12/30/2022
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 06:38 Habeck thanks the economy for transformers +++
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck thanks companies for donations in kind to Ukraine. “In view of the brutal attacks on civilian infrastructure, we asked companies to donate technical goods, such as transformers, to Ukraine,” says the Green politician. “And they did that on a large scale.” According to Habeck, around 2,300 technical goods were delivered to the Ukraine with the help of the German Society for International Cooperation, including almost 30 transformers. “In the last few weeks, German companies have offered more than 60 transformers for donation, including several large ones.” Others would be produced, which the federal government would then buy from the companies in order to deliver them to the Ukraine. “It’s exemplary how German energy supply companies and producers are moving along here. I would also like to say thank you for that,” says Habeck.
+++ 06:16 Högl: “Bundeswehr has too little of almost everything” +++
The Defense Commissioner of the German Bundestag, Eva Högl, attested to the Bundeswehr’s significant equipment shortages a few days before taking over the leadership of the NATO Rapid Reaction Force. For full operational readiness, there is a lack of “personal equipment such as helmets, backpacks, protective vests and small and large equipment – from radios, ammunition to tanks,” says Högl of the “Rheinische Post” and the Bonn “General-anzeiger”. “The Bundeswehr has too little of almost everything.” Despite the special fund of 100 billion euros, the material situation is worse than before the start of the war on February 24, “because a lot has been given to support Ukraine, but nothing has yet been replaced.”
+++ 05:59 Expert: Weak Russia endangers international stability +++
The security policy expert at the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Claudia Major, warns of a weakened Russia. “Any weakening of Russia and the possible break-up of this multi-ethnic state will have an enormously destabilizing effect on Europe and beyond,” she told the editorial network Germany. “We also have to ask ourselves how we will deal with the possible chaos if Russia is no longer a leading power, for example in Central Asia,” Major continued. The consequences are already visible in Central Asia, where Russia was a leading hegemonic power. “After the military defeats in Ukraine, the Kremlin is perceived as weak there, and the first states want to use this to break away from Moscow’s sphere of influence.”
+++ 04:46 Stoltenberg: Weapons deliveries are “the fastest way to peace” +++
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg calls on Germany and the other alliance states to continue supplying arms to Ukraine. “It may sound paradoxical, but military support for Ukraine is the fastest way to peace,” says the Norwegian. Russian President Vladimir Putin must be convinced that he will not achieve his goal of taking control of Ukraine. Then there could be a peaceful negotiated solution that would ensure Ukraine’s survival as an independent democratic state.
+++ 03:38 Biden implements new budget with billions in aid for Ukraine +++
With his signature to the new annual budget, US President Joe Biden is launching additional billions in aid for Ukraine. Of the total budget of 1.7 trillion dollars, around 45 billion dollars (around 42 billion euros) are earmarked for economic and military support for Ukraine. Congress passed a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine in May.
+++ 03:06 Selenskyj: Without “heroic” air defense, the damage would be even greater +++
A day after the Russian rocket attacks, most regions are suffering from power outages, according to the Ukrainian president. “But that’s nothing compared to what could have happened if it weren’t for our heroic anti-aircraft and air defense forces,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address. Air commandos in central, southern, eastern and western Ukraine repelled 54 Russian missiles and 11 drones during one of the largest Russian airstrikes since the war began in February.
+++ 02:17 Great Britain sends Ukraine metal detectors and defusing devices +++
Britain has donated more than 1,000 metal detectors and 100 bomb disposal kits to Ukraine. “Russia’s use of landmines and attack on civilian infrastructure underscores the shocking ferocity of Putin’s invasion,” said British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. Manufactured by German company Vallon, the metal detectors and kits are helping Ukraine “clear land and buildings safely while reclaiming their rightful territory,” according to the Defense Ministry.
+++ 01:14 15,000 people missing in Ukraine +++
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the fate of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians has remained uncertain. “Russia has currently confirmed 3,392 Ukrainian prisoners of war, but 15,000 people are currently missing in Ukraine, including many civilians,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Alona Verbytska told the editorial network Germany. “We don’t know what happened to them,” she said. “Are they also in Russian captivity, were they abducted from Russian-occupied areas or were they possibly killed long ago?” This uncertainty is terrible, especially for the relatives, explained Verbytska. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly pointed out that entire families, including children, are being deported to Russia from the occupied territories.
+++ 23:35 Zelenskyj: Every rocket attack brings Russia closer to the tribunal +++
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia is getting closer to an international tribunal with every further missile attack against Ukraine. “With each such missile attack, Russia is only driving itself deeper into a dead end,” says Zelenskyj in his daily video address. The “status of the world’s greatest terrorist” will affect Russia and its citizens for a long time to come. In his talks with foreign heads of state and government, the Ukrainian leader is trying to win their support for an International Criminal Court modeled on the Nuremberg Tribunal, before which politicians and the military from Moscow are to answer for the war of aggression against Ukraine.
+++ 22:28 Russian air strikes: three civilians killed in Kharkiv region +++
At least three civilians were killed in today’s Russian airstrikes in the Kharkiv region. In the city of Kupyansk, a 59-year-old died when Russian rockets hit a residential area around 1 p.m. (local time), the Kharkiv region prosecutor’s office said. About an hour later, according to the authorities, the Russians attacked a critical infrastructure facility near Chuhuiv, killing two company employees.
+++ 21:56 Sri Lanka is happy about the return of Russian tourists +++
The first Russian travelers on a new Moscow-Sri Lanka route have arrived in the troubled Indian Ocean island nation. The Russian airline Red Wings landed in the southern port city of Hambantota with 398 passengers on board. Sri Lanka is one of the few countries still actively courting Russian tourists since Russia attacked Ukraine. In October, the direct connection of the Russian company Aeroflot between Moscow and the capital Colombo was resumed. The reason for the suspension was a business dispute. Before the attack on Ukraine, most tourists in Sri Lanka came from Russia. Despite the Ukraine war, the island nation has maintained friendly relations with Russia and is not participating in sanctions. However, due to the suspended flight connection, tourist traffic had declined sharply.
+++ 21:07 Lithuania buys 18 “Caesar” artillery pieces +++
According to French sources, Lithuania will buy 18 Caesar artillery pieces from Nexter. This was announced by French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Twitter. A corresponding contract was signed during a visit by his colleague Arvydas Anusauskasin in Paris.
You can read earlier developments in the Ukraine war here.