Lavrov threatens to attack western supply lines – Russia flies new drone attacks
Created: 12/29/2022, 4:48 am
By: Patrick Mayer, Bedrettin Bölükbasi
Russian Foreign Minister: Sergei Lavrov.
© IMAGO/Sergey Guneev
In the Ukraine war, Russian soldiers are said to be fleeing the Luhansk front.
Lavrov threatens to attack supply lines.
The news ticker.
Selenskyj
describes the
situation in
Bakhmut : There is "no place that is not covered by blood".
Putin's soldiers
in
Luhansk desert
: The Russian military is probably increasing the number of patrols.
This
news ticker on military developments
in the
Ukraine war
is constantly updated.
In an unusually apolitical video message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the humanity and feelings of his fellow citizens.
"No matter what happens and what's on your mind, support each other, absolutely," Selenskyj asked in his daily video speech on Wednesday evening, which usually talks about the current situation in the Ukraine war.
"Please take the time to say kind words to those close to you."
Ukraine war: Zelenskyj addresses non-political speech to people – “Hug your family more often.”
He called on Ukrainians to help each other in times of need.
"If you know someone is expecting a son or daughter from the war, please pay attention: say hello, listen, help," said the Ukrainian leader, whose country continues to suffer severe hardships in the war with Russia.
"Hug your family more often." Kind words to colleagues or friends are also appropriate.
"Thank your parents more often, be happy with children more often." It is also important not to lose contact with friends and relatives.
At the end of his speech on the war in Ukraine, Zelensky did get a bit political: "Protect Ukraine, respect each other and do everything to help our soldiers."
Update from December 28, 11:05 p.m .:
According to Ukrainian information, the Russian military launched a new wave of attacks with so-called kamikaze drones in the Ukraine war on Wednesday evening.
The drones were aimed at various targets in the south and east of the country, the command center of the Ukrainian air defense south said on Facebook about the current situation in the war in Ukraine.
Five drones were shot down in the Dnipro region.
"Let's stay in a festive mood," it said.
Ukraine War: Russia flies new drone strikes on Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kharkiv
The arrival of several groups of drones was also reported from the Donetsk region, Zaporizhia and Kharkiv.
Observers also reported flights towards Odessa.
According to reports from the Unian agency, numerous unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down.
Further details were not initially available.
Most recently, the Russian military used so-called kamikaze drones made in Iran against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
The supply of water and electricity across the country was severely affected.
Update from December 28, 10:45 p.m .:
The losses of the Russian invasion army are apparently still high in the Ukraine war.
The Kyiv Independent
daily lists the attackers' alleged casualties, citing the Ukrainian General Staff.
More than 103,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the February 24 invasion.
More than 3,000 main battle tanks and more than 6,000 wheeled and infantry fighting vehicles were allegedly destroyed or captured.
In addition, there are said to be 283 planes shot down and 267 helicopters disabled.
Russia lost almost 2000 artillery cannons and systems.
The information provided has not been independently verified.
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace plan: Ukraine President calls on Russia to withdraw
Update from December 28, 9:55 p.m.:
Parts of the peace plan drawn up by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for an end to the Ukraine war have allegedly become public.
It is also about the military battles between the armies of Ukraine and Russia.
According to the news channel Al Jazeera English, Zelenskyj's draft includes the following points:
Release of all prisoners and deportees, including prisoners of war and children deported to Russia.
Withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities, restoration of Ukraine's state borders with Russia.
Establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes.
Nuclear security, with a focus on restoring security around Europe's largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhia, which is currently occupied by Russia.
Ukraine war topical: Great Britain supports – London supplies Kyiv with special helicopters
Update from December 28, 8:55 p.m .:
Great Britain continues to support Ukraine in its military defense against Russian aggression and will now also supply the country with so-called “Sea King” helicopters for the Ukraine war.
The Kyiv Independent
reports
, citing the British Ministry of Defense in London.
The "Sea King" is a multi-purpose transport helicopter for sea and coastal areas.
The model is also used by the German Navy.
The British are considered one of the biggest supporters of the Ukrainian armed forces and have provided them with M270 multiple rocket launchers, among other things.
Russian Foreign Minister: Sergei Lavrov.
© IMAGO/Sergey Guneev
War in Ukraine: Foreign Minister Lavrov wants to disrupt western supply lines
Update from December 28, 7:50 p.m .:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expects the supply routes for weapons and ammunition for the Ukrainian army from abroad to be interrupted soon.
"We see that Ukraine is getting more and better Western weapons," Lavrov said during an interview on Russian television on Wednesday.
Therefore, there are calls among military experts to interrupt these delivery routes.
"Railway lines, bridges and tunnels" are being considered, said Lavrov.
"I expect they'll make professional decisions about how to make those deliveries more difficult or, ideally, stop them altogether."
Around 6,900 civilians killed: New UN estimates on the Ukraine war
Update from December 28, 6:45 p.m.:
According to the latest estimates by the United Nations (UN), around 6,900 civilians have been killed in the Ukraine war so far.
As reported by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, almost 11,000 civilians have also been wounded as a result of the fighting.
About 1,800 women and 400 children were among those killed, the UN reported.
Most of the civilians died as a result of heavy artillery, multiple-missile systems or rocket fire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj: There are hardly any civilians left in Bakhmut
Update from December 28, 6:20 p.m.:
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, hardly any civilians live in the heavily contested city of Bakhmut.
“Last year, 70,000 people lived there.
Now only a few civilians are left," Zelenskyy said in a post on Facebook this Wednesday.
In the post, Zelenskyj showed photos intended to document the extent of the destruction in the frontline city in Donbass.
There is "no place" in the city that is "not covered in blood," he wrote.
Ukrainian Air Defense: 420 missiles and 430 kamikaze drones shot down
Update from December 28, 4:50 p.m .:
Since September, the Ukrainian air defense has apparently shot down more than 420 missiles and more than 430 Kamikaz drones from Russia.
This was announced by the spokesman for the Air Force Yuri Ignat, according to the official Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform.
Although the Russian military used a very large number of missiles, they still have a large number of missiles at their disposal.
Zelenskyj describes the situation in Bakhmut - "no place that is not covered by blood"
Update from December 28, 2:10 p.m .:
Russian and Ukrainian troops continue to fight fiercely in front of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast.
Russia has been trying to take the city for several months, but without success.
Now the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj also commented on the current situation in Bakhmut in the short message service Telegram.
He also shared photos showing the destruction in the city.
"Last year 70,000 people lived here, now only a few civilians remain," Zelenskyj wrote, adding: "There is no place that is not covered in blood." There is "not an hour when the terrible roar of artillery does not sounds".
Nevertheless stand Bachmut.
"Our defense troops are standing, the Ukrainian Donbass is standing," assured the president, referring to the fighting.
War in Ukraine: Apparently Russian commanders are also fleeing Kreminna
Update from December 28, 12:40 p.m .:
It is said that not only Russian soldiers from lower ranks are fleeing in Luhansk Oblast, but also the military leadership in the region.
Russian military commanders have left the embattled city of Kreminna, Ukrainian military governor of Luhansk Serhiy Hajdaj has claimed, according to Ukrainian news agency Unian.
In addition, civilians brought to Kreminna by Russia are also on the run.
The military governor underscored that the recapture of Kreminna could open the way for Ukrainian troops towards the city of Starobelsk, as well as towards Rubishne and Sievarodonetsk.
Ukraine war: UN reports new number of civilians killed
Update from December 28, 11:15 a.m .:
According to the latest UN counts, almost 6,900 civilians have been killed in the Ukraine war.
Almost 11,000 unarmed people were wounded, said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva.
Among those killed were 1,800 women and around 400 children, it said.
According to the UN, most of the recorded civilian casualties were caused by the use of explosive weapons with long-range effects, including heavy artillery fire, multiple missile systems, missiles and airstrikes.
The OHCHR assumes that the actual numbers are considerably higher.
Reports from some locations with intense fighting have been delayed and have yet to be confirmed.
This applies, for example, to the regions around Mariupol and various places in the Luhansk region.
Putin's soldiers fleeing in fear of death?
Ukraine reports wave of Russian desertions in Luhansk
Overview of December 28:
Munich – In the Russian war of aggression, the roles have been reversed: In some places, the Ukrainian military is currently on the offensive and is trying to recapture areas occupied by Russian troops.
The heaviest fighting is currently taking place in eastern Ukraine.
Putin's soldiers in Luhansk desert - Russian military increases number of patrols
In view of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, things are looking particularly dangerous for the Russian military in Luhansk Oblast, which was annexed by Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian general staff reported on Facebook that because of the high losses in their own ranks, more and more Russian soldiers were deserting and giving up their combat positions in Luhansk.
According to the General Staff, the Russian military leadership is now taking appropriate measures.
"In order to keep the situation under control, the Russian military leadership has increased the number of patrols to apprehend and repatriate deserters," the General Staff statement said.
However, this representation cannot be independently verified.
The Ukraine War in Pictures - Destruction, Resistance and Hope
View photo gallery
Ukraine war: Heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine - "continued pressure" on Russian army
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army is advancing on the strategically important city of Kreminna in Luhansk.
The city is considered the gateway to the Russian-occupied cities of Sievjerodonetsk and Lysychansk.
After several heavy defeats in the Ukraine war, the Russian military tries to maintain control of Kreminna.
The US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that several Ukrainian attacks on the Swatowe-Kreminna line had been repelled.
Citing Russian sources, Ukrainian troops were said to be regrouping, drawing reinforcements from Kharkiv in north-eastern Ukraine.
According to British assessments, Putin's troops in Kreminna are "under constant pressure" from Ukrainian forces.
The British Ministry of Defense said Russia had probably strengthened its front line in the area in Luhansk Oblast in recent days.
It has established extensive new defenses there and will likely focus on holding the position.
(bb)