The Biden administration is finalizing plans to send an advanced long-range air defense system to Ukraine to help counter Russian attacks, according to US officials.
A bridge essential to the resupply of Russian forces occupying the city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine was targeted by strikes overnight, according to both Ukrainian and Russian officials.
The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic said that the situation on the front lines is “difficult” and Russian units are not moving forward “as fast as we would like them to.”
Deserter from Russian army unit speaks about crimes against civilians in Ukraine
From CNN's Fred Pleitgen and Ivana Kottasová
Nikita Chibrin says he still remembers his fellow Russian soldiers running away after allegedly raping two Ukrainian women during their deployment northwest of Kyiv in March.
Chibrin is a former soldier from the Russian city of Yakutsk who says he served in the 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, the notorious Russian military unit accused of committing war crimes during their offensive in Bucha, Borodianka and other towns and villages north of Kyiv.
He deserted from the Russian military in September and fled to Europe via Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Troops from Chibrin’s brigade were labeled war criminals by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in April after mass graves containing murdered civilians and dead bodies lying in the streets were discovered following the withdrawal of Russian forces from the Kyiv region.
Chibrin’s military documents, seen by CNN, show his commander was Azatbek Omurbekov, the officer in charge of the 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade. Omurbekov, known as the “Butcher of Bucha” is under sanctions by the European Union and the United Kingdom. The United States have sanctioned the entire brigade.
The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the mass killings while reiterating baseless claims that the images of civilian bodies were fake.
In a move that sparked outrage across the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the unit an honorary military title and praised it for its “heroism” and “bold actions.”
Chibrin said he didn’t see any of the supposed heroism, but many of the crimes.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the European Union on Tuesday for its $19 billion aid package, as well as an additional $1 billion pledged by dozens of countries during a donor conference in France earlier in the day.
The funding will focus on Ukraine’s embattled energy sector, which has been targeted during the war against Russia, along with other humanitarian support.
Zelensky also thanked other European countries that provided additional support beyond the EU funding, specifically naming Spain, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
He added that during a forum that focused on French business relations on Wednesday, Ukrainian officials presented French entrepreneurs with opportunities for investment in Ukraine during and after the war.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post misstated when Zelensky spoke. It was Tuesday.
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DOJ charges 5 Russian and 2 US nationals with smuggling equipment to Russian military
From CNN's Holmes Lybrand
The Justice Department has charged five Russian nationals and two US nationals for allegedly conspiring to violate US sanctions by smuggling US-made equipment to the Russian military, according to a recently unsealed indictment.
According to the 16-count indictment, the defendants were associated with two Moscow companies that worked with the Russian Federal Security Service to purchase and smuggle sanctioned items — including semiconductors and other electronic equipment — from the US to the Russian military.
The seven individuals – Yevgeniy Grinin, Aleksey Ippolitov, Boris Livshits, Svetlana Skvortsova, Vadim Konoshchenok, Alexey Brayman and Vadim Yermolenko – “unlawfully sourced, purchased and shipped millions of dollars in military and sensitive dual-use technologies from US manufacturers and vendors located in the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere for Russian end users,” the indictment says.
According to the indictment, Russian nationals Grinin and Skvortsova would receive requests from Ippolitov, also a Russian national, for sanctioned items from the US.
Grinin and Skvortsova would allegedly map out shipping routes while Livshits – through shell companies and US bank accounts – would allegedly purchase the items from US companies, according to the indictment.
Based in the US, Brayman and Yermolenko would allegedly fabricate shipping documents and invoices to ship items around the world before they would eventually be sent to Russia, according to the DOJ.
Konoshchenok, who the Justice Department believes is an officer for the FSB, was allegedly one of their smugglers.
Grinin, Skvortsova, Ippolitov and Livshits remain at large, according to the Justice Department, while Brayman, a permanent resident in the US, Yermolenko, a US citizen, and Konoshchenok, a Russian national, are in custody.
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World leaders are pledging weapons and aid to Ukraine. Here are the latest headlines.
From CNN staff
The United States could soon be sending the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine, once plans are approved and finalized, officials said. Ukraine has been calling for the US to send the advanced long-range air defense system that is highly effective at intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles for months. Across the globe, the European Union is also pledging their support — announcing a $19 billion aid package to Ukraine.
It comes after central Ukraine was hit with heavy artillery and missiles overnight, according to a regional official. A key bridge is also being targeted.
Here are the top headlines today:
Aid from the European Union: Member states have agreed plans to provide a $19 billion aid package for Ukraine in 2023 after Hungary dropped its opposition in return for funding from the EU. Hungary had initially blocked the package last week, amid a long running standoff — Brussels had called for EU funds for Hungary be frozen due to concerns over corruption and insufficient reforms to strengthen the rule of law.
Defense from the US: The Biden administration is finalizing plans to send the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine that could be announced as soon as this week, according to two US officials and a senior administration official. It would be the most effective long-range defensive weapons system sent to the country and officials say it will help secure airspace for NATO nations in eastern Europe. Ukraine has been asking for the system for months but the logistical challenges of delivering it and operating it are immense.
Potential next moves from Russia: Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said Russia’s capability to launch a “large offensive may be restored” by the end of January or February. Kuleba said there are signs that Russia still has its sights set on larger portions of Ukraine. On the state of the war now, Kuleba said Russia’s huge missile attacks have turned the “entire country into a frontline.”
Key Melitopol bridge targeted: A bridge essential to the resupply of Russian forces occupying the city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine was targeted by strikes overnight, according to both Ukrainian and Russian officials. The bridge appears to have buckled or collapsed inwards in a video posted online. Russian-installed administrators claim “two explosive devices” were used to blow up part of the bridge. It is part of the M14 highway, which runs along Ukraine’s southern coastline from Melitopol to Berdiansk and Mariupol to the east before reaching the Russian Federation.
Belarus announces military drills: The Belarusian Defense Ministry has announced snap military drills across the country. “A sudden inspection of combat readiness has begun under the leadership of the State Secretariat of the Security Council,” said the ministry in a short statement. Belarus shares Ukraine’s northern border, which was used as a platform by Russian troops during the invasion in February.
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Ukrainian foreign minister: Russian missile attacks have turned the "entire country into a frontline"
From CNN's Seb Shukla in London and Victoria Butenko in Kyiv
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba speaks at a press conference after Security Council meeting at UN headquarters in New York, on September 22.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday, that Russia’s huge missile attacks against Ukraine have turned the “entire country into a frontline”.
Speaking to foreign journalists from Kyiv, Kuleba responded to a question about whether he places more value on weapons or energy supplies, he said both are “almost equally important.”
Russia launched its barrage of missile attacks across Ukraine, targeting its energy infrastructure on Oct. 10.
Earlier on Tuesday, CNN was able to report exclusively that the United States is finalizing plans to send Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, in Paris Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal had been leading a delegation where over $1 billion in aid had been pledged to Ukraine to help it through the tough winter months.
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Ukrainian foreign minister says Russia may be able to launch a "large offensive" in January or February
From CNN's Seb Shukla in London and Victoria Butenko in Kyiv
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said Tuesday that Russia’s capability to launch a “large offensive may be restored” by the end of January or February.
Speaking to foreign reporters from a bomb shelter in Kyiv on Tuesday, Ukraine’s top diplomat said “they definitely still keep hopes that they will be able to break through our lines and advanced deeper in Ukraine.”
Kuleba explained that he felt several reasons contributed to the signs that Russia still has its sights set on larger portions of Ukraine.
He attributed that view to, “the conscription they have announced, and the training of new conscripts and the movement of their heavy weapons supports the country.”
European Union agrees to $19 billion Ukraine aid package after striking a deal with Hungary
From CNN's Gayle Harrington
European Union member states have agreed plans to provide a $19 billion aid package for Ukraine in 2023 after Hungary dropped its opposition in return for funding from the EU.
Hungary had initially blocked the package last week, amid a long running standoff over EU aid. Brussels had called for EU funds for Hungary be frozen due to concerns over corruption and insufficient reforms to strengthen the rule of law.
On Monday evening, the EU struck a deal with Hungary. Under the new agreement, Brussels will give Budapest $6.1 billion in grants to “enable Hungary to foster its economic recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic and finance the green and digital transitions.”
It will still freeze some funds, around $6.9 billion, but that is less than the near $8 billion the EU had previously planned on suspending.
The Czech Presidency of the European Council tweeted about the deal and the aid package for Ukraine Monday evening.
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Exclusive: US finalizing plans to send Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine
From CNN's Barbara Starr
The Army test fires a Patriot missile in 2019. The Patriot missile defense systems are designed to counter and destroy incoming short-range ballistic missiles, advanced aircraft and cruise missiles.
The Pentagon’s plan still needs to be approved by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin before it is sent to US President Joe Biden for his signature. The three officials told CNN that approval is expected.
Why this matters: Ukraine has been calling for the US to send the advanced long-range air defense system that is highly effective at intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles as it comes under a barrage of Russian missile and drone attacks that have destroyed key infrastructure across the country. It would be the most effective long-range defensive weapons system sent to the country and officials say it will help secure airspace for NATO nations in eastern Europe.
It is not clear how many missile launchers will be sent but a typical Patriot battery includes a radar set that detects and tracks targets, computers, power generating equipment, an engagement control station and up to eight launchers, each holding four ready to fire missiles.
Once the plans are finalized, the Patriots are expected to ship quickly in the coming days and Ukrainians will be trained to use them at a US Army base in Grafenwoehr, Germany, officials said.
Ukraine has been asking for the system for months but the logistical challenges of delivering it and operating it are immense. Despite those obstacles, “the reality of what is going on the ground” led the administration to make the decision, the senior administration official told CNN, noting the continuing intense Russian missile barrages.
No Russia-US prisoner exchange talks on agenda for now, Russia's deputy foreign minister says
From CNN's Radina Gigova
Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan is escorted inside a court building in Moscow, Russia, on October 24, 2019.
(Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters)
There are no prisoner exchange talks on the agenda at the moment between the United States and Russia, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Tuesday, according to state news agency TASS.
“I don’t know what they [the Americans] have in mind,” he said, when asked to comment on statements from the US that the two sides would hold consultations later this week on US citizen Paul Whelan, who is in prison in Russia.
“We occasionally communicate with the Americans via different channels, at different levels, but the exchanges are carried out by people who were previously engaged in this activity,” Ryabkov added.
"Two explosive devices" were used on key bridge in city of Melitopol, Russian regional administration says
From CNN's Olga Voitovych and Seb Shukla and Teele Rebane
The bridge connecting the main part of the city of Melitopol to a suburb Konstantynivka in an image taken from social media on December 13.
(Telegram)
Russian-installed administrators in the city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine claimed on Tuesday that “two explosive devices” of 15-20 kilograms of TNT were used to blow up a portion of a bridge used for supplying Russian armed forces.
Yevgeny Balitskyi, the Russian-appointed head of Zaporizhzhia region, said on Telegram “unknown persons blew up two reinforced concrete supports of the road bridge, after which the bridge received a subsidence.”
He stressed that the damage to the bridge “did not affect cargo traffic in anyway” and claimed that the bridge “had no strategic significance.”
More background: The bridge connects the main part of the city of Melitopol to a suburb Konstantynivka.
The bridge is part of the M14 highway that runs along Ukraine’s southern coastline and connects Melitopol to Berdyansk to the east and then onto to Mariupol and then into the Russian Federation.
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Germany pledges more than $50 million in winter aid to Ukraine
From CNN’s Inke Kappeler and Allegra Goodwin
Germany on Tuesday pledged an additional $53.2 million to support Ukraine over the winter period as it faces an onslaught of Russian attacks on its critical infrastructure, leaving millions of civilians without electricity, heating and water.
Confirming the pledge in a tweet, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to “break Ukrainians with his brutal tactic of plunging them into the cold,” adding: “We won’t let that happen.”
Germany will send equipment to help restore Ukraine’s energy grid, including generators and transformers, Baerbock said in a tweet.
The money was part of a total of more than one billion dollars pledged by 46 countries and 24 international organizations at a conference in Paris on Tuesday that aimed to mobilize immediate support for Ukraine between December and March.
Switzerland also announced a pledge of more than $100 million to Ukraine, according to a Tuesday press release by the Swiss government.
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More than $1 billion pledged for Ukraine at winter aid conference, French foreign minister says
From CNN’s Marguerite Lacroix and Allegra Goodwin
French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna attends a press conference after the 'Conference in solidarity with the Ukrainian people' in Paris, France, on December 13.
(Teresa Suarez/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)
More than one billion dollars was pledged to support Ukraine during a bleak winter at a conference in Paris Tuesday, France’s foreign minister said.
The money, pledged by 46 countries and 24 international organizations, will be split between restoring Ukraine’s depleted energy network, the food sector, water supply, health and transportation, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna told the conference, adding that $520 million of funding was yet to be allocated.
The announcement comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for $843 million in aid in a virtual address to delegates at the conference, as millions of Ukrainians face a freezing winter under the shadow of Russia’s war, without access to electricity, water and central heating.
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Belarus appoints new foreign minister, according to state media
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has appointed Sergei Aleinik as new foreign minister, state news agency Belta reported Tuesday.
Prior to this appointment, Aleinik worked in the foreign ministry as first deputy minister.
Lukashenko also appointed Andrei Lukyanovich as commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, Belta said.
It's mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know
From CNN staff
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked world leaders gathered at a conference in Paris for more aid to help his country survive Russian attacks on critical infrastructure this winter.
Meanwhile, a key bridge used to resupply Russian forces occupying the city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine has been targeted.
Here are the latest headlines:
Zelensky asks for aid at Paris conference: Zelensky has called for $843 million in aid to support Ukraine’s critical infrastructure this winter in a virtual address at a conference in Paris. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said that hundreds of generators have been dispatched, adding that “in these times of suffering and darkness, it is so important to bring light to Ukraine.”
Kremlin pushes back on Zelensky peace plan: Ukraine needs to appreciate that Moscow has added new territories to the Russian Federation, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday in response to Zelensky’s three-step proposal for peace. “Without taking these new realities into account, any progress is impossible,” said Peskov.
Key Melitopol bridge targeted: A bridge essential to the resupply of Russian forces occupying the city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine was targeted by strikes overnight, according to both Ukrainian and Russian officials. The bridge appears to have buckled or collapsed inwards in a video posted online. It is part of the M14 highway, which runs along Ukraine’s southern coastline from Melitopol to Berdiansk and Mariupol to the east before reaching the Russian Federation.
Heavy shelling in central Ukraine: Russian forces hit Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region with heavy artillery and missiles overnight, according to a regional official. Nikopol, Chervonohryhorivka and Marhanets were hit, but no casualties were reported.
Ukrainian forces hit Russian territory: The Russian town of Klintsy in the Bryansk region has been shelled overnight by Ukrainian troops, said regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. Air defense systems destroyed the missile and there were no casualties or damage, he said.
Belarus announces military drills: The Belarusian Defense Ministry has announced snap military drills across the country. “A sudden inspection of combat readiness has begun under the leadership of the State Secretariat of the Security Council,” said the ministry in a short statement.
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Key bridge targeted overnight in Russian-occupied Melitopol
From CNN's Seb Shukla and Teele Rebane
The bridge into the city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine was targeted by strikes overnight, according to both Ukrainian and Russian sources.
(Telegram)
A bridge essential to the resupply of Russian forces occupying the city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine was targeted by strikes overnight, according to both Ukrainian and Russian officials.
The bridge appears to have buckled or collapsed inwards in a video posted online by Vladimir Rogov, a pro-Russian regional official.
Rogov also posted what appears to be CCTV footage in which an explosion can be heard.
CNN has not been able to verify if the explosion is from the bridge, but the video is part of a set of videos Rogov posted of the incident.
Ivan Fedorov, the exiled Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, said that the route is “one of the strategically important bridges.”
Rogov also suggested that the bridge is a vital supply route for “food, medicine and building materials to the liberated territories of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.”
The bridge connects the city of Melitopol to a suburb named Konstantynivka. It is part of the M14 highway, which runs along Ukraine’s southern coastline from Melitopol to Berdiansk and Mariupol to the east before reaching the Russian Federation.
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Kremlin says Ukraine needs to take into account "new realities" in response to Zelensky's peace proposal
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Ukraine needs to appreciate that Moscow has added new territories to the Russian Federation, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s three-step proposal for peace.
“The Ukrainian side needs to take into account the realities that have developed over all this time,” Peskov told reporters on a regular conference call.
“Without taking these new realities into account, any progress is impossible,” he added.
In a video statement to the G7 leaders Monday, Zelensky asked to “preserve this level of solidarity” and support Ukraine next year, outlining three steps for peace.
The final step outlined by Zelensky was a “new diplomacy” that involved a peace solution asking Russia to start withdrawing troops from Ukraine this Christmas.
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Zelensky calls for $840 million in aid to support Ukraine through winter
From CNN’s Saskya Vandoorne, Marguerite Lacroix and Allegra Goodwin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pictured on a screen as he attends via video-link, from left to right, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, French President Emmanuel Macron, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna and President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen, the 'Solidarity with Ukrainian people' conference, in Paris, France, on December 13.
(Teresa Suarez/AFP/Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for $843 million in aid to support the country’s critical infrastructure this winter.
In a virtual address at a conference in Paris, Zelensky said Ukraine required critical electrical infrastructure, as well as urgent imports of electricity from European countries “at least until the end of the heating season.”
“This will cost about 800 million euros … but the price is less than the cost of the blackout,” he warned.
Russia has been repeatedly accused of using “winter as a weapon of war” in Ukraine in recent weeks, relentlessly striking critical infrastructure and leaving millions of Ukrainians without access to electricity, water and central heating in freezing temperatures.
The 46 countries and 24 international organizations which gathered in Paris on Tuesday are expected to commit to providing immediate support to Ukraine, focusing on the winter period.
France will commit an additional $80.7 million of humanitarian aid, according to a statement from President Emmanuel Macron’s office, of which $51.1 million will be dedicated to energy, access to water, food, health and transport infrastructure, as well as demining operations.
This will include 63 new high-powered electrical generators being provided to Ukraine in the very near future, the statement said.
So far the conference has seen $421.6 million committed to Ukraine, the statement said, adding that the figure is expected to increase.
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European Commission has dispatched 800 generators "to bring light to Ukraine"
From CNN's Jessie Gretener in London
European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen attends the 'Solidarity with Ukrainian people' conference in Paris, France, on December 13.
(Teresa Suarez/AFP/Getty Images)
Hundreds of generators are on their way to Ukraine, said President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, adding that “in these times of suffering and darkness, it is so important to bring light to Ukraine.”
A total of 800 generators are being distributed across Ukraine, including 40 large generators supplied to ensure uninterrupted power supply to 30 hospitals in the regions of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Kherson, said von der Leyen.
It is vital to keep the Ukrainian power grid functioning despite Russian strikes, said von der Leyen at a Solidarity of the Ukrainian people conference in Paris on Tuesday morning.
The European Union is working on increasing the amount of electricity which can be traded between Ukraine, Moldova and the rest of Europe, she added.
Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska sat alongside von der Leyen and spoke about the challenges her country is facing, including damage to infrastructure.
Zelenska thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for hosting the forum and asked allies to “become more than you have been before.”
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3 killed and 15 injured in shelling of Kherson city on Monday
From CNN's Olga Voitovych and Seb Shukla
Three people were killed and a further 15 injured in shelling in the city of Kherson on Monday, according to the head of the Ukrainian regional military administration.
“Russian occupiers shelled the territory of Kherson region 57 times,” said Yaroslav Yanushevych on Telegram.
“Peaceful settlements of the region were shelled with artillery, MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket Systems) and mortars.”
Schools, a stadium, medical facilities, power lines and infrastructure points, as well as residential buildings were all targeted, he added.
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Ukrainian forces shelled Russia's Bryansk region overnight, says governor
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
The Russian town of Klintsy in the Bryansk region has been shelled overnight by Ukrainian troops, said regional governor Alexander Bogomaz.
Air defense systems destroyed the missile, Bogomaz said in a Telegram post on Tuesday, and some parts of it “fell into the territory of the industrial zone.”
“There were no casualties or damage,” he added.
Klintsy is located in western Russia, around 45 kilometers (28 miles) from the Ukrainian border. The closest Ukrainian city is Chernihiv.
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Belarus announces snap military drills
From CNN's Olga Voitovych
The Belarusian Defense Ministry has announced some snap military drills across the country.
“A sudden inspection of combat readiness has begun under the leadership of the State Secretariat of the Security Council,” said the ministry in a short statement.
Very few details were given about the nature of the drills, but they were described as “comprehensive in nature.”
Troops will have to move to “designated areas” as soon as possible, added the statement.
Military equipment will also be moved around the country, the ministry said.
There was mention of the building of two river crossings on Nemen and Berezina rivers. Neither of the rivers are close to Ukrainian territory.
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Putin won't hold annual end-of-year press conference, Kremlin says
From CNN's Anna Chernova and Radina Gigova
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, on December 23, 2021.
(Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t hold his usual annual press conference this year, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday, although he said he hoped Putin “will find an opportunity to communicate” with the media.
Putin has been holding large end-of-year press conferences almost every year since 2001 after becoming president, according to state news agency TASS. The only years when he didn’t hold an annual press conference were 2005, when he served as president, and also between 2008-2012 when he served as prime minister, according to TASS.
Former US ambassador to Russia John Sullivan believes that Putin is avoiding scrutiny.
As Moscow’s war in Ukraine approaches the 10-month mark, some economists believe Russia will face growing economic hardship and a population that will grow increasingly critical of the “special military operation.” It comes amid mounting defeats such as seen in Ukraine’s southern city of Kherson, where a determined Ukrainian offensive forced a Russian withdrawal.
“We were supposed to win. Officials promised to capture Kyiv in three days but, as we see, it turned out to be foolish,” Sergey Javoronkov, a senior researcher at the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, told CNN last month.
At last year’s press conference, Putin was asked about the build-up of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border and the country’s emerging alliance with China, as well as common criticisms of his regime such as the treatment of imprisoned opposition leader Alexey Navalny.
In addition to a large conference with the media, in previous years Putin has also addressed the Federal Assembly and held a marathon question-and-answer session with Russian citizens, called Direct Line.
During Monday’s call with journalists, Peskov didn’t mention a date for Putin’s address to the Federal Assembly, nor a Direct Line session.
However, on November 14, Peskov told Russian state news outlet TASS that Putin would address the Federal Assembly before the end of 2022.
Peskov had said earlier that the dates of Putin’s annual address to the assembly and the Direct Line session depend on his schedule, which is very dynamic in light of current events, according to TASS.
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Ukrainian aid conference underway in Paris
From CNN’s Allegra Goodwin in London and Saskya Vandoorne in Paris
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the conference in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in Paris, France, on December 13.
(Teresa Suarez/Reuters)
A Ukrainian aid conference is underway in Paris and will focus on supporting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure through the winter, a spokesman for the Elysee Palace said on Tuesday.
Temperatures have plummeted to sub-zero in many areas of Ukraine in recent weeks, while relentless Russian strikes have left millions without electricity, water and central heating.
The conference, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, is designed to “mobilize the international community,” to help maintain Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and will “provide immediate support” focused on the period between December and mid-March, the spokesman said.
Speeches are expected from Macron and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, as well as a virtual appearance from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Representatives of 47 states and around 23 international institutions are due to attend with some 500 French companies.
Delegates will concentrate on five specific areas where Ukraine needs support — water, food, energy, health and transport, the Elysee spokesman said.
Rather than general pledges to Ukraine, countries will be asked to commit support that will be provided to Ukraine by mid-March, the spokesperson added. Several agreements on critical infrastructure are also expected to be signed.
France will also propose the implementation of an online portal designed to allow countries to see Ukraine’s needs and respond with humanitarian aid in real time.
Millions of Ukrainians have been left without power amid a wave of Russian strikes on critical energy infrastructure just as winter begins in the country.
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Situation on front lines is "difficult," says head of Russia-backed separatists in Donetsk
From CNN's Josh Pennington
Denis Pushilin attends a meeting with servicemen from Russian-controlled parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Donetsk, Ukraine, on November 6.
(Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)
Denis Pushilin, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine, has described the situation on the front lines in the region as “difficult,” according to Russian state media.
In remarks carried by state-run news agency RIA Novosti, Moscow-backed Pushilin said that even though Russian units continue to push forward they were not moving “as fast as we would like them to.”
He also suggested that gains between 50 and 200 meters were playing “a significant role in the liberation of populated areas.”
Wagner in Bakhmut: Pushilin also spoke directly about the situation in and around Bakhmut and the use of Wagner mercenaries, a Russian private military group, along that part of the front line.
He said that Wagner fighters were clearing Yakovlivka, 16 kilometers (10 miles) northeast of Bakhmut, in the Soledar direction.
“They continue to work in the vicinity of Bakhmut to create the necessary conditions for a more full-scale sweep of Bakhmut itself,” he said.
Pushilin also commented on the ongoing attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. He described the strikes as successful and “complicating the military logistics and communications between units.”
Some context: The city of Donetsk has been occupied by pro-Russian separatists since 2014, however Ukrainian forces remain within a few miles of its limits and maintain a majority of control over the region.
In October, Russia’s legislature approved President Vladimir Putin’s decision to annex four parts of Ukraine, namely Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Luhansk, despite not having full control of those regions. The move is illegal under international law.
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Brittney Griner reunites with family, eats barbecue ... and makes her first dunk since release
From CNN's Abby Phillip and Nouran Salahieh
American basketball star Brittney Griner gets out of a plane after landing at the JBSA-Kelly Field Annex runway on December 9, in San Antonio, Texas.
(Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP/Getty Images)
Freed from a Russian penal colony and back on American soil, WNBA star Brittney Griner got her first taste of a return to normal life at a Texas military facility over the weekend.
The Olympic gold medalist and basketball superstar arrived at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio Friday and is now staying with her wife, Cherelle Griner, in a residential environment on the base — one that her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, decorated with a Christmas tree.
For Griner — who spent nearly 10 months in detention in Russia — “normal” has meant indulging in her favorites: a Dr Pepper soda, the first drink she had in the airplane hangar after landing.
Members of Griner’s family have visited her off and on for hours, bringing some San Antonio barbecue for her to enjoy.
The athlete has been eating far more nutritious food and supplements compared with her time in detention, Colas said. “Her energy level was really high,” she added.
Griner also got a haircut to clean up her “Russian fade,” as her friends and family jokingly call it, Colas said.
Griner’s long, signature deadlocks had been cut while in captivity. Griner continuously battled the flu while detained because her hair kept freezing and she was unable to dry it, Colas said.
At the Texas military base, Griner hit the basketball court for the first time since she was imprisoned. Her first move was a dunk.
Shelling in Dnipropetrovsk damages homes and power lines, Ukrainian official says
From CNN's Olga Voitovych
Local residents walk past a damaged building following Russian attacks in the city of Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region, on December 12.
(Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images)
Heavy shelling and artillery fire were reported in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region overnight, a Ukrainian military official said on Telegram Tuesday.
Valentyn Reznichenko, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, said grad missiles and heavy artillery were fired at the communities of Nikopol, Chervonohryhorivka and Marhanets. No casualties were reported.
Power lines and buildings including homes were damaged in Nikopol, which sits across the river from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
In Chervonohryhorivka, power lines were damaged along with more than 10 houses.
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Russia has not given up on causing power blackouts in Ukraine, Zelensky says
From CNN's Mitchell McCluskey
Russia will continue targeting Ukraine’s power supply, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address Monday, following a wave of strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure that have left millions without power heading into winter.
“The absence of massive missile strikes only means that the enemy is preparing for them and can strike at any time. Although it is obvious that even without light we know well where to shoot and what to liberate, Russia still hopes for blackouts. This is the last hope of terrorists.”
Engineers have repeatedly scrambled to restore power after the Russian attacks, and Zelensky added Kyiv was “doing everything to bring to Ukraine as much equipment as possible, which can compensate for the damage caused by missile hits.”
Gas supplies: Earlier Monday, Zelensky asked G7 leaders to commit to increasing gas assistance to Ukraine. “The terror against our power plants forced us to use more gas than expected. This is why we need additional support over this particular winter,” he said.
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Zelensky asks G7 to maintain support for Ukraine next year, outlines 3 steps for peace
From CNN's Zahid Mahmood and Josh Pennington
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talks to the Group of Seven leaders on December 12.
(President of Ukraine)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the Group of Seven leaders Monday to maintain its support for Ukraine next year while outlining three steps for securing peace.
More military equipment: In a video statement, Zelensky said the first step is a “new force,” and he requested more military equipment from the G7.
“Russia still has the advantage in artillery and missiles, this is a fact,” Zelensky said in his statement. “Ukraine needs modern tanks — and I ask you to provide this defensive capability to us. It can be done right now.”
He also said Ukraine needed more “rocket artillery and more long-range missiles,” adding that Ukraine needs “constant artillery support with guns and shells.”
Support for financial and energy stability: The second step, according to Zelensky, was for the leaders to maintain financial, energy and social stability next year.
He also asked the G7 to commit to increasing gas assistance for Ukraine.
“The terror against our power plants forced us to use more gas than expected. This is why we need additional support over this particular winter,” Zelensky said. “We are talking about the volume of about 2 billion cubic meters of gas that has to be procured additionally.”
New diplomacy: In the third and final step, Zelensky said Ukraine would like to offer a peace solution, beginning with asking Russia to start withdrawing troops this Christmas.
“I propose Russia to take a concrete and meaningful step toward a diplomatic settlement, which is being mentioned by Moscow so regularly,” he said. “Very soon we’ll have holidays celebrated by billions of people. Christmas — according to the Gregorian calendar or the New Year and Christmas — according to the Julian calendar,” Zelensky said.
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G7 leaders pledge "unwavering support" to Ukraine, including boosting air defense systems
From CNN’s Inke Kappeler in Berlin
The Group of Seven leaders (G7) pledged on Monday to give “unwavering support” and solidarity to Ukraine by promising to boost the country with military and air defense systems, condemning Russia’s ongoing “war of aggression.”
The statement also said the leaders are determined that Russia will ultimately need to pay for the restoration of critical infrastructure “damaged or destroyed” through the invasion.
“We will hold President Putin and those responsible to account in accordance with international law,” the statement said. “We reiterate that Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric is unacceptable and that any use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons would be met with severe consequences.”
The G7 leaders also condemned Russia’s “continued seizure” of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, adding they support the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) efforts to establish a safety and security zone.
CNN’s Betsy Klein and Phil Mattingly contributed reporting to this post.
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Leaving his life in Bakhmut had seemed impossible. Now he's lost a friend, a limb and a livelihood
From CNN's Jo Shelley, Sam Kiley, Peter Rudden and Olha Konovalova
Vyacheslav Tarasov recovering in a hospital in Kostyantynivka, Ukraine.
(Peter Rudden/CNN)
The streets outside Vyacheslav Tarasov’s home on Ukraine’s eastern frontline are pocked by shell blasts. The buildings around are mostly empty, windowless and cold.
Bakhmut has been facing the relentless firepower of a frustrated Russian army for months. In its pursuit of an increasingly rare battlefield victory, Moscow has leveled buildings with rockets and missiles and sent endless waves of infantry to fight among the destroyed homes.
Tarasov, 48, was sheltering from the shelling in his basement where he now has to live. But last week he dared to venture out — to buy vegetables to make the national dish, borscht.
His face pales as he relays the graphic images still fresh in his mind. “I was wearing a leather jacket and if it wasn’t for that, I would have blown apart. I mean, my guts would have been all over the place… I lost a lot of blood. I remember seeing it — a huge puddle.”
The blast that tore through Tarasov’s body killed his friend and as the shelling continued, he realized he might not make it either. “I’ll tell you the truth,” he says. “I prayed to survive.”
Ukrainian strikes killed "dozens" in Russian-occupied Melitopol, exiled mayor says
From CNN's Olga Voitovych, Sebastian Shukla and Rob Picheta
Ukrainian forces struck the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol over the weekend, opening a new front in Kyiv’s fight to reclaim land in the south of the country and underlining the importance of longer-range weaponry.
The attacks struck a number of different locations, including a church being used as a base by Russian forces, according to the city’s exiled mayor, Ivan Fedorov, who shared a video filmed at night of a fire burning in the distance.
In an interview with Ukrainian television a day later, Federov rowed back on that number, saying that “dozens” were dead. He added that three sites had been hit, including a restaurant-hotel complex on the outskirts of Melitopol, known as “Prival Okhotnika,” or Hunter’s Rest, a checkpoint 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the city in Novobohdanivka, and a military unit that was “completely destroyed” near the village of Semenivka.
Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-installed governor of Zaporizhzhia region, where Melitopol is located, said that Ukraine had hit Melitopol using a HIMARS system, killing two people and wounding 10 others, three of whom were treated in the hospital — a significantly lower number than was reported by Fedorov.
Russians “redeploying”: Fedorov claimed in an interview on Monday that Russian troops in the city were “panicking” and “redeploying,” given Ukrainian strikes on the city. Without providing any evidence, he said “they are busy moving their military groups to other places to try to hide them.”
Body of Zambian national killed fighting in Ukraine returns home
From CNN's Sebastian Shukla and Nimi Princewill
A hearse carrying the remains of Lemekani Nathan Nyirenda at Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.
(Salim Dawood/AFP/Getty Images)
The body of Lemekani Nathan Nyirenda, a fighter recruited by the mercenary group Wagner for combat operations in Ukraine, was returned to Zambia on Sunday.
Nyirenda’s body arrived at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in the capital Lusaka and was accompanied by Zambia’s Ambassador to Russia, Shadreck Luwita, its Foreign Ministry said.
The body was received by Nyirenda’s family and Foreign Ministry officials, the ministry stated in a series of tweets Sunday.
In agency pictures from the airport, a coffin can be seen in a white hearse with Cyrillic writing on the outside indicating the provenance of the casket.
A group of choral singers and grieving family members were at the airport to receive Nyirenda’s body.
He died in battle in Ukraine in September fighting for the Russian side.
