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Russian strikes on two cities in the southeast Ukraine they killed 12 and wounded more than 40, local officials said.
An attack on a car repair shop in Zaporozhye turned the facility into a huge fireball and killed 10 people, the regional governor said. About 24 people were injured, including two children, a local official said.
Some settlements had power supply problems after the attack, the governor added.
In Krivo Rog, the president Volodymyr Zelenskyhometown, also in the southeast of the country, two people were killed in a rocket attack on the administrative building.
It comes as Ukraine showed off a new home-made “rocket vehicle” it said could fly 700km – more than twice the maximum range attributed to missiles supplied by the Western Allies.
The drone, dubbed “Peklo” – which means hell in Ukrainian – is the second “missile drone” Kiev has unveiled as it tries to increase its ability to strike deep into Russia.
On Saturday, Mr. Zelensky he also met with US President-elect Donald Trump as the couple attended the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Zelensky said: “We talked about our people, the situation on the ground and a just peace.”
Russia claims it has taken control of a village in Ukraine’s Donetsk region
Russia captured the village of Beretski in the Donetsk region, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday, reports Kyiv Independent.
Berecki, located about 40 km west of Donetsk, is near Kurakhiv, an area that has faced heavy Russian attacks in recent months as part of its push to gain control of eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine has not yet commented on Russia’s claims.
Shahana Yasmin8 December 2024 03:30
The US announces a billion dollar arms package for Ukraine
The US will provide Ukraine with an additional $988 million in long-term arms support, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday.
“The baton will be passed soon,” Austin said. “Others will decide the future course. And I hope they will build on the strength we have gained over the past four years.”
The latest package will include more drones and munitions for the High Mobility Missile Systems, or HIMARS.
The package is in addition to the $725 million in military aid the US announced on Monday.
Shahana Yasmin8 December 2024 03:10
Ukraine confirms second Danish delivery of F-16s as Zelensky seeks support in Paris
Denmark has delivered a second batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday as he traveled to Paris to meet with senior politicians and dignitaries.
In a Telegram message, Zelenskyy praised Denmark and complained about the lack of commitment from other allies.
“The first series of planes provided by the Danes are already shooting down Russian missiles: they are saving our people and our infrastructure. Now our air shield has been strengthened even more,” he said. “If all partners were so determined, we would be able to make Russian terror impossible.”
Shahana Yasmin8 December 2024 02:50
MI5 forced to shift focus from terrorism to Russia due to ‘limited capacity’
Jabed Ahmed8 December 2024 02:01
Trump discusses ending the war in Ukraine with Zelensky in a “good and productive” meeting
Volodymyr Zelensky described his first face-to-face talks with US President-elect Donald Trump since November’s US election as “productive”, as the pair discussed ending the war as soon as possible.
Trump traveled to Paris for a ceremony marking the reopening of Notre-Dame cathedral, destroyed by fire in 2019, in a return to the world stage as leaders vie for his attention.
The meeting with Zelensky was brokered and attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, who played a key role in the cathedral service amid turmoil in French politics.
Trump has previously pledged to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine within 24 hours of his inauguration on January 20, although his officials have floated the idea of forcing Kiev to cede territory to Russian leader Vladimir Putin to achieve that goal.
In a three-way meeting that lasted 35 minutes on Saturday night, Mr Zelensky described it as “good and productive”, adding: “We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a fair way. We talked about our people, the situation on the ground and just peace.”
Alex Ross8 December 2024 01:02
Top Estonian tech firm to test anti-drone missiles guided by artificial intelligence in Ukraine
A leading Estonian defense firm said it would begin testing missiles against unmanned aerial vehicles in Ukraine in 2025.
The tests aim to verify the effectiveness of the system in real combat conditions, Frankenburg Technologies said.
Recognized as Europe’s largest technology startup, Frankenburg Technologies has developed interceptor missiles Iran’s Shahed dronesat heights of two kilometers using artificial intelligence for autonomous targeting.
“The technology is promising and we will start testing it in Ukraine in the new year,” company CEO Kusti Salm told Estonian public broadcaster ERR.
Production will begin ramping up from a few dozen units per week to hundreds by the third quarter of 2025.
Jabed Ahmed7 December 2024 23:58
ICYMI: Putin signs deal offering Russian security guarantees to ally Belarus
Jabed AhmedDecember 7, 2024 11:02 p.m
Russia gives touch to Trump despite “red lines”
Russia is open to talks with US President-elect Donald Trump but will use “any means” to prevent Washington and its allies from defeating him in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said American journalist Tucker Carlson.
In an 80-minute interview published late Thursday, Mr. Lavrov spoke positively of Mr. Trumpwho returns to the White House next month, despite urging the West to take Russia’s “red lines” seriously.
Mr Lavrov said Mr Trump was “a very strong person, a person who wants results” and said he saw no reason why the two countries could not “cooperate for the benefit of the universe”.
Mr Lavrov’s comments were part of a pattern of Russian signals designed to dissuade Washington from further escalating support for Ukraine while showing openness to talks.
Jabed Ahmed7 December 2024 22:01
Zelensky says Putin “doesn’t need real peace” after Russian strikes kill 12 people
Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Vladimir Putin for the strikes, which were at least 12 in the southeast of Ukraine.
At least 10 people were killed in Zaporizhia, while two were killed in Zelenski’s hometown, Krivo Rog, regional officials said.
“Thousands of such strikes carried out by Russia during this war make it abundantly clear that Putin does not need real peace,” Zelensky said in a post on Telegram. “We can resist it only with force. And only by force can true peace be established.”
Jabed Ahmed7 December 2024 21:03