Ukraine news LIVE — Evil Putin faces ‘extremely large losses’ as Kremlin plots new wave of missile strikes
THE Kremlin could be facing over "100,000" losses before Christmas, according to steadfast Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Speaking in his nightly address, Mr Zelensky warned that despite massive losses, the Kremlin is still attempting to advance.
: "Despite extremely big Russian losses, the occupiers are still trying to advance in the Donetsk region, gain a foothold in the Luhansk region, move in the Kharkiv region, they are planning something in the south."
He added Russia could be set to “lose a hundred thousand of its soldiers...and only God knows how many mercenaries,” by the end of the year.
This comes as experts warn Putin could be set to begin a new wave of missile strikes across Ukraine in the coming days, targeting the country's ability to produce electricity this winter.
Read our Ukraine-Russia live blog for the latest updates.
Ex-Nato ambassador warns Serbia is ‘playing with fire’
Vesko Garčević, former ambassador of Montenegro for NATO and a professor at Boston University, warned Russia-linked Serbia is “playing with fire” when speaking to The Sun Online.
”Serbia will want to escalate this as much as they can, and if they go further, it could spiral out of control,” Mr Garčević told The Sun Online.
”The US, UK, and UN must become more involved in pre-emptive action.
“They must tell Belgrade this isn’t a game, and it won’t be tolerated.”
UN nuclear watchdog meets with Russian officials in Turkey
The head of the Internation Atomic Energy Agency met with Russian officials in Istanbul today.
The groups convened to discuss the situation at the Zporizhzia power plant.
Russia has been accused of "playing with fire" following reports that the nuclear power station was bombarded with missiles throughout the weekend.
The First Lady of Ukraine slams Russia as 'insane' following maternity ward strike
Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, has taken to Twitter to slam Russia following a missile strike that reportedly killed a newborn baby in a Ukrainian maternity ward.
"RF crimes are insane," she said.
"This night, maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia region became target. 2 days old boy died… Horrible pain.
"We will never forget and never forgive. My sincere condolences to the loved ones of the baby. Speedy recovery to the injured. Our hearts are with you."
Putin readying another wave of mobilisation, reports claim
Putin looks set to order a "second wave of mobilisation" after Russian forces have faced heavy losses on the battlefield in Ukraine.
According to an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin plans to draft "500,000-700,000" Russians into the army.
Anton Gerashchenko said: "Russia is getting ready for 2nd wave of mobilisation in January. The plan is to draft 500,000-700,000. The 300,000 drafted before - already killed/wounded/demoralised."
It comes as Sergei Surovikin, dubbed “General Armageddon” by the Russian media due to his ruthlessness, is under increasing pressure to justify his retreat from Kherson last week.
Surovikin called for the retreat, arguing it would allow the Kremlin to save valuable equipment and manpower. However, Russian losses continue to mount, passing 85,000 this week, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.
Russian losses continue to mount as invasion rages on
According to Ukrainian military sources, Russian losses have reached 85,410.
This makes a further 410 losses for Putin's forces in the last 24 hours.
Zelensky brands Russia 'terrorists and murderers' following maternity ward attack
President Zelensky has slammed Russia, branding the country a "terrorist state" following an attack on a maternity ward that reportedly left a newborn baby dead.
"The terrorist state continues to fight against civilians and civilian objects," Zelensky said
."The enemy has once again decided to try to achieve with terror and murder what he wasn’t able to achieve for nine months and won’t be able to achieve. Instead, he will only be held to account for all the evil he brought to our country."
UK sending helicopters to Ukraine for the 'first time' since conflict began
Three former British military Sea King helicopters will be provided to Ukraine, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said.
With the first aircraft having already arrived in Ukraine, this will be the first time since February that Britain has sent the aircraft to the under-siege nation.
Mr Wallace also confirmed that a further 10,000 artillery rounds. will be sent to recently liberated regions of Ukraine.
'Newborn baby' killed in Russian stroke on Zaporizhzhia
According to a report from the Kyiv Independent, a newborn baby has been killed after Russian missiles struck a maternity ward in the region of Zaporizhzhia.
The missile hit the Vilnianska Hospital in the early hours of this morning.
Russia has launched 'hundreds' of Iranian missiles at Ukraine, MoD reports
In its latest intel report on the war in Ukraine, the British Ministry of Defence detailed the use of Iranian missiles by Putin's forces.
Its statement said: "Since September, Russia has likely launched hundreds of Iranian-manufactured uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) against Ukraine. These have been a mixture of one way attack (OWA) UAVs and more traditional reusable armed systems.
"Russia has largely used these weapons against tactical military targets and the Ukrainian electricity grid.
"However, recently Russian commanders likely also wanted Iranian-sourced UAVs to prioritise medical facilities as targets of opportunity, and strike them with guided munitions if identified.
"Russia likely conceived of the UAV campaign to make up for its severe shortage of cruise missiles, but the approach has had limited success. Most UAVs launched have been neutralised.
"No OWA UAVs strikes have been publicly reported since around 17 November 2022. Russia has likely very nearly exhausted its current stock, but will probably seek resupply.
"Russia can probably procure UAVs from overseas more rapidly than it can manufacture new cruise missiles domestically."
Zelensky spoke to Macron about ‘radiation safety and the situation at Zaporizhzhia’
Zelensky has said that “the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is extremely important”.
During his nightly address, the Ukrainian President said: “I spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron about the implementation of several points of our Peace Formula at once. Namely, about radiation safety and the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as well as about the energy security of Ukraine and Europe.
“We are working to ensure the implementation of the IAEA order to stop any hostile activity against Ukrainian nuclear facilities. And for this, the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is extremely important. Russia must withdraw all its militants from there and stop shelling the station.”
One dead as Russia bombs school in Zaporizhzhia
A social worker has been killed after Russian forces attacked a school in the region of Zaporizhzhia.
The building had been converted into a humanitarian distribution centre.
Two other Ukrainians were injured.
On the ground in liberated Kherson
Our Defence Editor Jerome Starkey is live on the ground in the recently liberated city of Kherson, here is what he had to say on Tuesday morning.
“The blasts of artillery duels are echoing over Kherson.
“Rarely half an hour goes by without the ominous sound of an explosion.
“We hope that most are outgoing.
“The locals rarely flinch – even when the shockwave from an outgoing round is enough to set off car alarms.
“We were just in the east of the city, which is bearing the brunt of incoming mortars, and the Ukrainians we were with hurried us into a cellar to take cover.”
Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘nuclear blackmail’ as shells hit Zaporizhzhia
A top Ukrainian official has slammed Russian forces, accusing them of attacking humanitarian centres and engaging in “nuclear blackmail.”
“Russian terrorists are shelling humanitarian delivery points, continuing nuclear blackmail – a pitiful tactic of military losers,” Andriy Yermak, chief of the presidential staff, said via Telegram.
“Well, for every such action there is a Ukrainian counteraction,” he added.
Russia reportedly preparing a second round of mobilisation
According to Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Kremlin is preparing another round of mobilisation in January.
Taking to Twitter, he said: “Russia is getting ready for 2nd wave of mobilization in January. The plan is to draft 500,000-700,000.
“The 300,000 drafted before – already killed/wounded/demoralized.”
Zelensky hails EU for latest aid package
President Zelensky took to Twitter yesterday afternoon to praise the EU after a new round of aid was announced.
This latest package will see the EU provide macro-financial aid worth €2.5billion.
Mr Zelensky thanked the EU for its “solidarity and support.”
Damage to Ukraine’s energy grid is ‘colossal’ claims energy operator
Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, chief executive officer of Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s energy grid operator, has said the damage to the country’s infrastructure is “colossal”.
Russia has been engaged in a bombing campaign targeting Ukraine’s ability to produce electricity ahead of the winter.
Ukrainians across the nation have been forced to endure rolling blackouts in a bid to save energy.
Ukrainians facing their ‘darkest days’ warns World Health Organisation
Ukraine and its health service are facing a crisis this winter following months of Russian bombing, said the World Health Organisation (WHO.)
“This winter will be life-threatening for millions of people in Ukraine,” said WHO’s regional director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P Kluge.
“The devastating energy crisis, the deepening mental health emergency, constraints on humanitarian access and the risk of viral infections will make this winter a formidable test for the Ukrainian health system and the Ukrainian people, but also for the world and its commitment to support Ukraine.
“Ukraine’s health system is facing its darkest days in the war so far. Having endured more than 700 attacks, it is now also a victim of the energy crisis.”
No progress made on Zaporizhzhia safe zone agreement – Kremlin
There has been no “substantive” progress made on the deal to create a safe zone around the Zaporizhzhia powerplant, the Kremlin has said according to the Independent.
Europe’s largest nuclear plant has been subject to a series of bombardments in recent days, causing fears of a Chornobyl-style disaster in Ukraine.
The UN’s nuclear watchdog said both Ukraine and Russia are “playing with fire” by fighting near the plant.
EU to provide a further 2.5billion Euros to Ukraine
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, confirmed on Tuesday that the EU is set to provide a further 2.5billion Euros of aid to Ukraine.
Taking to Twitter, she confirmed the EU is planning to another 18billion in 2023.
This money will be used “for urgent repairs and fast recovery leading to a successful reconstruction.”
Elon Musk’s Starlink at work in Kherson
Billionaire Elon Musk has supplied his Starlink technology to Ukraine since the outbreak of Russia’s invasion.
The tech allows Ukraine to have internet access despite Russia’s best attempts to limit the nation’s connection to the web.
Our Defence Editor Jerome Starkey, who is live on the ground in Kherson and took the photo below, described the technology as a “lifesaver.”
One dead as Russia bombs school in Zaporizhzhia
A social worker has been killed after Russian forces attacked a school in the region of Zaporizhzhia.
The building had been converted into a humanitarian distribution centre.
Two other Ukrainians were injured.
Russians 'leave behind a completely destroyed infrastructure'
In his nightly address Zelensky has told of the destruction that Russian soldiers have left behind.
Zelensky said: "We managed to liberate more than 1,800 settlements from the Russian occupation. And the consequences of the occupation are very similar everywhere.
"The Russian soldiers mined everything they managed to mine. The occupiers looted everything they managed to loot. In general, hundreds of thousands of buildings were destroyed or damaged by shelling across Ukraine. Thousands of social objects. The occupiers leave behind a completely destroyed infrastructure..."
Russia backtracks on ambitions
Russia no longer has the intention of replacing Ukraine’s government, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said this morning.
Putin “does not intend the ‘special operation’ to change the government in Ukraine”, he told .
This is a different tune to Russia’s original plan in Ukraine, where they hoped to install a Moscow-friendly government.
Ukraine tanks advance in Ukraine
Ukrainian tanks have been filmed storming through fields, advancing further on as the war in Ukraine continues.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence uploaded the clip which shows the tanks, assembled in a line formation, advance along a path towards the front line.
Putin’s ‘torture chambers’ uncovered
Ukraine says it has uncovered several of Putin’s “torture chambers” in the liberated city of Kherson, used to perform sick acts on civilians.
The Office of the General Prosecutor of said in a statement that officials had found and inspected “four premises” where bloodthirsty troops “illegally detained people and brutally tortured them”.
Parts of rubber truncheons, a wooden bat, an incandescent lamp and “a device with which the occupiers tortured civilians with electricity” were found in one location – as well as paperwork documenting the administration of the detention sites.
Sickening images show athe regime’s ‘Z’ symbol graffiti’d across the walls in the pre-trial detention centre – with an ominous-looking contraption that appears to be a torture device.