Shipments from Ukraine. Day 1 034.
Russian attacks on the oblast or southern region of Kherson left another three people dead and one wounded on December 22.
Donetsk region. Between December 19 and 22, Russian bombing raids on the Donetsk region of southeastern Ukraine killed six civilians and wounded others.
Russian troops executed 4 Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Volnovakha district on the front line of the region on December 22, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine. Following an artillery attack, 4 Ukrainian infantrymen sought safe shelter in a personal home. They surrendered and were taken prisoner after Russian forces surrounded the house. The testimonies imply that two of the Ukrainian prisoners of war were forced out onto a road, while the other two remained lying on the ground; all four were executed, a violation of the Geneva Conventions.
On December 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that around 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in Russia’s Kursk region. Zelensky warned of the option of sending more North Korean troops and military equipment to Russia, promising strong responses. The progression comes after the integration of 11,000 North Korean soldiers into Russian forces and the delivery of complex military equipment, such as self-propelled howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems, from North Korea to Russia.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico traveled to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on his first stop in the Kremlin on Dec. 22. The unannounced meeting focused on energy issues, in particular on the origin of Russian fuel in Slovakia after 2024. Slovakia has traditionally imported Russian fuel. But due to Russia’s aggression, Kyiv has refused to terminate its fuel transit agreement after it expires later this year, leaving Slovakia’s energy security at risk. Fico has become the third European leader to meet Putin since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, after Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Visits to Moscow through Western officials are controversial, as they undermine Putin’s diplomatic isolation. offering him an additional platform to spread his propaganda and giving him legitimacy as a global leader.
The United Nations has reported that more than 12,300 civilians have been killed and more than 27,800 injured in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. As of November, attacks with long-range weapons accounted for 42% of the casualties. civilians, a significant increase compared to recent months. Data from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission shows that the year 2024 is devastating in terms of civilian casualties, with aerial bombardments killing 341 civilians and injuring 1,803, a three- and six-fold increase compared to the previous year. last year.
The European Union plans to unveil its sixteenth set of sanctions against Russia on February 24, 2025, the third anniversary of Moscow’s liberation from the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Sanctions have in the past targeted ignored or outsourced sectors of the Russian economy, as well as Americans and organizations known to be propagandists or undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The package could also impose travel bans and freeze the assets of suspected spies and participants in disinformation campaigns, showing that such activities remain difficult. The package will adhere to the 15th package of EU sanctions, imposed earlier this month, which banned 52 ships belonging to Russia’s “ghost fleet” that had circumvented sanctions on energy exports and, for the first time, Array addressed so-called “hybrid” Russian attacks. or acts of sabotage against EU countries.
Ukraine has secured a conditional disbursement of $1. 1 billion from the International Monetary Fund under its four-year Extended Financing Facility, bringing the total budget obtained to $9. 8 billion out of the planned $15. 6 billion. This is the seventh tranche of the initiative, dispensed after Ukraine. met structural reform objectives in the areas of public finance, financial policy, governance and the energy sector. By 2025, the program will provide up to $2. 7 billion, subject to a successful quarterly review of reform progress.
Germany has provided a significant military aid package to Ukraine, strengthening its defense functions amid the ongoing standoff with Russia. Announced on December 23, the set includes 15 Leopard 1 A5 large tanks equipped with ammunition, 30 mine-resistant armored vehicles, two Patriot missile defense launchers and complex IRIS-T air defense systems equipped with ammunition. In addition, Ukraine will obtain two Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft units, a self-propelled howitzer, radars, drones and 52,000 155 mm artillery shells.
Despite a promise to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027, imports of Russian liquefied herbal fuel (LNG) from the European Union reached a record 16. 5 million tonnes in 2024, almost 10% above current levels. 2023. As pipeline fuel imports from Russia have fallen and oil and coal are banned, declining Russian LNG prices, especially since the Yamal terminal, a primary LNG production facility in the Russian Arctic, has made it a controversial, although growing, component of the European energy mix. France and Belgium lead imports, with France doubling its contributions. The EU plans to ban the use of European ports for LNG transshipment (transfer of fuel from ice class ships to normal shipping ships) for third countries in March 2025.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 22: Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine in action against Tyson Fury of UnitedArray. [+] Kingdom, “Riyadh Season” boxing at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 22, 2024. (Photo via Mohammed Saad/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk defeated his British rival Tyson Fury in their highly anticipated rematch on December 21, winning by unanimous resolution with the same scores of 116-112 from all 3 judges. Held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the bout saw Usyk’s incredible speed, skill and movement surpass Fury’s larger frame and physique. Fury, who was 55 pounds heavier than his opponent, struggled to maintain his speed after the first few rounds, allowing Usyk to get into the action with precision and lateral movement. Despite Fury’s attempts to land heavy shots, Usyk’s precise counterattacks and relentless speed defeated the Brit as the fight progressed. Fury left the ring in disbelief, as Usyk solidified his legacy as world heavyweight champion, earning a purse of $104. 5 million, compared to Fury’s $84. 5 million. This victory follows Usyk’s previous victory against Fury in May.
By Danylo Nosov and Karina L. Tahiliani
A community. Many voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.
Our network aims to link others through open and thoughtful conversations. We need our readers to share their perspectives and exchange concepts and facts in one space.
In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.
Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:
User accounts will be locked if we become aware that users are engaging in:
So how can you be a user?
Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.