Ukrainian troops in Avdiyivka, on the left bank of the Dnipro in Kherson region come under numerous attacks. Russia has launched 7,400 missiles and 3,700 drones at Ukraine since the invasion. Two Russian air strikes hit coal mines in Toretsk, killing three and injuring five others.
Ukrainian troops in Avdiyivka, on left bank in Kherson region come under numerous attacks
Ukrainian troops maintain control of the Avdiyivka coke plant, spokesperson for the joint press center of Ukraine’s defense forces in the Tavria direction, Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun said on Thursday, commenting on the situation in Avdiyivka. “In the past day, [Ukrainian troops] repelled 14 attacks around Avdiyivka, particularly near Novokalynove, east of Novobakhmutivka, and near the town of Avdiyivka, and 22 more attacks near Severne, Pervomayske, and Nevelske,” he said.
Russian forces reportedly advanced near Avdiyivka on December 20, but there are no confirmed changes in the frontline in this area, the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest report on December 20. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov explicitly stated that the Kremlin is uninterested in negotiations with Ukraine, suggesting that the Kremlin is moving away from its information operation meant to feign interest in negotiations, the report reads.
Russian forces are trying to push Ukrainian troops out of the left (east) bank of the Dnipro river in Kherson region, but Ukrainian troops are repelling their assaults and maintain control of a several kilometer long strip of land, spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern military command, Captain First Rank Natalia Humenyuk said on national television on Wednesday.
Russia is building reserves on the left bank, massing the Z company there for assaults, or “meat waves”, Humenyuk said. Russian assaults not supported by equipment are also quite common, she added.
Russia has launched 7,400 missiles, 3,700 drones at Ukraine since invasion
Russia has launched about 7,400 missiles of different types at Ukraine since the invasion. Ukraine’s Air Force shot down 1,600 of the missiles, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force Command, Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said Ihnat said in televised comments.
Ukraine’s air defenses were able to shoot down 2,900 of 3,700 Shahed drones that Russia has launched at Ukraine since September 2022. Ukrainian troops shoot down 85-100 per cent of the drones involved in attacks, Ihnat added.
Two Russian air strikes hit coal mines in Toretsk, killing three, injuring five others
Three people were killed and five others injured in Russian aerial strikes on coal mines in Toretsk, in Donetsk region, on Thursday.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram that two aerial bombs hit a mine in Toretsk, killing one person and wounding two others. A further two bombs hit another mine in the area, leaving two people dead and injuring three more, Klymenko said.
The Donetsk regional prosecutor’s office later said those who died were three men ages 41, 42, and 45.
European Council launches membership negotiations with Ukraine. Ukraine in Flames #549
On December 13 the European Council decided to start negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union. This stage is the penultimate one before joining the EU, then there will be a procedure for preparing the formalities for accepting countries into the Union. This is indeed a historic event, but it does not mean at all that Ukraine will become a full-fledged member of the EU. Negotiations can last for years. Watch Ukraine in flames #549 to find out about this important symbolic step for Ukraine, the negotiation process itself and explore the necessary steps Ukraine must take to draw closer to EU membership.
Guests:
- Nataliya Forsyuk, Former General Director of Governmental Office on European Integration and NATO
- Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, People’s Deputy of Ukraine, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union
- Yevhen Mahda, Director of the Institute of World Politics