This week Ukraine received additional aid packages from its allies. The Russian Federation carried out a new missile attack, and ex-people's deputy and traitor Ilya Kiva was found killed near Moscow.
What other important events took place during the week – further in the material.
- Missile attack on Ukraine
- Liquidation of Ilya Kiva near Moscow
- Defense Industries Conference in Washington DC
- The occupiers shot two Ukrainian soldiers near Stepne
- New aid packages for Ukraine
- Complete blackout at Zaporozhye NPP
- Blockade on the border with Poland
- Blocking aid to Ukraine in the US Senate
- Closing of 6 metro stations in Kyiv: the tracks in the subway are flooded
- Preparing changes for mobilization
- Start of negotiations with the EU: Ukraine has implemented four recommendations
- Ukrzaliznytsia will increase the cost of tickets for international flights
- New sanctions against the Russian Federation
- The IOC allowed Russians and Belarusians to participate in the 2024 Olympics
Missile attack on Ukraine
Collage: ICTV Facts
On the morning of Friday, December 8th, Russian troops launched missiles into Ukraine.
Now watching
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the attack began around 06:00. The invaders launched a strike from Tu-95MS strategic bombers with Kh-101/Kh-555.
cruise missiles
The enemy deployed 7 aircraft from the Saratov region of the Russian Federation, which launched 20 air-launched cruise missiles. Some of them were aimed at infrastructure facilities in the Dnepropetrovsk region. Another group was heading towards Kyiv.
Ukrainian military destroyed 14 of 19 missiles.
In the Kyiv region there were no hits on critical or residential infrastructure, as well as no casualties. At the same time, due to falling debris from downed missiles, several private houses were damaged.
Air raid warning in Kyivlasted about two hours. But not a single enemy missile reached the city: air defense forces destroyed them. The previous Russian missile attack on the capital of Ukraine occurred 79 days ago.
Do you want to relax? Go to Facti.GAMES!
The city of Pavlograd and the Pavlograd district (Dnepropetrovsk region) came under enemy attack on December 8th. One person died. In Pavlograd, 8 people were injured: men from 32 to 66 years old. Two wounded are in serious condition. More than 20 residential buildings, outbuildings, a gymnasium, and power lines were damaged.
The sounds of explosions were also heard in the Kharkov region. On the night of December 8, Russian troops launched six strikes on Kharkov with S-300 missiles. There are wounded as a result of the attack.
The occupiers also use Shahed kamikaze drones during attacks on Ukraine. Thus, on the night of December 8, the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed five of the seven drones launched by Russia. And on the night of December 6, the enemy attacked Ukraine with 48 drones of the Shahed-136/131 type, and managed to destroy 41 attack UAVs.
Liquidation of Ilya Kiva near Moscow
Photo: UNIAN
On December 6, the body of Ilya Kiva , a traitor to Ukraine, a former People's Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada from the banned party OPZZH, was discovered in the Moscow region.
He was killed with small arms fire in the Velich Country Club suburban complex near Moscow in the village of Suponevo, in a deserted area.
According to preliminary data obtained by ICTV Facts from its own sources, this is an operation of the Security Service of Ukraine. There is no official confirmation of this yet.
Some Telegram channels claimed that Ilya Kiva was killed with two shots – in the chest and in the head. And since this happened in a deserted area, the body of the ex-deputy was discovered only an hour later. The Russian Federation has allegedly already interrogated Kiva's partner to see if she could have put the killer on the trail.
Ukrainian intelligence, meanwhile, said that surveillance of Ilya Kiva before his death lasted several months.
Ilya Kiva left Ukraine for the Russian Federation back in January 2022, and after the start of a full-scale war he moved to Moscow. He actively worked for Russian propaganda and justified genocide against Ukrainians.
In Ukraine, Kiva was sentenced in absentia to imprisonment for 14 years with confiscation of property. The court found him guilty of treason.
Defense Industries Conference in Washington DC
Photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
In Washington December 5-6 Ukrainian-American defense industries conference was held DFNC1: US Edition.
About 350 American, Ukrainian and European industrialists and officials took part in it. The event was organized by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Strategic Industries together with the US Department of Commerce, the Pentagon and the State Department.
On the sidelines of the conference, Ukraine and the United States signed a Memorandum on joint defense production and exchange of technical data.
Production facilities should appear in Ukraine to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with the necessary weapons in the field of air defense, ammunition production, repair and maintenance of equipment.
The Pentagon and industrial partners will provide Ukraine with technical data to start implementing individual projects. Their goal is to improve outdated air defense systems through the integration of Western ammunition into them.
As noted in the White House, the United States has already provided Ukraine with technical data to begin local production of FrankenSAM hybrid air defense systems.
The occupiers shot two Ukrainian soldiers near Stepne
Photo: UNIAN
Near the village of Stepnoe (Donetsk region), Russian occupiers shot two Ukrainian defenders who were surrendering.
According to the DeepState project team, the Russians entered the positions of the 45th separate rifle battalion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. During the cleanup, they came across a dugout where Ukrainian soldiers were located.
The Ukrainians were forced to surrender due to a lack of ammunition. When the second fighter came out, the occupiers shot both Ukrainian soldiers.
The Stratcom of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed another war crime of the Russian Federation. And Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets said that he would appeal to the UN and the Red Cross because of the video of the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
SBU investigators together with prosecutors have already begun an investigation into the execution.
Subsequently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russian occupiers who shot the Ukrainian military were liquidated.
New aid packages for Ukraine
Photo: Pexels
Over the past week, Ukraine has received several new aid packages from its allies.
United Statesallocated a package of military support worth $175 million. It included: missiles for air defense systems AIM-9M and AIM-7; additional ammunition for HIMARS rocket artillery systems; artillery shells of 155 mm and 105 mm caliber; HARM anti-radar missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems; more than 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition; towing and transportation vehicles and other equipment.
Germany donated artillery shells, sniper rifles, tractors, anti-drone systems, drones, trucks, grenade launchers.
Australia sent Ukraine an additional batch of Bushmaster wheeled armored vehicles.
UKallocates a new winter humanitarian aid package worth about $47 million.
Japan has promised to provide about $4.5 billion in additional funds to help Ukraine in its reconstruction efforts.
Complete blackout at Zaporozhye NPP
< p id="caption-attachment-5092957" class="wp-caption-text">Photo: UNIAN
On the night of December 2 there was a complete blackout at the temporarily occupied Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. This created another threat to nuclear and radiation safety.
The reason is a break in the 330 kV power line through which the nuclear power plant received power from the Ukrainian energy system. The last 750 kV line was also de-energized.
Due to the complete blackout, the Zaporizhia NPP switched to power from 20 diesel generators that turned on in automatic mode.
With the efforts of Ukrainian specialists, on the morning of December 2, it was possible to restore the station’s connection with the Ukrainian power system.
Energoatom noted that the blackout at the Zaporozhye NPP was another step towards a nuclear radiation accident similar to the one that occurred in Fukushima in 2011.
ZNPP has been under occupation by Russian troops since the beginning of a full-scale war.
Blockade on the border with Poland
Photo: Getty Images
Polish carriers continue to block four checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. They, like the Polish government, demand that the European Commission return the permit system for Ukrainian carriers (i.e. cancel “transport visa-free” with Ukraine).
As of the morning of December 8, about 3,300 trucks were standing in lines in Poland, waiting to leave for Ukraine. The worst situation was observed at the Yagodin and Rava-Russkaya checkpoints, where the queues were 1,200 and 850 trucks, respectively.
The opening of the Ugrinov-Dolgobychiv checkpoint by Ukraine for the movement of empty trucks on the way out did not change the situation.
According to the Ministry of Economy, due to the blockade, exports from Ukraine by road across the border with Poland decreased in November by 39.3%, and imports by 44.6%.
Information has appeared about delays in humanitarian cargo and equipment for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to Western media, the multi-week blockade is beginning to have an impact on Ukrainian soldiers.
The Cabinet of Ministers has already warned that if Polish carriers do not stop blocking the border by December 10, the Christmas food basket in Ukraine will definitely rise in price.
Meanwhile, Ukrzaliznytsia began transporting trucks across the border with Poland by piggyback train.
Blocking aid to Ukraine in the US Senate
< p id="caption-attachment-4963063" class="wp-caption-text">Photo: Depositphotos
Representatives of the Republican Party in the US Senate December 6 blocked a bill to help Ukraine and Israel.
We are talking about the funding package proposed by the White House for $110 billion, of which $61 billion is provided for Ukraine.
Republicans are demanding significant changes in US immigration policy. They insist on considering aid to Ukraine and issues related to the Mexican-American border in tandem.
US President Joe Biden called these demands political blackmail. He warned that the Russian Federation, if it wins a full-scale war against Ukraine, may attack NATO member countries, and then American soldiers will have to fight.
According to Western media reports, the Biden administration is considering the possibility of concessions to the Republicans on the issue of migration policy in order to provide additional funding for Ukraine and Israel.
Meanwhile, the White House warned that the United States still has the opportunity to provide military assistance to Ukraine, but this option is limited to a few weeks.
Closing of 6 metro stations in Kiev: tracks in the subway flooded
Photo: KSCA
On the morning of December 8, the Kyiv City State Administration announced a restriction of train traffic on the blue line of the Kyiv metro due to urgent repairs to the haul tunnel.
It was noted that traffic between the metro stations Demeevskaya and Teremki will be completely closed from December 9 for the duration of repairs. It may take about 6 months.
Therefore, trains will run between the stations of Heroiv Dnepra and Lybidskaya. And the stations Demeevskaya, Goloseevskaya, Vasilkovskaya, Exhibition Center, Ippodrome and Teremki will work only as a shelter.
However, during the day an extraordinary event occurred, due to which train traffic on the Teremki – Demeevskaya section was stopped on December 8. The reason is flooding of the tunnel due to depressurization and the appearance of cracks in its walls. Water began to fill the ruts.
As explained in the Kyiv City State Administration, the running tunnels between the Demeevskaya and Lybidskaya stations were built in the floodplain of the Lybid River in 2008-2010, almost manually. Then they dug up a large area 8-10 m deep, which now began to let water through.
– Water presses on the walls of the tunnel, it deforms, cracks and collapses even more, allowing water to pass through. And when the train comes, this process accelerates. Therefore, after a professional examination, we decided to close the traffic today, as a matter of urgency, — emphasized in the KSCA.
55 buses and 15 trolleybuses were launched from the Teremki metro station to Lybidskaya. Kyiv authorities plan to increase the number of ground transport duplicating the routes of closed metro stations to 77 buses and 20 trolleybuses.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officers began an investigation due to the flooding of the Kiev metro tunnels on the grounds of official negligence, which led to grave consequences (Part 2 of Article 367 Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Preparing changes for mobilization
Photo: Depositphotos
Representatives of all factions of the Verkhovna Rada are working to improve legislation on mobilization and demobilization. We are talking, in particular, about:
- establishing 90 days of leave for those returning from captivity;
- standardizing what documents a serviceman or person liable for military service must have while undergoing military training or treatment after injury;
- the right to dismiss from military service stateless persons or foreigners;
- the right to dismissal from military service for persons with disabilities of groups I-II;
- establishing the right to demobilization or dismissal from military service for female cadets who terminated their contract early.
As for students, people's deputies may allow people receiving a second or third higher education to complete their studies.
In addition, people's deputies proposed introducing an obligation for citizens to carry a military ID with them.
Another suggestion concerns service of summons by email and registered mail.
Start of negotiations with the EU: Ukraine has implemented four recommendations
Photo: Pixabay
On December 8, the Verkhovna Rada adopted three European integration bills:
- on increasing the staff of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU);
- on the permission of the NACP to conduct inspections of assets received before appointment to the civil service;
- about the rights of national minorities in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Zelensky promptly signed these laws.
At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a bill on lobbying.
All these legislative initiatives are an important condition for opening negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the EU.
Thus, Kyiv has implemented four additional recommendations that the European Commission included in the report on Ukraine’s progress.
The issue of opening negotiations on Ukraine's membership will be considered December 14-15 at the EU summit in Brussels.
Ukrzaliznytsia will increase the cost of tickets for international flights
Photo: Pixabay
Ukrzaliznytsia is going to increase the cost of tickets for international flights in December due to losses from passenger transportation.
In particular, the cost of tickets for the train Kyiv – Warsaw – Kyiv will increase by 72%. At the same time, cheaper alternative options will be available on this route.
The cost of travel on night trains to Vienna and Przemysl will increase by up to 3%. For travel on Intercity+ Kyiv – Przemysl – Kyiv the price will increase by 26%, and on the night train Odessa – Przemysl – Odessa by 37-49%.
The cost of train tickets to Chisinau and Budapest will remain unchanged.
New tariffs will take effect from December 10, 2023.
New sanctions against the Russian Federation
Photo: Depositphotos
This week, the Group of Seven (G7) countries announced plans to phase out a ban on diamond imports from Russia.
It is expected that restrictions will apply to imports and processed raw materials in third countries. Sanctions on the import of these diamonds are planned to be introduced from March 1, 2024. And before September 1, introduce a mechanism for checking and certifying diamonds from the Russian Federation based on their tracking.
Meanwhile, Canada has already announced the imposition of sanctions on the import of Russian diamonds and related jewelry.
Ukraine also approved a new package of sanctions against the Russian Federation. It included 185 foreigners, mainly citizens of the Russian Federation, as well as more than 180 companies. In particular, associates of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, were subject to restrictions.
The IOC allowed Russians and Belarusians to participate in the 2024 Olympics
Photo: Depositphotos
Despite the full-scale war in Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee decided to allow athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Athletes will be allowed to compete in the so-called neutral status. They will only be able to compete in individual competitions. Teams will not be allowed to participate in the Olympics.
The IOC clarified that as of today only 11 “neutral” athletes fulfilled the admission criteria to participate in the 2024 Olympics (eight from the Russian Federation and three more from Belarus).
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has already called on its partners to strongly condemn this shameful decision, which undermines the Olympic principles. As Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba emphasized, “The IOC actually gave Russia the green light to create weapons at the Olympics”, since the Kremlin will spread propaganda with the help of its athletes.
