Prepared by Anna Dovha, Sofia Oliynyk, Maryana Zaviyska
Photo: Kosiantyn Liberov, Vlada Liberova
Cities under attack.
On December 5, the Russian military launched another massive missile attack on Ukraine. During the day, Russia carried out 17 airstrikes on Ukrainian territory, while the Defense Forces destroyed more than 60 out of the 70 missiles launched by the Russian Federation. During the massive attack, residential buildings and critical infrastructure facilities in Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and other regions of Ukraine were hit.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova reported that a missile was discovered on the territory of the country near the Ukrainian border after the Russian massive attack on Ukraine. Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, stated that the missile that fell on the territory of Moldova is related to the Russian Federation.
Humanitarian assistance.
Almost 690 humanitarian organizations provide assistance in Ukraine, according to the UN. It is noted that these are mostly local organizations. Over the past few months, in preparation for winter, humanitarian workers have provided more than 630000 civilians with various types of winter aid. Also, organizations provided 400 generators to critical facilities.
Human rights.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin accused Russia of ‘deliberate cruelty’ in its war in Ukraine, saying the Russian military was intentionally targeting civilians. He emphasized that a large number of civilians of Ukraine died due to Russian shelling.
Belarusian border guards deliberately send refugees from Iran and Pakistan to the border with Ukraine in order to identify vulnerable and insufficiently protected areas of the border and then use them for the passage of subversive intelligence groups, according to the Center of National Resistance.
POW exchange.
On December 6, Ukraine held another exchange of prisoners of war. 60 Ukrainian defenders returned from Russian captivity. Also, on the same day, the exchange of bodies of fallen soldiers took place. The bodies of 49 fallen Ukrainian defenders were returned to Ukraine.
Foreign policy.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, reported on two new incidents of threats against Ukrainian embassies. He noted that the dangerous packages were sent to the Ukrainian diplomatic missions in Denmark and Romania. Also, the Ukrainian diplomats in Spain are being threatened again. Three more envelopes with animal eyes were sent to the Embassy of Ukraine in Spain. In total, there have already been 21 cases of threats against Ukrainian embassies and consulates in 12 countries.
On December 5, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi held talks with the Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazovich. The leaders signed the Joint Declaration on the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Pekka Haavisto did not support the statement of French President Emmanuel Macron about ‘security guarantees’ for Russia. ‘In the current situation, we need guarantees specifically against Russia. This applies to both Ukraine and other countries,’ he stated. Also, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland Marcin Przydacz said that security guarantees are needed for Ukraine and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, but not for Russia. Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas also criticized this proposal of the French president. She stated that it is now dangerous to talk about peace with Russia. Kaja Kallas emphasized that firstly, Russia should withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territories, and then the security of Ukraine should be ensured. In addition, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielus Landsbergis stated that the tactic of leaving Russia undefeated and ready for future partnership is toxic. ‘Russia shouldn’t get invited to ‘peace’ negotiations as a reward for brutally invading, occupying, and murdering its neighbours again and again,’ he said.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron is in favor of bringing Russian President Vladimir Putin to justice for war crimes and at the same time does not see a military option for ending the war in Ukraine and insists on continuing the dialogue with the Russian leader.
Hungary has blocked the approval of a 18 bln EUR EU package of financial aid for Ukraine during the EU Council meeting on December 6. The EU Council adopted only one of the three pieces of legislation which aim to provide for a structural solution to financially support Ukraine in 2023. The aid is critical to support Ukraine in regard to the increasing state deficit and keep the economy running against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion. Valdis Dombrovskis underlined that the first tranche is essential for Ukraine to survive winter.
Media.
The National Council of Electronic Media of Latvia (NEPLP) decided to cancel the broadcast license of the Russian opposition TV channel ‘Rain’. Chairman of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting Ivars Abolinsh reported that the decision to revoke the license was made in connection with the threat to national security and public order.
Energy security.
Japan implemented a price cap on Russian crude oil from December 5, but crude oil imported from the Sakhalin-2 plant will be excluded, according to the Japanese government.
German energy firm RWE has initiated arbitration proceedings against Russia’s Gazprom over missing gas deliveries, a spokesperson for RWE said.
A record stock of fuel wood has been harvested in Ukraine. The Ukrainian State Forestry Resources Agency’s enterprises have formed a record large supply of 260000 cubic meters of firewood nationwide. Currently, firewood is delivered to the eastern and southern front-line areas, and a large amount of fuel is transferred to the military.
Awards.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, became the ‘Person of the Year’ according to the British edition of the Financial Times. He was recognized as ‘the embodiment of the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people in their struggle against Russian aggression.’
Ukrainian writer Serhii Zhadan was included in the top three cultural figures of the year according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The writer took second place in the rating.
Oksana Romaniuk, the head of the Institute of Mass Information, rejected the Johann-Philipp-Palm-Award for Freedom of Speech and the Press due to the award also being given to Russian journalist Alexei Venediktov, whom she called ‘an official Kremlin liberal.’
The BBC has published a list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2022. Eight Ukrainian women were included in the list: the first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, paramedic Yuliia Paievska (Taira), human rights defender Oleksandra Matviichuk, defender of the rights of people with disabilities Yuliia Sachuk, mathematician Maryna Viazovska, pediatrician Iryna Kondratova, journalist Kristina Berdynskykh and a volunteer and member of the parliament Yana Zinkevych.
Also, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska received the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award, which is presented annually by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security for exceptional leadership in recognizing the important role of women in creating a more peaceful and secure world.
Reading corner.
- Diary of a Ukrainian Journalist | Strangers Guide – Diary of the Ukrainian journalist Anastacia Stanko about her the months after the Russian invasion. ‘Every morning after watching the news, where there is shelling overnight, my first thought is: how many of us were killed? I write to all my close friends on the front. Hi, how are you? I am just waiting for them to say ‘okay.’’
- Vladimir Putin’s Ukrainian Genocide: Nobody can claim they did not know | Atlantic Council – ‘On each occasion, retreating Russian troops have left behind a vast crime scene of mass graves, torture chambers, sexual violence, and deeply traumatized communities. Specific accounts of civilian suffering are strikingly similar from region to region, indicating that these crimes are the result of deliberate Kremlin policy rather than the rogue actions of individual Russian army units.’
- Culture war: Russia ransacks art to rub out Ukraine’s history | POLITICO – ‘Many see the theft and destruction as continuing a colonialist policy to wipe out Ukraine’s history and rewrite it as part of Russia’s, in line with President Vladimir Putin’s debunked rationale for the war that Ukraine has no history of its own and therefore no right to exist as a country.’
Statistics.
- General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the total estimated losses of the Russian military as of 10 a.m., December 07, 2022: personnel – around 92 740, tanks ‒ 2935, APV ‒ 5909, artillery systems – 1923, MLRS – 395, anti-aircraft warfare systems – 211, fixed-wing aircraft – 281, helicopters – 264, operational-tactical level UAV – 1601, cruise missiles – 592, boats and light speed boats – 16, soft-skinned vehicles and fuel tankers – 4526, special equipment – 163.
Christmas in the air.
Thinking of Christmas shopping? Check some of the Ukraine supporting brands delivering worldwide:
- Made with Bravery the official Ukrainian marketplace of different goods and gifts produced in Ukraine.
- Here and Now sustainable eco pottery by Yuliya Makliuk. Part of the profit goes for reconstruction needs of Irpin and support of armed forces.
- Saint Javelin former journalist project that distributes profits to support rebuilding Ukraine and its humanitarian needs.
- OLIZ silk scarves and clothes. 50% from income goes to the Ukrainian army and volunteers.
Every action counts, no contribution is too small!
- Support Hurkit Foundation established and supported by Kyiv activists, previously standing for urban development, now supporting the military in the hotspots.
- Support SharetheTruth project becoming one of the volunteers translating it into your local language.
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