UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – Le Figaro provides an update on the latest information from journalists, Ukrainian and Russian statements, Western sources and international organizations.
Ukraine suffers massive bombardments, eight dead in Ukrainian strikes, Putin prepares Russia for a long war according to NATO… Le Figaro takes stock this Friday, December 16 on the latest information related to the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine suffers massive bombardments, power cuts multiply
Ukraine suffered Friday morning new Russian missile strikes that caused water cuts in the capital kyiv and power across the country, Moscow showing itself determined to destroy Ukrainian infrastructure. At least two people died following a strike that hit a residential building in Kryvyï Rig (south), according to the regional governor.
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According to the Ukrainian authorities,about 40 missilesRussians targeted kyiv on Friday, 37 of which were shot down by anti-aircraft defense. They did not specify what damage the others caused. Mayor Vitali Klitchko said damage to energy infrastructure has caused “interruptions of water supply in all areas of the capital“.
Whole sections of the country were once again without power. “The Kirovograd region (center) is completely without electricity“, lamented its governor, Andriï Raikovych. The country’s second city, Kharkiv (north-east), was also in the dark, as was Poltava (center). Multiple strikes also targeted the region of Zaporijjia (south), according to its governor, Oleksandre Staroukh.
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The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell condemned as war crimes the missile launches carried out by Russia against Ukraine, denouncing a “another example of the blind terror of the Kremlin“.
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Eight dead in Ukrainian strikes in the Lugansk region
The Russian occupation authorities in the Lugansk region (East) accused the Ukrainian forces of artillery fire on two localities, killing eight and wounding 23 on Friday morning.
“Early in the morning today, nationalist artillery fire targeted the town of Stakhanov and the village of Lantratovka in the Troitsky district. Eight people died, 23 of ours were injuredsaid Russian regional leader Leonid Passechnik.
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Putin is preparing Russia for a long war in Ukraine, according to NATO
Russia is preparing for a long war against Ukraine, to which NATO allies must continue to supply weapons until President Vladimir Putin realizes that he “can’t win on the battlefieldAlliance leader Jens Stoltenberg told AFP on Friday.
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Nearly ten months after Moscow’s invasion of its pro-Western neighbor, Ukrainian forces inflicted a succession of defeats on the Kremlin that freed entire swaths of territory. But “there is no indication that Putin has given up on his goal of controlling Ukraine“warned the Secretary General of NATO. “We should not underestimate Russia. She’s getting ready for a long war“said Jens Stoltenberg in an interview with AFP. “We see that they are mobilizing more forces, that they are ready to take a lot of casualties as well, that they are trying to get access to more weapons and ammunition“, he underlined. “We must understand that President Putin is ready to be in this war for a long time and to launch new offensives“, he said.
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Russia says it won’t use biological weapons
Russia will not use biological weapons, a senior Russian diplomat said Friday at a press briefing in Geneva. Konstantin Vorontsov, deputy director of the Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, brushed aside fears that Russia could use these weapons. “It’s not a topic at allhe told a group of reporters.
Russia is “fully and totally committed to its obligationsrelated to international treaties that prohibit their use. “We have no programs in the military field related to biological weapons“said the diplomat, adding:”All of our activities in the biological field are totally for peaceful purposes and no more than that.»
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Konstantin Vorontsov was speaking on the sidelines of the review of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) which takes place every 5 years and which is due to end on Friday after three weeks of work. The Convention bans the development, production and stockpiling of this entire category of weapons of mass destruction.
Croatian parliament refuses to train Ukrainian soldiers
The Croatian government failed on Friday to convince parliament to vote to welcome Ukrainian soldiers for training in the Balkan country after divisive debates. The European Union has announced the launch of the largest military training mission in its history which aims to educate and train 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers in different member states to help them fight Russia. The subject has divided the political class of the small member country of the EU and NATO.
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President Zoran Milanovic repeatedly expressed his hostility to the project, arguing that he “would involve Croatia in the war more than necessary“. “It means bringing war to Croatia. We are fair and united and that’s it“, declared the president whose role is honorary but who is the chief of the armies. Conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, whose government is in favor of welcoming around 100 Ukrainian soldiers, accused the president of having “pro-Russian opinions“. The decision is up toto choose between Ukraine and the regime of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin“, he hammered.
Vladimir Putin will visit Belarus on Monday
The Russian and Belarusian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, meet Monday in Minsk for a summit intended to further strengthen their alliance. The meeting will take place at the Palace of Independence in Minsk, specifies the Belarusian press service. According to Lukashenko, the summit on Monday will be “above all (devoted) to the economic sphere“, but the two leaders will also speak of”the politico-military situation around our countries“.
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Belarus, Russia’s only ally in this war, had loaned its territory to allow the Russian assault on kyiv at the start of the invasion. But faced with Ukrainian resistance, the Kremlin had to resolve to give up the Ukrainian capital. In mid-October, Belarus and Russia announced the creation of a joint military force, for the sole purposedefensiveaccording to Minsk.