a leader in the local community, at least one child was among the victims of the attack.
According to the Luhansk Information Centre, which is under Russian control, Ukraine attacked a bakery using the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) supplied by the US.
In case you missed it, twenty journalists were arrested in Moscow during a crackdown on protests organized by the wives of Russian soldiers who are serving in Ukraine.
20 journalists covering a protest in central Moscow have been arrested by Russian authorities. The rally was led by the wives of soldiers who were deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine, and they appealed to Vladimir Putin to return their spouses back home.
The family members of reserve soldiers have been meeting weekly to openly state their requests, in an uncommon but increasing demonstration of disagreement that undermines Mr. Putin’s assertion of having the complete support of the Russian people in his conflict with Ukraine. This could potentially impact his expected win in the upcoming presidential elections.
Russian forces launch a fierce attack on Ukrainian troops.
The Ukrainian military has faced heavy aggression from Russian forces in the last 24 hours, with repeated attacks along the front line, according to a statement from Ukraine’s General Staff on Sunday.
Fighting has been particularly fierce in the eastern city of Avdiivka, where Moscow is attempting to encircle Kyiv’s troops, while Ukrainian forces have also been on the defensive in Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut and Zaporizhzhia, officials said.
According to Vadym Filashkin, the regional governor of Donetsk, a Russian artillery attack in the town of Toretsk resulted in one fatality and two injuries. The town is located less than 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from Bakhmut.
The military governing body of Ukraine’s northern Sumy region reported on Sunday that there were 16 instances of shelling from Russian forces the day before. The attacks targeted the border towns of Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, and Esman.
The commander of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, Gen. Serhii Naiev, also stated that Kyiv’s soldiers successfully repelled Russian sabotage and reconnaissance teams trying to enter the Sumy region.
Ukrainian troops are currently focused in the eastern areas of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv. The reported intrusion indicates that Russia may be testing for weaknesses on a different front in an attempt to strain Ukrainian resources even further.
In case you missed it, while the focus is on the crisis in the Middle East, Russia’s Wagner mercenaries are now making moves in Africa to outmaneuver the Western powers.
Kim Sengupta interviews a former member of Wagner’s fighting force about the number of individuals who are considering rejoining the group. Western officials are convinced that the Kremlin will take advantage of the current turmoil.
As tensions escalate in the Middle East, conflicts in various nations are causing concerns about a potential larger war. The mercenaries of Russia’s Wagner Group are now returning to their role of military involvement.
The once snowy terrain of Ukraine has been exchanged for the sandy and grassy lands of Africa. A new flag has been raised to rally behind – Africa Corps, inspired by the German Afrika Korps led by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel during the historic battle against British and allied forces in Libya during World War II.
Please read the report by Kim Sengupta that is currently in focus.
Zelensky makes a visit to the front line while there is speculation surrounding the future of a high-ranking general.
On Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Ukrainian soldiers on the southeastern front and awarded them medals, according to his office. There is a lot of speculation that his highly-regarded army chief may be fired soon.
Zelensky expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be present at the event today. He acknowledged and praised the bravery of the warriors and presented them with awards. They are currently facing a challenging and crucial task of fighting against the enemy and protecting Ukraine. This statement was made by Zelensky after his visit to the Zaporizhzhia region.
According to an official statement, Zelensky recently visited the Ukrainian military’s frontline positions near the village of Robotyne, situated close to the conflict zone.
In late August, the Russian forces were countered and the southeastern settlement of Robotyne was freed.
During a period of uncertainty about the future of army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the president made a visit to the battle lines.
On Friday, two individuals stated that the Ukrainian government notified the White House of its intention to dismiss the top military leader in charge of the conflict against Russian occupation troops.
The alleged move to oust Zaluzhnyi, who has clashed with Zelensky over a range of issues, follows a Ukrainian counteroffensive last year that failed to recover significant amounts of Russian-held territory.
Zaluzhnyi, also known as “the Iron General”, is widely admired. His removal could negatively impact the morale of Ukrainian soldiers who are currently fighting to defend over 620 miles (1,000 km) of frontlines against a well-equipped Russian force with a significant amount of ammunition.
The European Union is granting Ukraine with a sum of $54 billion. How will these funds be allocated?
The leaders of the European Union have reached an agreement to give Ukraine $54 billion to support its economy, which has been greatly affected by the ongoing conflict. This deal was made possible after Hungary backed down from their previous threats to veto the measure.
The assistance package consists of mostly loans with some grants, to be distributed over four years. This aid is not designated for purchasing weapons, as that falls under a different plan by the EU. Its purpose is to bring stability to Ukraine’s economy after two years of conflict, support reconstruction efforts, and pave the way for potential EU membership in the future.
The package will assist Kyiv in filling budget deficits without experiencing the sharp increase in inflation that was seen in the initial months following Russia’s complete invasion in February 2022. Due to the destruction and occupation by Moscow, Ukraine’s economy suffered a 33% decline, with the main heavy industry centers in the east being taken over.
More here.
28 people were killed in an attack in occupied Lysychansk, Ukraine. The incident is depicted in the following pictures.
Russia denounces the Ukrainian attack on a city under Moscow’s control.
The Russian government criticized the Ukrainian assault on the city of Lysychansk, which is under Moscow’s control. They urged the West to consider why their financial aid to Kyiv was being used to harm innocent citizens.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, stated that initial information suggests that the attack was conducted with weapons from Western countries.
“It’s important for EU citizens to be aware of how their taxes are allocated – specifically, they are being used to purchase lethal weapons systems and provide them to the Kyiv government, which then utilizes them to harm innocent civilians.”
The proposed legislation by US House Republicans for increased military support excludes Ukraine.
The Republicans in the US House of Representatives will proceed with a $17.6 billion plan to supply military assistance to Israel and restock US weapons. However, the package does not include additional aid for Ukraine.
The move gives speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans the chance to show support for Israel even though there is little chance the Senate will go along.
The anticipated release of a comprehensive senate compromise is scheduled for this weekend, with a crucial vote on the package taking place sometime during the week.
According to Mr. Johnson, the senate leadership is conscious of the fact that their negotiations without involving the House have removed the possibility of promptly considering any laws.
He stated in a letter to his colleagues that, for the last three months, he has consistently emphasized the House’s need to address our priorities and make decisions on these issues.
In November, the senate chose not to consider a military aid package worth almost $14.5 billion for Israel that had already been approved by the house.
A child was one among 28 individuals who lost their lives in a Ukrainian attack on a city occupied by Russia.
On Sunday, Russia accused Ukraine of causing the deaths of 28 individuals, including nine females and one child, by launching rockets from Western sources at a bakery and restaurant in eastern Ukraine under Russian control.
Officials supported by Russia claimed that Ukraine used a HIMARS, provided by the US, to attack the bakery located in Lysychansk.
Rescue personnel labored overnight to locate any survivors amidst the debris of the devastated Adriatic Restaurant on Moskovska Street. According to Russian authorities, a bakery had been established for civilians in the area.
Leonid Pasechnik, the pro-Russian leader of Luhansk, stated that the Ukrainian military attacked a bakery in Lysychansk, a city currently under Russian control.
According to Mr Pasechnik, the bakery was full of civilians when it was hit. The emergency ministry of Russia reported that 10 individuals were rescued from the debris and are alive. However, they also stated that four others are in critical condition and the search for more people is ongoing.
Twenty reporters arrested in Moscow crackdown on demonstrations organized by spouses of Russian military members in Ukraine.
Police in Russia have arrested 20 journalists who were covering a demonstration in the heart of Moscow. The rally, organized by the wives of soldiers deployed to the Ukrainian conflict, called on Vladimir Putin to bring their spouses back home.
The family members of military reservists have been meeting every week to express their demands in public, which is unusual but becoming more common. This challenges Mr. Putin’s assertion that he has the complete support of the Russian people in his conflict with Ukraine, as he aims for a likely win in the upcoming presidential elections.
During the ninth and biggest protest yet, which commemorated 500 days since President Putin’s controversial call for reservists, female demonstrators were captured by reporters as they placed red carnations at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in the presence of the Kremlin’s walls in downtown Moscow on Saturday.
Source: independent.co.uk