VLADIMIR Putin looks set to order a “second wave of mobilisation” after Russian forces have faced heavy losses on the battlefield in Ukraine.
According to an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin plans to draft “500,000-700,000” Russians into the army.
Anton Gerashchenko said: “Russia is getting ready for 2nd wave of mobilisation in January. The plan is to draft 500,000-700,000. The 300,000 drafted before – already killed/wounded/demoralised.”
It comes as Sergei Surovikin, dubbed “General Armageddon” by the Russian media due to his ruthlessness, is under increasing pressure to justify his retreat from Kherson last week.
Surovikin called for the retreat, arguing it would allow the Kremlin to save valuable equipment and manpower. However, Russian losses continue to mount, passing 85,000 this week, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.
Read our Ukraine-Russia live blog below for the latest updates…
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Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘nuclear blackmail’ as shells hit Zaporizhzhia
A top Ukrainian official has slammed Russian forces, accusing them of attacking humanitarian centres and engaging in “nuclear blackmail.”
“Russian terrorists are shelling humanitarian delivery points, continuing nuclear blackmail – a pitiful tactic of military losers,” Andriy Yermak, chief of the presidential staff, said via Telegram.
“Well, for every such action there is a Ukrainian counteraction,” he added.
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Russia reportedly preparing a second round of mobilisation
According to Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Kremlin is preparing another round of mobilisation in January.
Taking to Twitter, he said: “Russia is getting ready for 2nd wave of mobilization in January. The plan is to draft 500,000-700,000.
“The 300,000 drafted before – already killed/wounded/demoralized.”
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Zelensky hails EU for latest aid package
President Zelensky took to Twitter yesterday afternoon to praise the EU after a new round of aid was announced.
This latest package will see the EU provide macro-financial aid worth €2.5billion.
Mr Zelensky thanked the EU for its “solidarity and support.”
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Damage to Ukraine’s energy grid is ‘colossal’ claims energy operator
Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, chief executive officer of Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s energy grid operator, has said the damage to the country’s infrastructure is “colossal”.
Russia has been engaged in a bombing campaign targeting Ukraine’s ability to produce electricity ahead of the winter.
Ukrainians across the nation have been forced to endure rolling blackouts in a bid to save energy.
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Ukrainians facing their ‘darkest days’ warns World Health Organisation
Ukraine and its health service are facing a crisis this winter following months of Russian bombing, said the World Health Organisation (WHO.)
“This winter will be life-threatening for millions of people in Ukraine,” said WHO’s regional director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P Kluge.
“The devastating energy crisis, the deepening mental health emergency, constraints on humanitarian access and the risk of viral infections will make this winter a formidable test for the Ukrainian health system and the Ukrainian people, but also for the world and its commitment to support Ukraine.
“Ukraine’s health system is facing its darkest days in the war so far. Having endured more than 700 attacks, it is now also a victim of the energy crisis.”
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No progress made on Zaporizhzhia safe zone agreement – Kremlin
There has been no “substantive” progress made on the deal to create a safe zone around the Zaporizhzhia powerplant, the Kremlin has said according to the Independent.
Europe’s largest nuclear plant has been subject to a series of bombardments in recent days, causing fears of a Chornobyl-style disaster in Ukraine.
The UN’s nuclear watchdog said both Ukraine and Russia are “playing with fire” by fighting near the plant.
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EU to provide a further 2.5billion Euros to Ukraine
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, confirmed on Tuesday that the EU is set to provide a further 2.5billion Euros of aid to Ukraine.
Taking to Twitter, she confirmed the EU is planning to another 18billion in 2023.
This money will be used “for urgent repairs and fast recovery leading to a successful reconstruction.”
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Elon Musk’s Starlink at work in Kherson
Billionaire Elon Musk has supplied his Starlink technology to Ukraine since the outbreak of Russia’s invasion.
The tech allows Ukraine to have internet access despite Russia’s best attempts to limit the nation’s connection to the web.
Our Defence Editor Jerome Starkey, who is live on the ground in Kherson and took the photo below, described the technology as a “lifesaver.”
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One dead as Russia bombs school in Zaporizhzhia
A social worker has been killed after Russian forces attacked a school in the region of Zaporizhzhia.
The building had been converted into a humanitarian distribution centre.
Two other Ukrainians were injured.
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Russians ‘leave behind a completely destroyed infrastructure’
In his nightly address Zelensky has told of the destruction that Russian soldiers have left behind.
Zelensky said: “We managed to liberate more than 1,800 settlements from the Russian occupation. And the consequences of the occupation are very similar everywhere.
“The Russian soldiers mined everything they managed to mine. The occupiers looted everything they managed to loot. In general, hundreds of thousands of buildings were destroyed or damaged by shelling across Ukraine. Thousands of social objects. The occupiers leave behind a completely destroyed infrastructure…”
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Russia backtracks on ambitions
Russia no longer has the intention of replacing Ukraine’s government, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said this morning.
Putin “does not intend the ‘special operation’ to change the government in Ukraine”, he told Sky News.
This is a different tune to Russia’s original plan in Ukraine, where they hoped to install a Moscow-friendly government.
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Ukraine tanks advance in Ukraine
Ukrainian tanks have been filmed storming through fields, advancing further on as the war in Ukraine continues.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence uploaded the clip which shows the tanks, assembled in a line formation, advance along a path towards the front line.
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Putin’s ‘torture chambers’ uncovered
Ukraine says it has uncovered several of Putin’s “torture chambers” in the liberated city of Kherson, used to perform sick acts on civilians.
The Office of the General Prosecutor of Ukraine said in a statement that officials had found and inspected “four premises” where Putin’s bloodthirsty troops “illegally detained people and brutally tortured them”.
Parts of rubber truncheons, a wooden bat, an incandescent lamp and “a device with which the occupiers tortured civilians with electricity” were found in one location – as well as paperwork documenting the administration of the detention sites.
Sickening images show athe regime’s ‘Z’ symbol graffiti’d across the walls in the pre-trial detention centre – with an ominous-looking contraption that appears to be a torture device.
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IAEA confirms no safety concerns at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
The IAEA have confirmed that there are no immediate nuclear safety or security concerns at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine following shelling.
The International Atomic Energy Agency have said their investigators “were able to confirm that – despite the severity of the shelling – key equipment remained intact and there were no immediate nuclear safety or security concerns”.
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Putin puts ruthless ‘General Armageddon’ under pressure to deliver
PUTIN is furiously demanding his top general in Ukraine deliver results after Russian forces were forced into a humiliating retreat from Kherson.
Sergei Surovikin, dubbed “General Armageddon” by the Russian media due to his ruthlessness, is under increasing pressure to justify his retreat from Kherson last week.
Surovikin called for the retreat, arguing it would allow the Kremlin to save valuable equipment and manpower. However, Russian losses continue to mount with them today passing 85,000, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.
Now, some experts are suggesting an enraged Putin placed Surovikin in charge of the Russian forces in Ukraine simply to act as a “fall guy” when the war inevitably goes wrong.
“It was obvious that Surovikin’s appointment and the praise heaped upon him were at least partly due to the need to create a figure with a mandate for ‘shameful’ actions that Putin didn’t want to take in his own name,” said Alexander Baunov, a former Russian diplomat.
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‘Two UAVs have already been shot down’
According to reports, two drones have been shot down in Crimean city of Sevastopol.
In a statement, the region’s Russian-installed governor, Mikhail Razvozhaev, said: “Our air defence forces are working right now.
“There is an attack by drones. According to preliminary information, two UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) have already been shot down. All forces and services are on alert.”
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Ex-Nato ambassador warns Serbia is ‘playing with fire’
Vesko Garčević, former ambassador of Montenegro for NATO and a professor at Boston University, warned Russia-linked Serbia is “playing with fire” when speaking to The Sun Online.
”Serbia will want to escalate this as much as they can, and if they go further, it could spiral out of control,” Mr Garčević told The Sun Online.
”The US, UK, and UN must become more involved in pre-emptive action.
“They must tell Belgrade this isn’t a game, and it won’t be tolerated.”
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Zelensky spoke to Macron about ‘radiation safety and the situation at Zaporizhzhia’
Zelensky has said that “the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is extremely important”.
During his nightly address, the Ukrainian President said: “I spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron about the implementation of several points of our Peace Formula at once. Namely, about radiation safety and the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as well as about the energy security of Ukraine and Europe.
“We are working to ensure the implementation of the IAEA order to stop any hostile activity against Ukrainian nuclear facilities. And for this, the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is extremely important. Russia must withdraw all its militants from there and stop shelling the station.”
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‘Ukrainian side continues to take the most drastic measures to prevent the use of Iranian weapons’
According to CNN, Ukrainian and Iran officials have met to discuss recent allegations that Russia have been supplied with Iranian drones.
Speaking to CNN, Oleg Nikolenko, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s ministry of foreign affairs said: “Such an expert meeting did take place.
“I cannot disclose the details, but I can assure you that the Ukrainian side continues to take the most drastic measures to prevent the use of Iranian weapons by Russia for the war against Ukraine.”
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Japanese government announce support for Ukraine
The Japanese government has announced it will provide generators and solar lanterns to Ukraine to help deal with the “large-scale blackout”.
The government released a statement saying: ” The large-scale blackout has occurred in various areas of Ukraine caused by destruction of a large part of energy infrastructure facilities.
“While the winter gets colder and days get shorter every day in Ukraine, the aid has significant importance as winterization support for those who cannot use heating facilities and lighting equipment due to the blackout.”
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German Chancellor sends warning
Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor has sent out a warning to his country that they must be “ready for an escalation”.
During a conference in Berlin Scholz said: “In view of the development of the war and Russia’s visible and growing failures … we must be ready for an escalation.”
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Locals in Kherson forced to drink water from river
By Jerome Starkey, defence editor
LONG-suffering locals in newly-freed Kherson are resorting to drawing water from the mighty Dnipro River to survive.
Residents young and old brave missiles and mortars to fill bottles from the waterway that marks the edge of Ukrainian-held territory.
Those living there today have no central heating or power after missiles destroyed power stations.
The water stopped working on November 9 when pumping stations were targeted.
Read more from Jerome Starkey on the ground in Ukraine here.
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Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘nuclear blackmail’ as shells hit Zaporizhzhia
A top Ukrainian official has slammed Russian forces, accusing them of attacking humanitarian centres and engaging in “nuclear blackmail.”
“Russian terrorists are shelling humanitarian delivery points, continuing nuclear blackmail – a pitiful tactic of military losers,” Andriy Yermak, chief of the presidential staff, said via Telegram.
“Well, for every such action there is a Ukrainian counteraction,” he added.
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Russia reportedly preparing a second round of mobilisation
According to Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Kremlin is preparing another round of mobilisation in January.
Taking to Twitter, he said: “Russia is getting ready for 2nd wave of mobilization in January. The plan is to draft 500,000-700,000.
“The 300,000 drafted before – already killed/wounded/demoralized.”
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Zelensky hails EU for latest aid package
President Zelensky took to Twitter this afternoon to praise the EU after a new round of aid was announced.
This latest package will see the EU provide macro-financial aid worth €2.5billion.
Mr Zelensky thanked the EU for its “solidarity and support.”
