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5 mins ago
Russian attack kills at least one person in Donetsk, Ukrainian official says
By Olga Voitovych
A man walks past a damaged building in the Donetsk region on December 11.
(Photo: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
A Russian attack killed at least one civilian and wounded three others on Sunday in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian military official.
Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk regional military administration, said Monday that the casualties were reported in the Velyka Novosilka settlement.
The city of Donetsk has been occupied by pro-Russian separatists since 2014, yet Ukrainian forces remain within a few kilometers of its borders and maintain most control over the region.
In October, the Russian legislature approved President Vladimir Putin's decision to annex four parts of Ukraine, namely Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Kherson and Luhansk, despite not having full control of those regions.
The move is illegal under international law.
8 mins ago
Brittney Griner recovers at a Texas military medical center
By Nouran Salahieh
Brittney Griner is seen boarding a plane before her departure for the United States in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on December 8.
(Photo: RIA)
WNBA star Brittney Griner, back on American soil at last after nearly 10 months of imprisonment in Russia, is spending time at a Texas medical center before resuming her normal life.
The basketball star — who was freed Thursday as part of a US-Russian prisoner swap for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout — arrived at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for a routine first-hand evaluation. time this Friday, and authorities have not specified how long he will remain there.
"I understand it's going to be a few more days before he comes out," Bill Richardson, the former governor of New Mexico, told CNN on Sunday.
Richardson and his center work privately on behalf of the families of hostages and detainees.
She previously traveled to Russia to discuss Griner's release, as well as that of Paul Whelan, a former US Marine who remains in custody.
Griner's release via prisoner swap took months to negotiate and ended months of confinement after the basketball star was arrested in February at a Russian airport on drug trafficking charges and sentenced to nine years in prison.
The central Texas in which Griner is located is in stark contrast to the Russian penal colony in which she was held prior to her release.
11 minutes ago
Ukrainian counter-offensive will resume after ground freeze, defense minister says
By Mariya Knight
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Sunday that the Ukrainian forces will resume "active counteroffensive actions" when the ground freezes and "becomes firmer to facilitate the passage of equipment," at a press conference. with his Swedish counterpart, Defense Minister Pal Jonson, in Odessa.
"The weather conditions, the transition from a dry autumn to a not-yet-frozen winter... we are faced with rain and very difficult conditions for attacks from both sides. The ground is wet and wheeled vehicles can hardly get through," he explained. Reznikov.
"I think this drop in activity is due to weather conditions."
Reznikov also promised that "the Ukrainian Armed Forces have no intention of stopping."
"Therefore, we are taking advantage of the moment when the ground becomes firmer," he continued. "I am convinced that we will continue our counterattacks, the campaign to liberate our territories."
The defense minister called Ukraine's plan "very simple."
"It is the liberation of all temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories as they were in 1991, when Ukraine's borders were internationally recognized," he said.
Reznikov said he believes the Russians "are fighting civilians to persuade the Ukrainian government to start negotiating on Russia's terms, but they won't succeed."
17 mins ago
Biden and Zelensky talk on the phone about recent US aid to air defense
By Sam Fossum, Jack Forrest
US President Joe Biden and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on Sunday about the Russian invasion and recent US efforts to bolster Ukraine's air defenses.
Zelensky thanked Biden for an additional $275 million in security aid, which the Pentagon announced Friday, as well as "unprecedented" broader US support for Ukraine's sovereignty in the face of Russian aggression, according to a report. statement published on the website of the Ukrainian Presidency.
The package announced last week includes weapons and artillery shells, as well as equipment to help Ukraine strengthen its air defense.
"(Biden) reaffirmed the United States' commitment to continue providing Ukraine with security, economic and humanitarian assistance, holding Russia accountable for its war crimes and atrocities, and imposing costs on Russia for its aggression," the statement said. White House in a statement.
Zelensky said the "unprecedented financial and defense assistance" from the US helped "not only succeed on the battlefield" but also "maintain the stability of our nation's economy," according to the statement. ukrainian.
Biden explained to the US president that "the terror of Russian missiles" has caused the destruction of nearly 50% of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, while thanking the US for assigning specific help for the reconstruction of the systems Ukrainian energetics.
Biden also highlighted the $53 million package announced late last month to support Ukraine's electricity system, which is facing a barrage of attacks from Russia, according to the White House statement.
war in ukraine