[Korrespondent] 21:54 Putin is ready to lose up to 300,000 Russian soldiers in the war against Ukraine, one of the NATO states claims, according to an investigation by The New York Times .
21:51 As of 18:00 on Saturday, December 17, all nine nuclear power units located in the territory controlled by Ukraine are operating in the energy system, Energoatom said. However, the capacity of one of the power units is limited to 600 MW due to the unavailability of the power system to receive the entire possible amount of electricity from it, since the energy infrastructure facilities were again damaged due to yesterday's shelling. Another six power units of the occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant have been shut down - their activation is being blocked by the Russians. The station continues to constantly consume about 100 MW for its own needs from the energy system of Ukraine.
21:13 Zelensky announced on Monday, December 19, a meeting of the leaders of the Nordic countries: "These are the UK, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Iceland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway. These are our extremely important friends, important partners and effective assistants to our defense So we are preparing several new proposals from Ukraine on how to strengthen all of us, all the countries of Europe."
20:58 Zelensky said in an evening video message that after yesterday's rocket attack by the Russians, almost 6 million Ukrainians were able to return electricity. The President called on Ukraine's partners to provide a reliable air defense shield: "When we get it, then the main form of Russian terror, namely missile terror, will simply become impossible. And only this will mean security for millions of people and a strategic restructuring of the entire military situation. Russia for terror, the more opportunities we will have to return and guarantee peace."
20:22 The United States tried to prevent Ukraine from destroying the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov during his visit to the war zone in April, writes The New York Times, citing its sources. According to the publication, American officials learned about the planned visit of Gerasimov to the front line, but withheld this information from the Ukrainians, fearing that the attempt on his life could lead to a war between the United States and Russia. However, the Ukrainian side still found out about the trip and began to plan an attack on the general's position.
After an internal debate, Washington asked Ukraine to stop these plans because "it's too much." However, the message came too late - the Ukrainian military told the Americans that they had already launched an attack. The strike killed dozens of Russians, but Gerasimov survived. After that, Russian military leaders reduced their visits to the front.
19:11 Scholz said that Germany will not unilaterally transfer tanks to Ukraine: "We adhere to three clear principles. Firstly, we support Ukraine to the best of our ability. Secondly, we prevent a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia. And "Thirdly, there will be no unilateral action on the part of Germany. This is the criterion of our decisive but cautious policy - and it will be valid next year." The chancellor added that "the vast majority of Germans think it's right."
19:02 The Russians shelled the village of Stepanovka near Kherson from a mortar: shells hit the headquarters of humanitarian aid, one person died, two were injured. The enemy strike damaged school buildings, hospitals and churches, the President's Office said.
18:57 Russia has resumed strikes on Ukraine with Iranian drones thanks to a new batch, but uses them more sparingly, spokesman for the Main Intelligence Directorate Andrey Yusov said: "Yes, this is a new batch, but compared to the initial massive use of Shaheds, it is obviously less. We are not commenting now number, but we see that, for example, during yesterday's massive terrorist missile strikes, "Shaheds" were not used. All other available means, all missile weapons were used."
18:15 Zelensky said in an interview with the French TV channel LCI that he was ready to engage in a duel with Putin - this is how he commented on the attempts of the Russian president to convey some messages to him through intermediaries, in particular Macron. "A real man, if he wants to say something to someone or, for example, punch someone in the face, he does it himself, and does not send intermediaries. Now, if they turned to me, I would not look for intermediaries," Zelensky said. When asked if he was ready to engage in physical combat with Putin, Zelensky replied: "Always ready. Even tomorrow. But this will be the last summit of President Putin."
17:58 More than 100 people contact the hotline, chatbot and other contacts of the project I want to live every day, Andrey Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, said: “There are results, and they are significant, which also apply to individual rashists who surrender, and of entire units - and these are not only privates, but also officers. Although the most active are, of course, partially mobilized. These are people who do not understand at all what to do in the war in Ukraine and why they are here. "
In general, the information resources of the project I want to live were used by more than 1.2 million people, most of whom are from the territory of the Russian Federation. Yusov clarified that these are not direct appeals, but these are people who are studying for themselves or for their relatives the opportunity to save lives.
17:26 The Moldovan Commission for Emergency Situations has suspended the licenses of six pro-Russian TV channels that unfairly covered events in the country and in Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that this was "an act of political censorship."
16:01 Scholz said that negotiations with the Kremlin are necessary to end the war in Ukraine. "Our goal is for Russia to stop its war of aggression and for Ukraine to defend its integrity," the Chancellor said. To achieve this goal, he said, it is necessary to talk with Russia: "Whether this will happen by phone, by video link or at a long table, remains to be seen."
Russia must realize that "it can't go on like this anymore," while Putin must "end the war, withdraw the troops, and thereby create an opportunity for mutual understanding," the chancellor stressed. At the same time, he noted the great danger of an escalation of the war due to Russia's military failures.
15:13 Kramatorsk after Russian shelling is completely de-energized, heat and water supply is stopped. "Where there is an opportunity, we switch to generators," Mayor Alexander Goncharenko said.
14:22 Russian trenches in Crimea "definitely will not help" the Russian Federation, and the peninsula will be returned under the control of Kiev, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Alexei Danilov said in a comment to Crimea.Realities: "I can say: the trenches will definitely not help them. Crimea will be returned and returned without fail - in such a way as our military-political leadership decides. If it is necessary to fight for Crimea, we will fight for Crimea, and we will not ask anyone. This is our land, and it must be returned home."
13:35 Zelensky, in an interview with the French TF1 INFO, admitted the possibility of a new Russian offensive in 2023: "We can understand their desire for revenge, this remains their obsession, their desire to attack our country, occupy our territory. They never abandoned this project, I think. But the question is, are they capable of it? And are we capable of handling it? But I'm sure that their desire to achieve this is still there."
13:31 The Armed Forces of Ukraine are preparing for a new possible invasion of Russian troops from the northern direction in early 2023, Major General Andrei Kovalchuk, commander of the Pivden Operational Command, said in an interview with Sky News.
12:38 The Russians, the day before the missile attack on December 16, used Iranian drones to reveal the location of the Ukrainian air defense, Yuriy Ignat, spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said: "This is done in order to find out exactly where those Shaheds were shot down, where exactly ours got them air defense. Because they shoot down Shahed at night, and first of all it is done by anti-aircraft missile systems. It is clear that they determine their location and then make adjustments for their already missile attacks."
12:19 CIA sees to date no clear evidence of Russian plans to use tactical nuclear weapons, said the head of the agency, William Burns: "I think that saber-rattling is intended to intimidate." According to him, the United States made it very clear to the Russians what serious risks the use of nuclear weapons would have.
11:22 Over the past day, the Russians fired at the territory of the Kherson region 27 times: one person was killed, three were injured. In the morning, the enemy is shelling the Ship District of Kherson - one person was killed, one was wounded, the head of the Regional Military District, Yaroslav Yanushevich, said.
11:17 The Ukrainian electricity market is operating normally, the emergency regime, introduced the day before exclusively for operations in the electricity market, was completed at 19:15. As of the morning of December 17, the shortage of electricity in the system is still significant, and consumption limits have been brought to all oblenergos. The process of bringing the units of nuclear power plants to the level of planned capacity is underway, thermal power plants are gradually resuming work, hydroelectric power plants continue to work according to schedule. Emergency and restoration work is being carried out at power facilities damaged by shelling. The state of power grids across the country is difficult due to weather conditions.
11:13 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the enemy on the morning of December 17th.
- personnel - about 97,690 (+420) people liquidated
...a terrifying number if not exaggerated. Also terrifying if it is...
- tanks - 2985 (+5),
- armored combat vehicles - 5958 (+6),
- artillery systems - 1947 (+1),
- MLRS - 410 (+0),
- air defense systems - 211 (+0),
- aircraft - 281 (+0),
- helicopters - 264 (+0),
- UAV operational-tactical level - 1648 (+0),
- cruise missiles - 653 (+61),
- ships/boats - 16 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tankers - 4577 (+14),
- special equipment - 174 (+2).
11:00 CIA chief William Burns is convinced that Russia is not in the mood for real negotiations. He also considers Putin’s belief that he will be able to continue the war for a long time and nothing will stop him wrong: “I think that he is mistaken in making this bet, just as he was wrong, deeply mistaken in making the bet on February 24, when he started this war."
10:37 Russians are collecting fake "evidence" to accuse Ukraine of shelling Donetsk, Andrey Yusov, a spokesman for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, said: "There is information that Russian army units were instructed to collect fragments of foreign, that is, not Soviet, Western-style ammunition. I'm talking about the 155 caliber, about all the ammunition that can show Ukraine's "involvement" in the shelling of Donetsk. These remnants of ammunition are purposefully brought to Donetsk today. And then we see staged films and stories."
According to Yusov, the purpose of such provocations is to undermine confidence in Ukraine, primarily on the part of international partners. He stressed that the Ukrainian defense forces do not fire and do not choose residential areas and civilian infrastructure as targets.
10:23 "Authorities" of the occupied Zaporozhye region announced that they began to mount a protective dome from fragments of shells and drones over the storage of spent nuclear waste at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.
09:31 British intelligence reported that Russia moved the launch site of Iranian drones to the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation. Previously, these UAVs were launched mainly from the territory of the occupied Crimea. The change in launch site is likely due to Russia's concerns about Crimea's vulnerability, as well as the convenience of resupplying from Astrakhan, the likely destination for weapons in Russia, analysts said.
09:28 The Russians fired two Onyx-type missiles in the Odessa region in the morning. Both missiles fired from a coastal missile complex in Crimea were destroyed by air defense forces, OK Pivden reported.
09:23 Power supply has been restored throughout the Kharkiv region and in Kharkiv, Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA, said. He recalled that after yesterday's enemy shelling, the entire region was completely de-energized.
09:18 After yesterday's missile attack on a residential building in Krivoy Rog, rescuers pulled out the body of a one and a half year old child from under the rubble. Thus, the total number of deaths increased to four, another 13 people were injured, including four children, said the head of the Dnepropetrovsk regional police department, Valentin Reznichenko.
08:55 In Kiev, after yesterday's shelling, water supply was completely restored, half of the people of Kiev are already with heat, with energy supply - two-thirds of the capital. But the blackout schedules are applied because electricity shortages remain significant, Klitschko said.
08:47 Over the past day, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine repelled attacks by invaders in areas of more than 20 settlements. In particular, these are Ploschanka, Chervonopopovka, Belogorovka, Luhansk region, and Bakhmut, Experienced, Zelenopolye, Andreevka, Maryinka, Pobeda, and Novomikhailovka, Donetsk region, the General Staff said in a morning report .
The enemy is redeploying individual units and withdrawing part of his troops from Kakhovka and Novaya Kakhovka to the area of ​​​​the settlement of Nizhnie Serogozy. Among the local residents, the servicemen are spreading information that Kakhovka will be abandoned by Russian troops by the end of this year, so the locals, who are loyal to the occupiers, are offered to move to the Crimea.
07:42 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that Dmitry Medvedev's statements about "legitimate military purposes" for the Russian Federation are part of an information operation aimed at weakening Western support for Ukraine. At the same time, Medvedev's rhetoric still does not correspond to the actual position of the Kremlin regarding the war in Ukraine. Russian forces have been, and likely will continue to be, hitting Western military equipment stationed in Ukraine, but this is not surprising, analysts say.
ISW experts also suggest that Putin's visit to Minsk on December 19 aims to put pressure on Lukashenka and strengthen the information operation regarding a possible Russian offensive from the territory of Belarus. At the same time, analysts add that the likelihood of a Russian invasion of Ukraine from the territory of Belarus is now assessed as low, but possible. And the meeting of the two dictators should strengthen the Russian information operation aimed at convincing Ukrainians and Westerners that Russia can attack Ukraine from the territory of Belarus.
04:53 Winter at the frontline will be a very dynamic time, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Laura Cooper is convinced: "Some think of winter as a time for rest and re-equipment, but we see no signs that the Ukrainians will stop And we certainly expect the Russians to also try to move forward."
03:13 The Biden administration has asked the US Congress to provide Ukraine with an additional nearly $38 billion, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.
02:51 Zelensky said in an interview with the French TV channel LCI that negotiations with the Russian Federation are possible, but not with the current Nazi Russia: “All we are interested in is the liberation of our own lands, after which we will have to talk with Russia, which is ready to respect its interlocutor and return what belongs to us. It is with such a Russia that I will be ready to negotiate, but not with the Russia that we have at the moment, with Nazi Russia."
01:17 Russia is solely responsible for any provocations regarding the war in Ukraine, said Deputy Speaker of the US State Department Vedant Patel, commenting on the words of Russian officials that the supply of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine "will lead to unpredictable consequences." "The only provocative measures that have been taken throughout this conflict are carried out by Russia. The US is not and never has been at war with Russia," Patel said.
00:41 Germany will transfer 130 million euros to the Energy Support Fund by the end of the year for the urgent needs of Ukrainian energy companies, the German Embassy said.