Ze’s successful trip abroad, how Russia is striking Kyiv, Scholz on handling Orban
Your slice of the headlines in Ukraine. Daily. Monday, December 18, 2023.
● Zelenskyy returns home with concrete gains after remarkable tour of Argentina, USA, and Europe
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned home from a historic trip through South America, North America, and Europe to announce several new assistance packages from its allies.
● Ukrainian commander Zaluzhnyi preparing major 2024 counteroffensive
Ukraine is gathering resources for a new counteroffensive next year, and one of the points of offensive operations could be the bridgehead on the left bank of Kherson Oblast, Nico Lange, Senior Research Fellow at the Munich Security Conference and former head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's office in Ukraine said on Dec. 15.
● Putin not interested in peace talks, thinks time is on his side — former US Ambassador to Russia
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has no genuine intention to negotiate an end to the war against Ukraine before the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said at the Kyiv Security Forum on Dec. 15.
● Finland to investigate neo-Nazi Yan Petrovsky's war crimes
The Finnish Prosecutor's Office has announced plans to investigate Yan Petrovsky, the former commander of Russian neo-Nazi paramilitary group Rusich, on suspicion of committing war crimes in Ukraine prior to Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, national broadcaster Yle reported on Dec. 15.
● Zelenskyy honors fallen soldiers at Lviv cemetery, vows Ukraine will never forget their sacrifice
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid tribute to Ukraine's fallen heroes in Lviv, returning home after several foreign visits to bolster international support, the President's Office reported on Dec. 15.
● Russia’s new tactic for bombarding Kyiv
Twice over the span of three days, on Dec. 11 and 13, Russia attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles launched from ground-based systems — most likely the S-400. On those nights, Ukrainian air defense shot down eight and ten missiles, respectively.
● SBU investigates grenade attack on Zakarpattia village council
Investigators from Ukraine’s SBU security service have initiated an inquiry into the setting off of grenades inside the premises of the Keretskivska Village Council in Zakarpattia Oblast, the SBU press service told NV on Dec. 15.
● Netflix users watch 4 million hours of Ukrainian content in 2023 – what was most popular?
Eleven Ukrainian films and TV series have collectively raked in a staggering 4 million hours on the popular Netflix streaming platform, Ukraine’s FILM UA Group reported.
● Government weighs infrastructure boost for mobile operators amid Kyivstar cybersecurity concerns
Following the recent cyber-attack involving mobile operator Kyivstar, the government is considering allocating additional radio frequencies or ground infrastructure to mobile operators experiencing increased loads, a parliament committee chairman has said.
● Fifth column or useful idiot? Hungary’s Orban blocks €50 billion in EU aid for Ukraine
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked €50 billion ($55 million USD) of aid to Ukraine after shooting down the EU budget that included the medium-term aid program for Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel announced at the end of the EU leaders’ negotiations.
● Scholz on getting Orban to abstain from key Ukraine vote
It’s not feasible trying to get Hungarian PM Viktor Orban to take a “coffee break” every time the EU faces a Hungarian veto on some critical decision, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Dec. 15, as reported by German outlet n-tv.
● Putin threatens ‘problems’ for Finland as NATO ally, contrasts previous ‘cordial’ ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened Finland with "problems" because of its accession to NATO. The countries supposedly had "the most cordial relations" before that, the dictator said in an interview with Russian propagandist Pavel Zarubin on Dec. 17.
● Russian fleet reduces activity, may wait for subzero temperatures, missile threat remains
The Russian fleet in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov is less active this winter than last, Ukrainian Southern Defense Forces’ spokeswoman Natalia Humeniuk said on national television, suggesting that Russia may be waiting for freezing temperatures to intensify operations.
● Ukrzaliznytsia debuts 'first of its kind' dual-gauge grain car to boost exports to Europe
Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) has unveiled a uniquely versatile rail car of its own design — the first capable of a seamless transition between Ukraine's 1520mm tracks and Europe's standard 1435mm gauge, the state rail transport company announced on Telegram on Dec. 15.
● London mayor turned down Klitschko’s request for vehicles destined for scrapheap
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has turned down a request from Kyiv mayor Vitaliy Klitschko for vehicles destined for the scrapheap, The Telegraph reported on Dec. 15, citing his letter not allowing 4x4s and pick-up trucks to be sent to the war zone in Ukraine, where they are desperately needed on the frontline.
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