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5 mins ago
Ukrainian forces shelled Russia's Bryansk region overnight, governor says
By Anna Chernova
The Russian city of Klintsy, in the Bryansk region, was shelled overnight by Ukrainian troops, according to the region's governor, Alexander Bogomaz.
Anti-aircraft defense systems destroyed the missile, Bogomaz said in a Telegram post on Tuesday, and some parts "fell on the territory of the industrial zone."
"There were no casualties or damage," he added.
Klintsy is located in western Russia, about 45 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The nearest Ukrainian city is Chernihiv.
6 mins ago
Belarus announces lightning military exercises
By Olga Voitovych
The Belarusian Ministry of Defense announced the holding of lightning military exercises throughout the country.
"Under the direction of the State Secretary of the Security Council, a sudden inspection of combat readiness began," the ministry said in a brief statement.
Very few details were given about the nature of the drills, but they were described as "exhaustive in nature".
The troops will have to move to "designated areas" as soon as possible, the statement added.
Military equipment will also be moved across the country, the ministry said.
The construction of two river crossings on the Nemen and Berezina rivers was mentioned.
Neither of the two rivers is close to Ukrainian territory.
9 mins ago
Putin will not hold his annual end-of-year press conference, according to the Kremlin
By Anna Chernova, Radina Gigova
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, on December 23, 2021. (Photo: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not hold his usual annual press conference this year, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov announced Monday, although he said he hoped Putin would "find an opportunity to communicate" with the media.
Putin has held large year-end press conferences almost every year since 2001, after he became president, according to the state news agency TASS.
The only years in which he did not hold an annual press conference were 2005, when he was president, and also between 2008-2012, when he was prime minister, according to TASS.
Former US ambassador to Russia John Sullivan believes Putin is avoiding scrutiny.
"I think it's a sign of concern about their internal support," Sullivan told CNN on Monday.
"Putin does not want to go out and spend hours in front of journalists, even state media, and risk being asked difficult and embarrassing questions."
At last year's news conference, Putin was asked about the buildup of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border and the country's emerging alliance with China, as well as common criticisms of his regime such as its treatment of jailed opposition leader Alexey Navalny.
In addition to a major media conference, in previous years Putin has also addressed the Federal Assembly and held a marathon question-and-answer session with Russian citizens, dubbed the Hotline.
During Monday's call to journalists, Peskov did not mention any date for Putin's speech to the Federal Assembly, nor for the Hotline session.
However, on November 14, Peskov told Russian state news outlet TASS that Putin would address the Federal Assembly before the end of 2022.
Peskov had previously said that the dates of Putin's annual speech to the Assembly and the Hotline session depend on his schedule, which is highly dynamic in light of current events, according to TASS.
13 mins ago
A conference on aid to Ukraine is held in Paris
By Allegra Goodwin, Saskya Vandoorne
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the conference in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in Paris, France, on December 13.
(Photo: Teresa Suarez/Reuters)
A spokesman for the Elysee Palace said on Tuesday that a conference on aid to Ukraine is taking place in Paris, which will focus on supporting the country's critical infrastructure during the winter.
Temperatures have dropped to below zero in many parts of Ukraine in recent weeks, while relentless Russian attacks have left millions without electricity, water and central heating.
The conference, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, is designed to "mobilize the international community", to help maintain Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and "provide immediate support" focused on the period between December and mid-March, said the spokesman.
Speeches by Macron and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal are expected, as well as a virtual appearance by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Representatives of 47 States and some 23 international institutions are expected to attend, as well as some 500 French companies.
The delegates will focus on five specific areas in which Ukraine needs help: water, food, energy, health and transport, explained the Elysee spokesman.
Instead of general promises to Ukraine, countries will be asked to commit to providing aid to Ukraine before mid-March, the spokesman added.
Several critical infrastructure agreements are also expected to be signed.
France will also propose launching an online portal designed to allow countries to view Ukraine's needs and respond with humanitarian aid in real time.
Millions of Ukrainians have been left without power amid a wave of Russian attacks on critical energy infrastructure just as winter begins in the country.
16 mins ago
Situation at the front is "difficult", says head of Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk
By Josh Pennington
Denis Pushilin, leader of the Donetsk People's Republic, speaks to journalists in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, on July 13.
(Photo: AP)
Denis Pushilin, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine, has called the situation on the region's frontline "difficult," according to Russian state media.
In statements collected by the state news agency RIA Novosti, Pushilin, backed by Moscow, said that although Russian units continue to advance, they are not "as fast as we would like."
He also suggested that advances of between 50 and 200 meters were playing "an important role in liberating populated areas."
Wagner in Bakhmut
: Pushilin also spoke directly about the situation in and around Bakhmut and the use of mercenaries from Wagner, a Russian private military group, in that part of the front line.
He said Wagner's fighters were clearing Yakovlivka, 16 kilometers (10 miles) northeast of Bakhmut, in the direction of Soledar.
"They are continuing to work around Bakhmut to create the conditions for a more complete sweep of Bakhmut himself," he said.
Pushilin also commented on the ongoing attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
He described the attacks as successful and "complicate military logistics and inter-unit communications."
"Taken together, this is creating the conditions for the absolute and precise defeat of the rest of Ukraine to come even closer," he said.
Some background
: 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.
19 mins ago
Brittney Griner reunites with her family, eats barbecue... and takes her first dunk since her release
By Abby Phillip, Nouran Salahieh
Brittney Griner exits a plane after landing at the JBSA-Kelly Field Annex runway on December 9 in San Antonio, Texas.
(Photo: Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP/Getty Images)
Released from a Russian penal colony and back on American soil, WNBA star Brittney Griner got her first taste of normal life at a Texas military installation over the weekend.
The Olympic gold medalist and basketball superstar arrived at San Antonio's Brooke Army Medical Center on Friday and is now staying with his wife, Cherelle Griner, in a residential setting on the base, which his agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, decorated with a Christmas tree.
Colas told CNN that Griner is "optimistic, grateful and hopeful" upon her return to the United States.
For Griner — who spent nearly 10 months in custody in Russia — "normal" has meant indulging in her favorite: a Dr Pepper soda, the first drink she had in the plane's hangar after landing.
Griner's family members have been visiting her on and off for hours, bringing her barbecue from San Antonio to enjoy.
The athlete has been eating much more nutritious food and supplements compared to her time in detention, Colas said.
"His energy level of hers was really high," she added.
Griner also got a haircut to fix his "Russian mane," as friends and family jokingly call it, Colas said.
Griner's long mane had been cut off during his captivity.
Griner continually battled the flu while she was detained because her hair would freeze and she couldn't dry it, Colas explained.
At the Texas military base, Griner took the basketball court for the first time since she was incarcerated.
Her first move was a dunk.
war in ukraine
