Prepared by Anna Dovha, Sofia Oliynyk, Maryana Zaviyska
Foreign policy.
President Zelenskiy is traveling to the US to meet with President Biden and to address the Congress. Series of meetings will take place on December 21.ย
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he sees no prospect of talks to end the war in Ukraine in the immediate future and expects the already escalating military conflict to continue, AP reports. But he called for everything possible to be done to halt the most devastating conflict in Europe since World War II by the end of 2023 โ which he strongly hopes will happen.
Economic security.
The World Bank will provide additional financing of $500 million through an IBRD loan that is supported by a guarantee from the United Kingdom for the same amount and mobilized under the Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance (PEACE) Project, reads the statement. The World Bank will also support Ukraine with a new project to restore and improve access to health care and address new and urgent needs for health services due to the war. The additional $500 million will help the Government of Ukraine with expenditures related to child and family benefits, salaries of public employees, and utility payments. Maintaining these critical public services is essential to limiting the loss of human capital and rebuilding the country and its economy after the war.
Sanctions. ย
The UK introduced another round of sanctions targeting human rights violators and abusers. The list of 8 individuals included Russians โ Andrey Tishenin, member of the Russian Federal Security Service in Crimea, and Artur Shambazov, a senior detective in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The pair tortured Ukrainian Oleksandr Kostenko in 2015. Also Valentin Oparin, Major of Justice for the Russian Federation, and Oleg Tkachenko, Head of Public Prosecutions for the Rostov region. Both individuals have obstructed complaints of torture, with Tkachenko also using torture to extract testimony. In the frame of the sanctions, those involved in serious human rights abuses and violations are banned from entering the country, channeling money through UK banks, or profiting from our economy. In addition, the UK has also sanctioned the Russian Colonel Ibatullin for his role as the commander of the 90th Tank Division, which has been on the front line since Russia began its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reads the statement.ย
Culture.
The Council of the European Unionย in the 9th package of sanctions banned the broadcasting of four additional Russian media outlets on the territory of the EU, namely NTV/NTV Mir, Rossiya 1, REN TV and Pervyi Kanal. Minister of Culture, Oleksandr Tkachenko, announced UNESCO is coordinating assistance in the supply of necessary materials for Ukrainian institutions that were affected by the war, in particular, it is about the supply of generators. The assistance has been provided by Canada, Latvia, Poland. In addition, a grant from Japan in the amount of EUR 4 million to help Sophia of Kyiv was announced
Reading corner.ย
- Our country of the year for 2022 can only be Ukraine | The Economist
- Wartime Ukraine erasing Russian past from public spaces | AP News
Statistics.
- General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the total estimated losses of the Russian military as of 10 a.m., December 19, 2022: personnel โ around 99 740, tanks โ 3002, APV โย 5979, artillery systems โ 1972, MLRS โย 412, anti-aircraft warfare systems โ 212, fixed-wing aircraft โ 282, helicopters โ 267, operational-tactical level UAV โ 1688, cruise missiles โ 653, boats and light speed boats โ 16, soft-skinned vehicles and fuel tankers โย 4608, special equipment โ 178.
Christmas in the air.ย
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% of 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.ย
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