12/24/2022
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 06:20 am Wust: “Anyone who flees from Putin is welcome with us” +++
Despite the increasing number of war refugees from the Ukraine, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst does not want to let up in supporting those seeking help. “We oppose Russia’s brutality and violence with our solidarity and charity,” said the Christian Democrat of the German Press Agency in Düsseldorf. It remains the case: “Anyone who flees from Putin is welcome and safe here in North Rhine-Westphalia.” In recent years, the number of refugees in winter has mostly declined, he sums up. “The situation is different at the moment: More refugees are coming to us.”
+++ 05:11 ISW: Russian advance on Bachmut is slowing down +++
The rate of advance of Russian forces in the Bakhmut area has likely slowed in recent days, US think tank Study of War (ISW) writes in its most recent report. It is still too early to judge whether the Russian offensive to capture Bakhmut has reached its peak. However, Russian milbloggers admitted that Ukrainian forces in the area of Bakhmut managed to somewhat slow down the pace of the Russian advance around Bakhmut and the surrounding settlements.
+++ 03:32 Three deminers die in explosion in Zhytomyr +++
Three Ukrainian rescue workers have died in a mine explosion in the Kherson region. This is reported by the Zhytomyr rescue service, for which the three people worked, on its Facebook page. The three people were said to have been clearing mines in the areas of the Kherson region that had been recaptured from Ukraine.
+++ 01:44 Spain’s King Felipe condemns Moscow’s war of aggression +++
Spain’s King Felipe VI. denounces the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and its consequences. The conflict has “already caused a level of destruction and ruin that is difficult to imagine,” said the monarch in his Christmas speech, which was broadcast on radio and television. Felipe warns of the consequences of a war of “global importance” that “has compromised our security”. Against this background, Spain and its allies must “strengthen collective defence”.
+++ 23:03 13 German armored recovery vehicles in the Ukraine +++
According to the federal government there are currently 13 German Bergepanzer 2 in the Ukraine. This means that the number of vehicles delivered has increased by one compared to the previous week. The Bergepanzer 2 is based on the “Leopard 1” battle tank and has the task of salvaging battle-damaged vehicles and assisting in the installation and removal of engines and turrets.
+++ 21:07 report: advisers shield Putin from bad news +++
A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report suggests that Russian President Vladimir Putin has only limited understanding of the real situation of his troops in Ukraine. Accordingly, the Kremlin boss surrounds himself with a small circle of advisors who strengthen his warlike world view and hold back or gloss over bad news. The US newspaper based its research on interviews with former and current Russian officials and people close to the Kremlin. Accordingly, the interlocutors describe Putin as an isolated leader who was unable or unwilling to believe that Ukraine could successfully resist. “People around Putin are protecting themselves,” journalist Ekaterina Vinokorova told WSJ. “They firmly believe that they must not upset the President.”
You can read earlier developments in the Ukraine war here.