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War against Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyj warns of attacks on Christmas

2022-12-24T07:06:32.148Z


Ukraine's president has urged people to be extra vigilant over the holiday season for possible Russian attacks. And: Save the Children sees a particular burden on children. Recent Developments.


Enlarge image

Light installation in Kyiv: the Ukrainian capital is preparing for holidays in times of war

Photo: OLEG PETRASYUK / EPA

That says Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned of

possible Russian attacks in the upcoming public holidays and during the holiday period

.

"With the approaching holiday season, the Russian terrorists could become active again," said Zelenskyj in his daily video address on Friday evening.

"They despise Christian values ​​and all values ​​in general." Many Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on January 6 according to Orthodox tradition - but because of the Russian war of aggression, the voices of those who want to celebrate Christmas Eve on December 24 are increasing.

Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to

be extra vigilant

in the coming days .

"So please heed the air raid shelter signals, help each other, and always look out for each other," he said.

At the same time, he addressed an unusually harsh warning to Russia.

"The citizens of Russia must clearly understand that terror never goes unanswered," he said - without further elaborating.

In the past few days, the Ukrainian military leadership has repeatedly warned of possible new rocket attacks on the energy infrastructure.

According to military information on Friday, a Russian naval unit

is said to be on the move in the Black Sea

, which is said to include a warship equipped with cruise missiles.

Russia is also said to bring

reinforcements to its troops on the fronts in eastern and southern Ukraine

.

"The enemy has increased the volume of rail transport of troops, equipment and ammunition to the combat zones," the general staff said in Kyiv on Friday.

The area around the frontline town of Bakhmut in the east, as well as the towns of Avdiivka, Kupyansk and Limansk in the Donbass region, were considered the main combat zones.

Reinforcements on the Russian side were also recognized in the south of the country, it said.

However, the new units in the Cherson region would only be used to expand the defense lines.

The information could not be independently verified.

In recent weeks, Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukraine's energy supply network with cruise missiles, rockets and so-called kamikaze drones.

This resulted in massive power and water supply failures.

Russia wants to put pressure on the Ukrainian population in winter.

Moscow says so

Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has called on the

Russian defense industry to make more efforts

to support the armed forces.

The key task of the companies is "supplying all units with all the necessary weapons, technology, ammunition and equipment," said the Russian President on Friday when

visiting an armaments factory

in Tula, south of Moscow.

"Furthermore, this supply must be provided in the required scope and quantity, and within the deadlines."

He called for the "previous combat experience" to be incorporated into the production of weapons.

He did not give details of what he meant by that.

On Wednesday, Putin called for a faster pace of upgrading and modernizing the armed forces.

There are "no financial restrictions" on the further upgrading of the army, he said, the army should grow.

International reactions

The US Congress has passed the new government budget, which, among other things

, provides for

billions in aid for Ukraine.

The US House of Representatives approved the budget with a volume of 1.7 trillion US dollars (1.6 trillion euros).

The Senate had previously approved the law.

Defense spending accounts for about half of the budget.

Around 45 billion US dollars have been earmarked for supporting Ukraine.

The aid organization Save the Children has meanwhile drawn attention to the

dramatic situation of children

in Ukraine

for the Christian Christmas celebration .

"They are not in a party mood, but are fighting to survive and to cope with everyday life in the war," said the managing director of the German section of Save the Children, Florian Westphal, the AFP news agency.

Above all, the children would simply wish for peace.

Especially at Christmas, the situation caused by the war weighs heavily on the families.

"Many fathers serve in the army and the children miss them especially now," said Westphal.

That will be important on Saturday

  • The Ukrainian armed forces are expecting new Russian attacks against the frontline town of Bakhmut.

    The Russian-controlled cities of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbass are expecting new Ukrainian attacks from Ukrainian tube and rocket artillery.

kko/dpa/AFP

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-12-24

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