January 8, 2024
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 03:09 At the age of 23: Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter pilot killed +++
The 23-year-old pilot of the 114th tactical aviation brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vladyslaw Salistovsky, nickname Blue Helmet, died in a combat operation. This is reported by the Ukrainian news agency Suspilne with reference to his brother and fellow pilot.
+++ 01:26 At the age of 33: Ukrainian poet Kryvtsov fell +++
The Ukrainian poet and soldier Maksym Kryvtsov died at the front in the war against Russia. He died at the age of 33. The writers’ association PEN Ukraine announced this in a statement. His volume of poetry “Virshi z biinytsi” (“Poems from the Battlefield”) was recognized by PEN Ukraine as one of the best books of Ukrainian poetry.
+++ 23:53 US Congress agrees on financial package +++
Top politicians in the US Congress have agreed on a financial package that is intended to avert a partial shutdown of US government authorities in January. The package includes $1.6 trillion in federal spending for the 2024 fiscal year, says Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson. This includes $886 billion for defense and $704 billion for other spending. US President Joe Biden says the deal brings the country one step closer to “preventing an unnecessary government shutdown and protecting important national priorities.” The financial package is independent of a complementary spending request from the White House for additional aid to Ukraine and Israel. A bipartisan group of senators has negotiated a deal to combine changes in border and immigration policy with further aid for Ukraine, reports “The Hill”.
+++ 22:11 Russia attacks Kharkiv with missiles +++
According to Ukrainian information, the Russian army attacked the city of Kharkiv in the east of the country with rockets. Accordingly, at least two S-300 missiles were used. Residents of Ukraine’s second largest city are urged to stay in shelters.
+++ 21:38 Rescuers continue to search for victims under the rubble in Pokrovsk +++
More than a day after heavy Russian rocket attacks on the Pokrovsk district of eastern Ukraine left at least eleven people dead, rescue work is still ongoing. The search for victims under the rubble in the affected places continues, says President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in his evening video address. He thanks all the rescuers who have been on duty since Saturday evening. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko also says that the identification of the victims, among whom preliminary information indicates at least five children, has not yet been completed. “The force of the enemy attack was too strong, so this work takes time,” he said. The serious attacks on Saturday evening shook not only the district town of Pokrovsk but also the town of Rivne. According to official Ukrainian information, a rocket hit the house of a family of six. Accordingly, the bombardment was carried out using repurposed S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.
You can read all previous developments here.