December 18, 2023
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 00:59 Ukrainian paramilitaries claim responsibility for attack on Belgorod +++
A Ukraine-based paramilitary group has claimed responsibility for an attack on Russia’s Belgorod region. The Legion of Freedom of Russia group, which is classified as terrorist in Russia, claims to have destroyed a base of Russian troops near the village of Trebreno. It is unknown whether soldiers were killed. The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, explains that Trebreno was fired upon by Ukrainian forces and that there was an “exchange of fire” on the outskirts of the village. No civilians were injured, but three houses and power lines were damaged.
+++ 22:24 Bug discovered in what may be the future office of the Ukrainian commander-in-chief +++
According to intelligence sources, a listening device was found in an office that may have been intended for the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valery Zalushny. The domestic secret service announced that criminal proceedings were initiated after a technical device was discovered at a potential future deployment site of the commander-in-chief. The secret service writes that, according to current findings, the device is not functional and there is no evidence that audio surveillance took place. According to information from the online portal “Ukrainska Pravda”, the device was discovered during a routine check this Sunday. Accordingly, it is a place that could have served as the new office of the Commander-in-Chief. The portal relies on military information.
+++ 21:56 Hand grenades detonated in village council meeting – MP charged with terrorism +++
Charges have been filed against a member of parliament who is said to have detonated several hand grenades during a village council meeting in the western Ukrainian region of Zakarpattia. This is reported by the news portal “Kyiv Independent”. He is accused of terrorism and is in custody. As a result of the attack in the village of Kerezky, one person was killed and 22 others were injured, it is said. The motive is still unclear. A police video shows a man entering the meeting room and suddenly throwing several grenades. According to consistent media reports, the deputy belongs to the presidential Servant of the People party.
+++ 21:26 Zelenskyj celebrates “historic week” +++
Ukrainian President Zelensky celebrated a “historic week” that took him from West Africa through South America and the USA to Scandinavia and finally to Germany to the US headquarters for Europe. Last but not least, the EU decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. “The negotiation process will not be easy, but the most important thing is that historically we have decided on one thing: Ukraine will always be a part of our common European home,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address
+++ 20:48 Nikopol reports serious attacks again +++
According to authorities, the city of Nikopol is under attack again. Today alone there were three attacks with kamikaze drones and heavy artillery was fired at the city twice, says the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Serhiy Lyssak. According to him, no one was injured, but infrastructure was damaged. The day before, Lyssak had reported continuous shelling and several injuries.
+++ 20:21 Investigator: Woman dies from artillery fire +++
According to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office, a woman is killed in her home by Russian artillery fire. The Russian army attacked the settlement of Krasnopilla at midday, writes the investigative agency. Accordingly, a grenade hit the 69-year-old’s house. Krasnopilla in the Sumy region is about 10 kilometers from the Russian border.
+++ 19:50 Russian media: Regular Ukrainian units attack villages in Belgorod +++
After fighting reportedly broke out in the Russian region of Belgorod, Russian media reported an attack by regular Ukrainian units. Several villages were attacked, the reports say. Ukrainian military intelligence had previously spoken of an unexpected attack by “opponents of the Kremlin regime”. Accordingly, the surprised Russian troops are said to have fired on Russian villages in a panic. An independent clarification is not possible.
You can read all previous developments here.