Live updates: Ukraine successfully defends against Russian drone strike while Putin’s army suffers from illness called ‘mouse fever’.

Live updates: Ukraine successfully defends against Russian drone strike while Putin's army suffers from illness called 'mouse fever'.


The city of Kyiv was targeted by a record-breaking drone attack carried out by Russia, resulting in five injuries.

Ukraine’s air force reported successfully intercepting and shooting down 34 out of 35 Iranian drones, preventing a significant attack from Russia.

The drones were sent over in several waves targeting 12 different regions of Ukraine over a seven-hour period from 8pm on 20 December.

Unfortunately, only one was able to pass through the air force’s defenses. This morning, images released by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine depict the aftermath of an attack at a warehouse in the Kyiv region.

Recently, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate alleged that Russian soldiers were afflicted with a condition known as “mouse fever” during an attack. This illness results in symptoms such as bleeding from the eyes, frequent vomiting, and severe fevers and headaches.

According to a report on Telegram, the units of the Russian occupation army are experiencing increasing dissatisfaction due to insufficient supply of winter items and a lack of medical aid.

Therefore, numerous cases of the disease known as “mouse fever” were reported among the Russian forces in the Kupyansk region.

Mr. Zelensky received a boost with the announcement that Germany will be providing 88.5 million euros to improve Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has been targeted by Russian aggression.

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Hungary has provided an explanation for their decision to block funding from the European Union.

One week after Hungary halted £43 billion of EU assistance for Ukraine, the prime minister of the country stated that the EU’s budget should not allocate funds for supporting their war efforts.

Viktor Orban suggested that a reasonable timeline should be established for providing financial assistance to Ukraine.

Hungary, who has strong relations with Russia, was the obstacle that prevented a significant aid package from being agreed upon, despite all other 26 leaders reaching a consensus. EU leaders have announced that talks will continue in the beginning of next year.

During a press conference, Orban stated, “I firmly believe that it is a mistake to allocate 50 billion euros ($54.70 billion) from the EU budget to Ukraine over the course of five years.”

The EU members aim to allocate funds for Ukraine through the EU budget, while Hungary prefers to provide support outside of the budget. If consensus cannot be reached, the issue can be resolved outside of the budget, but it cannot be resolved within the EU budget without approval from Hungary.

“They are able to address this issue with a group loan outside of the budget, as they have 26 members. If this arises, we will carefully consider our response.”

<p>Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban </p>

Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary.

Alex Ross21 December 2023 11:12

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Additional information about the illness and its effects can be found here.

Alex Ross21 December 2023 10:50

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Ukraine has downed numerous Russian drones.

The Ukrainian air force stated that it successfully brought down 34 out of 35 Russian drones that were deployed in a major overnight assault across 12 regions in Ukraine.

The air force issued a statement stating that Russia utilized Shahed drones, made in Iran, in multiple rounds between 8:00pm and 3:30am.

There were air alerts that lasted for hours in multiple regions throughout Ukraine, including the central, southeast, and northern areas. As of now, there are no reports of significant harm or injuries.

Alex Ross21 December 2023 10:00

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German funding boosts Ukraine’s progress.

Germany has recently authorized an extra 88.5 million euros to assist in fortifying the Ukrainian energy system as Russia continues to target its infrastructure. This comes amid worries that reduced foreign aid to Ukraine could impede military efforts.

On Thursday, Germany’s foreign and economy ministries released a joint statement announcing the funding.

According to the statement, the Ministry of Economy is providing 54.3 million euros through the state-owned bank KfW, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is contributing 34.2 million euros to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

Ukraine has raised concerns about the consequences of a delay in receiving US funding, as a $47 billion military package was halted by the US Congress earlier this month. Additionally, Hungary prevented a €43 billion financial aid agreement from the EU last week.

Alex Ross21 December 2023 09:14

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Putin opposition

In March of next year, Vladimir Putin will be running for reelection as the Russian president against a journalist who is known for being against war.

For additional information on the subject, please refer to the following story:

Alex Ross21 December 2023 08:35

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Latest pictures from Ukraine

<p>Ukrainian servicemen prepare to shoot from a self-made multiple rocket launcher on a frontline in Donetsk</p>

Ukrainian servicemen prepare to shoot from a self-made multiple rocket launcher on a frontline in Donetsk

<p>Residents and relatives carry belongings out of their burned out flat in Donetsk</p>

People who live in Donetsk and their family members are removing their belongings from their flat, which has been destroyed by fire.

<p>A young Ukrainian serviceman, wearing a tattoo depicting the Ukrainian state coat of arms, walks in the center of the capital Kyiv</p>

A youthful Ukrainian soldier, sporting a tattoo of the emblem of Ukraine, strolls through the heart of the city of Kyiv.

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 07:00

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In case you missed it, the Irish Prime Minister was tricked by Russian pranksters who he told that Ukraine is unlikely to join the European Union.

The office of Ireland’s prime minister, Leo Varadkar, has confirmed that he has fallen prey to a prank call from Russian individuals Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, who have ties to the Kremlin.

The ex-YouTubers, who switched to the streaming service Rumble following their page’s suspension, have deceived several prominent politicians such as Justin Trudeau, Boris Johnson, and most recently, Italy’s Georgia Meloni.

The individuals who pulled the prank pretended to be representatives from the African Union Commission and spoke to Mr. Varadkar. A video of the call was shared online on Tuesday.

While on the call, the Irish leader seems to express doubt that Ukraine will become a part of the European Union in the near future. He also shares his hope for a united Ireland during his lifetime.

Please refer to the complete report provided below.

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 06:00

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What is the total number of troops in Russia?

As of 2021, the Russian military consists of approximately 1,330,900 active personnel and 250,000 reservists, which is four times more than Ukraine’s military size. The total male population in Russia is approximately 66 million.

The Russian government recently approved a change in the conscription age for men, increasing it from 27 to 30 years old. This means that starting from January 1, 2024, more young men will be required to serve one year in the military.

This indicates that males will now have to complete one year of military duty or receive comparable training while pursuing higher education, from the ages of 18 to 30 instead of 18 to 27.

The legislation also prohibits males from evading military service by prohibiting them from exiting Russia after being summoned to a conscription office.

Alexander Butler21 December 2023 05:00

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Ukrainian soldiers are firing rockets from a homemade launcher on the front line.

On Wednesday, photographs showed Ukrainian soldiers firing rockets from a homemade launcher.

The images were captured at the front lines in Donetsk and feature the 228 Battalion from the 127th Territorial Defence Brigade.

<p>Ukrainian servicemen prepare rockets to shoot from a self-made multiple rocket launcher on a frontline in Donetsk</p>

Ukrainian military personnel are getting ready to fire rockets from a homemade multiple rocket launcher at the frontline in Donetsk.

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 04:00

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Complete report: The United States enforces additional sanctions on Russian oil prices.

On Wednesday, the United States implemented fresh penalties against those accused of breaking the $60 per barrel limit for Russian oil and also strengthened regulations for insurance companies and shipping companies to ensure compliance.

Companies in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong have been targeted for financial penalties, including Sun Ship Management D Ltd., which is owned by Russian state-run fleet operator Joint Stock Company Sovcomflot.

Please refer to the complete report provided below:

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 03:00

Source: independent.co.uk