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Ukraine news - live: Russia accuses Kyiv of ‘nuclear terrorism’ at Zaporizhzhia

Russia has accused Ukraine of deliberately creating the threat of a possible “nuclear catastrophe” by continuing to shell the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The power plant is the largest in Europe and his been under Russian control since the beginning of the war.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russian forces were taking “all measures” to ensure the safety of Europe's largest power plant.

“In turn, the Kyiv regime seeks to create the appearance of a threat of a nuclear catastrophe by continuing to deliberately shell the site,” he told his military chiefs in a conference call, an abridged transcript of which was published by the defence ministry.

Mr Shoigu also accused Kyiv of firing 33 large-calibre shells at the plant in the last two weeks, although the claims are yet to be verified. Ukraine continues to deny shelling the facility.

Russian air defences intercepted most of them, but “some still hit objects that affect the safe operation of the nuclear plant”.

“We classify these attacks by Ukrainian troops as nuclear terrorism,” he added.

Key Points

  • Half of Kyiv without electricity in coming days

  • Drone attack on oil tank at airfield in Russia’s Kursk

  • Kremlin may punish officers who failed to avert attack on Engels airbase - MoD

  • Ukraine fired on Russian military bases with drones, says report

  • Russia launches new missile attacks, Ukrainians head for shelters

  • Russia accuses Ukraine of ‘nuclear terrorism'

Russian oil cap begins, trying to pressure Putin on Ukraine

Monday 5 December 2022 09:04 , Eleanor Sly

Western countries have begun to impose a $60-per-barrel price cap and ban on some types of Russian oil, part of new measures aimed at stepping up pressure against Moscow over its war on Ukraine.

The European Union, along with Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan and the United States agreed to the price cap - which comes into effect today - on Friday. The move has prompted a rejection from Kremlin and also criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — whose government say they want the cap to be half as high.

The 27-country European bloc has also imposed an embargo on Russian oil shipped by sea.

Ukrainians hid orphaned children from Russian deportation

Monday 5 December 2022 09:32 , Eleanor Sly

Hours after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, health staff at a children’s hospital in the south started secretly planning how to save the babies.

Russians were suspected of seizing orphan children and sending them to Russia, so staff at the children’s regional hospital in Kherson city began fabricating orphans’ medical records to make it appear like they were too ill to move.

“We deliberately wrote false information that the children were sick and could not be transported,” said Dr. Olga Pilyarska, head of intensive care. “We were scared that (the Russians) would find out … (but) we decided that we would save the children at any cost.”

Read more here:

Ukrainians hid orphaned children from Russian deportation

Nine killed in shelling of Russian-held town in eastern Ukraine

Monday 5 December 2022 09:59 , Eleanor Sly

Russian-backed military officials in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region have said that nine people were killed on Monday.

This comes after Ukraine shelled the city of Alchevsk, the state-run TASS news agency reported.

India shared a list of products with Moscow for access to Russian market

Monday 5 December 2022 10:22 , Eleanor Sly

India gave a list of Indian products to Moscow for access to Russian markets, Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Monday, as his country seeks to narrow a growing trade deficit with Russia at a time when Moscow faces acute shortages of some crucial materials following Western sanctions.

Reuters reported last week that Moscow had sent India a list of more than 500 products for potential delivery, including parts for cars, aircraft and trains, as sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine squeeze its ability to keep vital industries running.

Russia has been India’s largest supplier of military equipment for decades and it is the fourth-biggest market for Indian pharmaceuticals. But with India’s purchases of Russian oil soaring and coal and fertiliser shipments also strong, the South Asian nation is looking for ways to rebalance trade.

“We have given Russians a set of products which we believe we are very competitive in and which we feel should be getting access to the Russian market,” Jaishankar told reporters in a briefing with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, who is on a visit to India.

Reuters

German chancellor warns against a new Cold War

Monday 5 December 2022 10:43 , Eleanor Sly

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellorm, has warned the West to avoid creating a new cold war by dividing the world into blocs.

Mr Scholz shared his views in an opinion piece for Foreign Affairs magazine, published on Monday.

In the piece, the German chancellor called for every effort to be made to build new partnerships.

Mr Scholz singled out China and Russia as two countries that pose a threat to a multipolar world.

He said the west must stand up for democratic values and protect open societies whilst also avoiding “the temptation to once again divide the world into blocs,” reports Reuters.

“This means making every effort to build new partnerships, pragmatically and without ideological blinders,” he added.

“Germans are intent on becoming the guarantor of European security that our allies expect us to be, a bridge builder within the European Union and an advocate for multilateral solutions to global problems,” he wrote.

Germany’s Scholz warns against new Cold War as Russia says 9 killed in Luhansk shelling

Monday 5 December 2022 11:12 , Eleanor Sly

Russian-backed military officials in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region have said that nine people were killed on Monday after Ukraine shelled the city of Alchevsk in the east of the region.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, civilians have been suffering from a wave of shelling from Russia, who have targeted key energy infrastructure as well as civilians.

As the war rages on, leaders have warned against creating a new Cold War by dividing up the world.

Eleanor Sly reports:

Germany’s Scholz warns against new Cold War as Russia says 9 killed in shelling

Nurses must drop pay demands to ‘send clear message to Putin’, cabinet minister says

Monday 5 December 2022 11:42 , Eleanor Sly

Nurses and ambulance drivers are helping Vladimir Putin in his assault on Ukraine by demanding big pay rises, a cabinet minister has said. The comments triggered widespread ridicule.

Nadhim Zahawi switched tack in the battle to avert pre-Christmas NHS strikes by claiming that the industrial action would expose a “divided” UK when a united front is needed over Russia’s “illegal war”.

“This is a time to come together and to send a very clear message to Mr Putin that we’re not going to be divided in this way,” said the Tory party chair.

Rob Merrick reports:

Nurses must drop pay demands to ‘send clear message to Putin’, cabinet minister says

Russia launches new missile attacks, Ukrainians head for shelters

Monday 5 December 2022 12:07 , Eleanor Sly

Russia unleashed a new barrage of missiles on Ukraine on Monday, causing people to head to shelters across the country as air defences went into action.

Air raid sirens blared in the capital Kyiv and across the whole country in what Ukrainian officials described as the latest wave of Russian missile strikes since its invasion in February.

“Missiles have already been launched,” air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said.

There was no immediate word of any damage or casualties but officials were quoted by Ukrainian media as saying that explosions could be heard overhead in some areas as aid defence systems went into action.

“Don’t ignore the alarm,” said Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential staff.

Reuters

India signals it will continue to buy oil from Russia

Monday 5 December 2022 12:34 , Eleanor Sly

India will prioritize its own energy needs and continue to buy oil from Russia, its foreign minister signaled Monday, as Western governments press Moscow with a price cap to squeeze its earnings from oil exports.

Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar made the comments after holding talks with his visiting German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, in which they discussed bilateral relations and Russia’s war in Ukraine. Jaishankar said it isn’t right for European countries to prioritize their energy needs but “ask India to do something else.”

“Europe will make the choices it will make. It is their right,” he told reporters.

Read more here:

India signals it will continue to buy oil from Russia

Two killed in Russian missile strikes in Ukraine

Monday 5 December 2022 13:00 , Eleanor Sly

Russian missiles hit buildings in the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia on Monday.

They destroyed several houses and killed at least two people, a senior Ukrainian official said.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the presidential office, did not give any further details of the attacks.

A city official said that buildings had been hit in the suburbs of the city of Zaporizhzhia and that several Russian missiles had been shot down.

The governor of the Kyiv region said that air defences were at workd in the region, and told residents to stay in shelters.

An energy provider announced that power had been affected and was out on the northern region of Sumy in the latest missile strikes.

Blasts reported at two Russian airbases, three killed

Monday 5 December 2022 13:29 , Eleanor Sly

Three people were killed when a fuel tanker exploded at a Russian air base on Monday, a state news agency reported.

A regional governor also acknowledged reports of a blast at a separate base housing bomber planes that are part of Russia’s strategic nuclear forces.

State-owned RIA news agency said six others were injured when a tanker exploded in Ryazan, 185 km (115 miles) southeast of Moscow.

Roman Busargin, governor of the Saratov region further to the southeast told residents via Telegram: “I want to assure you that no emergencies occurred in the residential areas of the city. There are no reasons for concern. No civilian infrastructure was damaged.”

“Information about incidents at military facilities is being checked by law enforcement agencies.”

Belfast-based artist wins acclaim for mural in tribute to displaced Ukrainians

Monday 5 December 2022 14:00 , Eleanor Sly

A mural by a Belfast street artist in tribute to displaced Ukrainians has been selected as one of Graffiti Art Magazine’s renowned Murals Of The Year.

Emic, aka Eoin McGinn, painted a sunflower in tribute to Ukrainians displaced due to the invasion by Russia.

Graffiti Art Magazine’s Guide to Urban Contemporary Art 2022 showcases 12 murals of the year.

Read more here:

Belfast-based artist wins acclaim for mural in tribute to displaced Ukrainians

Bomb threats force evacuations in Croatia during meeting with Ukrainian delegation

Monday 5 December 2022 14:25 , Eleanor Sly

A series of anonymous bomb threats hit Croatia on Monday, forcing the evacuation of several police stations, shopping malls and courts, including the country’s supreme court during a meeting with a delegation from Ukraine.Police said that “in a short period of time,” several police departments received information about “anonymous reports that explosive devices were allegedly placed” at different locations across the country.Croatian media suggest that police searches have so far found no explosive devices.The President of the Croatian Supreme Court, Radovan Dobronic, told state HRT television that a security officer informed him about the bomb threat as he was meeting with a delegation from Ukraine’s supreme court, adding that it seemed to him that the threat was linked to the meeting.“Somehow it seems to me that it was done on purpose at this moment,” Dobronic said. “My first thought was that it was connected. And practically 20 minutes after the start of that meeting, the tip came in,” he added.The anonymous threats, among a series in the country in recent months, comes amid a debate within Croatia’s leadership on whether the European Union and NATO-member country should join a Western initiative to start training Ukrainian soldiers against the invading Russian forces.

AP

How the Ukraine war will play out this winter

Monday 5 December 2022 14:40 , Eleanor Sly

When the volleys of Russian cruise missiles and shelling turned the Kyiv night sky orange on 24 February, many predicted Vladimir Putin’s invasion would tear through Ukraine’s defences and that the conflict would be resolved in a matter of days, if not weeks.

More than nine months later, the muddy and sludgy trenches stretching along the country’s southern and eastern frontlines are being coated in thick white snow as temperatures plummet with the onset of winter.

Russia has been accused of planning to weaponise the coming cold in its all-out war against Ukraine, most notably by targeting the energy infrastructure that would provide its civilian population with heating.

Arpan Rai has more:

How the Ukraine war will play out this winter

Ukrainian soldier shares footage of ‘mass grave’ for Russians in burned-out hanger

Monday 5 December 2022 15:00 , Eleanor Sly

The Ukrainian military has shared a video of a burned-out hanger full of what they claim to be Russian equipment.

The footage, shared on the Defense of Ukraine Twitter account, captures a soldier walking near charred vehicles and equipment in what he called a “mass grave” for Russians.

The footage is from an undisclosed location, but the Ukrainian defence ministry said it would act as a warning sign for any other Russians coming to fight in the region.

Watch more here:

Ukrainian soldier shares footage of ‘mass grave’ for Russians in burned-out hanger

Ukraine war ups arms sales but challenges lie ahead

Monday 5 December 2022 16:03 , Eleanor Sly

Global arms sales increased by nearly two per cent in 2021, the seventh consecutive year of increases, an international arms sales watchdog noted Monday.

It added that the war in Ukraine had increased demand for weapons this year, but the conflict may also lead to a supply challenge, not least because Russia is a major supplier of raw materials used in arms production.

That could hamper efforts in the United States and Europe to strengthen their armed forces and replenish their stockpiles after sending billions of dollars’ worth of ammunition and other equipment to Ukraine, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI, said.

Read more here:

Vladimir Putin drives across Crimea bridge damaged in October blast

Monday 5 December 2022 16:12 , Eleanor Sly

Ukraine says it downed over 60 missiles launched by Russia on Monday

Monday 5 December 2022 16:30 , Eleanor Sly

Ukraine says that it shot down more than 60 of over 70 missiles launched by Russia in a massed missile strike on Monday, Ukraine’s air force command said.

The strikes targeted Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, the air force disclosed in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

Missile fragments found in Moldova

Monday 5 December 2022 16:50 , Eleanor Sly

In the latest round of air strikes, police in neighbouring Moldova have reportedly found missile fragments on its soil.

Moscow has been shelling Ukraine’s energy infrastructure nearl every since early October as it has been forced to retreat on some battlefronts.

Main developments on Monday so far

Monday 5 December 2022 19:18 , Sam Rkaina

Ukraine said Russia destroyed homes in the southeast and knocked out power in many areas with a new volley of missiles on Monday, while Moscow said Ukrainian drones had attacked two air bases deep inside Russia hundreds of miles from frontlines.

A new missile barrage had been anticipated in Ukraine for days and it took place just as emergency blackouts were due to end, with previous damage repaired.

The strikes plunged parts of Ukraine back into freezing darkness with temperatures now firmly below zero. Residents in the capital were forced to take shelter in a subway station as the attack took place.

However, Kyiv said it shot down most of the missiles.

At least two people were killed in Russian attacks in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, Kyiv said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones attacked two air bases at Ryazan and Saratov in south-central Russia, killing three servicemen, wounding four and damaging two aircraft, Russia’s defence ministry said.

Ukraine did not directly claim responsibility for the attacks. If it was behind them, they would be the deepest inside the Russian heartland since Moscow invaded Ukraine on 24 February.

One of the targets, the Engels air base near the city of Saratov, around 450 miles southeast of Moscow, houses bomber planes belonging to Russia’s strategic nuclear forces.

 (AP)
(AP)

Russia accuses Ukraine of “terrorist act” with drone strike

Monday 5 December 2022 19:50 , Sam Rkaina

“The Kyiv regime, in order to disable Russian long-range aircraft, made attempts to strike with Soviet-made unmanned jet aerial vehicles at the military airfields Dyagilevo, in the Ryazan region, and Engels, in the Saratov region,” the Russian defence ministry said.

It said the drones, flying at low altitude, were intercepted by air defences and shot down. The deaths were reported on the Ryazan base, 115 miles southeast of Moscow.

The Russian defence ministry called the drone strikes a terrorist act aimed at disrupting its long-range aviation.

Despite that, it said, Russia responded with a “massive strike on the military control system and related objects of the defences complex, communication centres, energy and military units of Ukraine with high-precision air- and sea-based weapons” in which it said all 17 designated targets were hit.

US to ask oil and gas chiefs to support Ukraine’s infrastructure

Monday 5 December 2022 21:34 , Liam James

The US government will ask oil and gas executives to support Ukrainian energy infrastructure after months of devastating Russian air strikes, Reuters reports.

“As you know Ukrainian energy assets are being aggressively targeted in an effort to take advantage of the winter’s coldest temperatures and harshest weather conditions. Together, we can help to boost Ukrainian resilience,” wrote David Turk, US deputy secretary of energy, in a letter to oil and gas executives seen by the news agency.

A meeting with bosses is scheduled for Thursday, the report said. It involves members of the Oil and Natural Gas Sector Coordinating Council, which includes 26 trade associations.

Countries allied with Ukraine are devising ways to support the war-torn nation as millions of its citizens face a winter with severely limited access to heat and electricity.

Ukraine fired on Russian military bases with drones, says report

Monday 5 December 2022 23:05 , Liam James

Ukraine’s attacked two military bases hundreds of miles inside Russia using unmanned drones, The New York Times reported on Monday, citing a senior Ukrainian official.

The drones were launched from Ukrainian territory and at least two planes were destroyed at one of the bases and several more were damaged, the newspaper reported.

Russia’s defence ministry said Ukrainian drones attacked two air bases at Ryazan and Saratov in south-central Russia, killing three servicemen and wounding four, with two aircraft damaged by pieces of the drones when they were shot down.

Ukraine did not directly claim responsibility for the attacks. If it was behind them, they would be the deepest strikes inside the Russian heartland since Moscow invaded Ukraine.

A satellite image shows bomber aircrafts at Engels Air Base in Saratov, Russia on Sudnay (Reuters)
A satellite image shows bomber aircrafts at Engels Air Base in Saratov, Russia on Sudnay (Reuters)

Putin drives across Crimea bridge badly damaged in October bomb attack

Tuesday 6 December 2022 00:20 , Liam James

Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken to the wheel to drive a vehicle across a bridge to Crimea that was badly damaged by a truck bomb attack in the Autumn.

On Monday, Mr Putin, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, was shown on Russian state TV driving a Mercedes across the bridge that links Russia’s mainland with the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Moscow from Ukraine in 2014.

The symbolic journey came on the same day as Kyiv said Russia had destroyed homes in the southeast and knocked out power in many areas with a new round of missile attacks.

Russia’s president was shown speaking to workers and discussing the repairs of the Kerch Bridge with a senior government official who was responsible for the project.

“We are driving on the right hand side,” Mr Putin said, as he drove across the bridge.

Putin drives across Crimea bridge badly damaged in October bomb attack

Underground and out of range: Ukrainians hiding in the metro

Tuesday 6 December 2022 01:15 , Liam James

Residents of Kyiv have taken to the Ukrainian capital’s underground rail network to avoid the latest round of Russian strikes.

Earlier in the ten month war, people in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s liberated second-largest city, hid in their own city’s metro to avoid danger as Russian forces swept into town.

Kyiv residents underground on Monday (Getty)
Kyiv residents underground on Monday (Getty)
Crowds of people gathered in the capital’s vast underground network (Getty)
Crowds of people gathered in the capital’s vast underground network (Getty)
Residents of Kyiv face blackouts at home (AFP/Getty)
Residents of Kyiv face blackouts at home (AFP/Getty)

More blackouts to come, says Zelensky

Tuesday 6 December 2022 02:30 , Liam James

Ukraine warned there would be emergency blackouts once again in several regions as it repaired damage from missile attacks it said destroyed homes and knocked out power, while Moscow accused Kyiv of attacking deep inside Russia with drones.

A new Russian missile barrage had been anticipated in Ukraine for days and it took place just as emergency blackouts were due to end, with previous damage repaired.

The strikes, which plunged parts of Ukraine back into freezing darkness with temperatures below zero degrees celsius, were the latest in weeks of attacks hitting critical infrastructure and cutting off heat and water to many.

At least four people were killed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding that most of some 70 missiles were shot down.

“In many regions, there will have to be emergency blackouts,” he said in a late Monday video address. “We will be doing everything to restore stability.”

Passengers ride a bus during a blackout in downtown Odesa on Monday (AFP/Getty)
Passengers ride a bus during a blackout in downtown Odesa on Monday (AFP/Getty)
Customers at a store seen from across the road in Odesa on Monay night (AFP/Getty)
Customers at a store seen from across the road in Odesa on Monay night (AFP/Getty)

Russia refuses to give up control of major Ukrainian nuclear power plant

Tuesday 6 December 2022 03:31 , Arpan Rai

Top Russian officials have said Moscow’s exit from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, or even transferring control to another entity, will not happen.

“Russian withdrawal from Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant or transferring control over it to some ‘third party’ is out of the question,” foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said yesterday, amid demands of Russia making way for a nuclear safety zone in the region witnessing shelling.

Zaporizhzhia has been shelled every day from mid-September and was also the site of fierce fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces since the first week of invasion.

Over the weekend, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief said that the top UN nuclear body is hoping to reach an agreement with Russia and Ukraine on protecting the nuclear facility – the largest in Europe – by the end of this year.

It is currently occupied by Russian troops who are overseeing the plant with Ukrainian staff under their watch.

Canada to give Ukraine C$15 million for demining

Tuesday 6 December 2022 03:51 , Arpan Rai

Canada is ready to help Ukraine demine its formerly occupied territory left sprinkled with landmines by Russian forces and will provide C$15m (£9.05m), officials said yesterday.

This will help Ukrainian authorities fund detection and clearance of landmines, unexploded explosive ordnance and other explosive remnants of war.

“The Ukrainian authorities now estimate that landmines are found in 30 per cent of the country,” Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said at Carleton University in Ottawa.

The country is also providing bomb suits to Ukraine for its deminers and also funding advanced remote-control demining systems to clear large areas like farmlands.

Two killed in Russian missile strikes on Zaporizhzhia

Tuesday 6 December 2022 04:12 , Arpan Rai

At least two people were killed and several houses destroyed after Russian missiles struck Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the presidential office.

Visuals from the attack showed a damaged car in Novosofiivka and two bodies covered with blankets in the east of Zaporizhzhia city.

The two civilians were seeing off their kids, said their neighbour.

“Both of my neighbours were killed. They were standing by the car. They were seeing off their son and daughter-in-law,” 62-year-old Olha Troshyna said.

Half of Kyiv without electricity in coming days

Tuesday 6 December 2022 04:43 , Arpan Rai

About half of the Kyiv region, excluding the capital, will be left without electricity in the coming days, the regional governor said hours after a Russian barrage of missiles hit energy plants in Kyiv and Vinnytsia in central Ukraine.

The capital region had a population of about 1.8 million before the war began in February.

Russian missiles hit energy plants in central Ukraine, Odesa in the south and Sumy in the north, officials said.

Just yesterday, Volodymyr Zelensky had announced the war-hit country’s – especially the capital region – return to scheduled power outages instead of emergency blackouts from this week.

Mr Zelensky said his air forces had downed most of the Russian ordnance flown in Ukraine’s direction yesterday afternoon.

“The main result – 70 Russian missiles were launched, most of them were shot down. Kalibr, Kh-101, etc. I am grateful to all our warriors of the air commands “East”, “South” and “Center”. Well done!” he said in his nightly address.

He said that he is grateful to Ukraine’s partners for the air defence systems currently being used.

“Every downed Russian missile is concrete proof that terror can be defeated. But, unfortunately, we still cannot ensure complete security to our sky – there were several hits,” Mr Zelensky said.

Ukraine’s air force said it downed more than 60 of the 70+ missiles fired.

Drone attack on oil tank at airfield in Russia’s Kursk

Tuesday 6 December 2022 05:08 , Arpan Rai

A fire broke out in Russia’s Kursk region today after a drone attack struck an airfield and an oil storage tank, a local governor said.

The Kursk region falls on the border Russia shares with Ukraine.

“There were no casualties. The fire is localised. All emergency services working at the site,” Roman Starovoyt, the governor of the region, said on the Telegram messaging app.

Putin drives across Crimea bridge badly damaged in October bomb attack

Tuesday 6 December 2022 06:18 , Arpan Rai

Vladimir Putin took to the wheel to drive a vehicle across a bridge to Crimea that was badly damaged by a truck bomb attack in the Autumn.

Mr Putin, accompanied by deputy prime minister Marat Khusnullin, was shown on Russian state TV yesterday driving a Mercedes across the bridge that links Russia’s mainland with the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Moscow from Ukraine in 2014.

The symbolic journey came on the same day as Kyiv said Russia had destroyed homes in the southeast and knocked out power in many areas with a new round of missile attacks.

Read the full story here:

Putin drives across Crimea bridge badly damaged in October bomb attack

Russian forces continue to push offensive in Bakhmut - report

Tuesday 6 December 2022 06:39 , Arpan Rai

Bakhmut, Russia’s next target for capturing in Ukraine, saw success for Moscow’s troops in the last 24 hours who managed to penetrate through Kyiv’s defences, according to the latest intelligence update from the Institute for the Study of War.

“Russian forces continued to make incremental gains around Bakhmut but have not yet surrounded the city, and conducted offensive operations in the Avdiivka-Donetsk City area. Ukrainian sources claimed that small Russian assault groups of 15-20 personnel are attempting to penetrate Ukrainian lines,” it said today.

Vladimir Putin’s forces continued to defend their positions along the Svatove-Kreminna line against Ukrainian attacks, it added.

The institute said that the Russian troops are continuing the forceful transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts to Russia under the guise that the children require special medical care.

Kremlin may punish officers who failed to avert attack on Engels airbase - MoD

Tuesday 6 December 2022 07:11 , Arpan Rai

The Russian chain of command will probably seek to identify and impose severe sanctions on Russian officers deemed responsible for allowing multiple explosions at its Engels airbase yesterday, the British defence ministry said today.

The explosions were reported from Russia’s Saratov Oblast, and at Dyagilyaevo airfield near Ryazan, south-east of Moscow as well.

Two Tu-95 BEAR heavy bombers were reportedly damaged at Engels and three people were killed when a fuel tank exploded at Dyagilyaevo, the ministry said, assessing Russia’s damages.

“The causes of the explosions have not been confirmed. However, if Russia assesses the incidents were deliberate attacks, it will probably consider them as some of the most strategically significant failures of force protection since its invasion of Ukraine,” the defence ministry said.

According to the MoD, these sites are “much deeper inside Russia than previous similar explosions: Engels is over 600km from Ukrainian-controlled territory.”

Engels is the main operating base of Russia’s Long Range Aviation (LRA) within western Russia and is home to more than 30 heavy bombers, it noted.

“These aircraft contribute to Russia’s nuclear deterrent and have also frequently been used to launch conventional cruise missiles at Ukraine. The LRA is likely to respond by temporarily moving bombers to dispersal airfields,” the ministry said.

Nine civilians injured in Donetsk, governor reports

Tuesday 6 December 2022 07:30 , Emily Atkinson

President Vladimir Putin’s troops injured a total of nine civilians in Donetsk on 5 December, the regional governer says.

Pavlo Kyrylenko reports that four people were injured in Ivanivske, three in Bakhmut, one in Maksymilianivka, and one in Toretsk.

He added that it remained impossible to determine the exact number of victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha.

Kyiv ‘repels seven Russian attacks on Donetsk in 24 hours’

Tuesday 6 December 2022 07:53 , Emily Atkinson

Kyiv claims it repelled Russian missile attacks in seven different settlements across the Donetsk region over the past 24 hours.

According to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, barrages were repelled near Verkhnokamianske, Bakhmut, Andriivka, Yakovlivka, Soledar, Kurdiumivka, and Krasnohorivka in Donetsk.

It said Vladimir Putin’s forces launched 17 airstrikes and 38 MLRS attacks against Ukraine over the past day. Kyiv claimed it hit two command centres and eight Russian concentrations of military equipment and personnel over the same period.

Latvia 'cancels license of Russian independent television station’

Tuesday 6 December 2022 08:13 , Emily Atkinson

The Latvian broadcasting regulator has cancelled the license of the Russian independent television station TV Rain, said the regulator’s chairman.

“In connection with the threat to the national security and public order, (the regulator) has made a decision this morning to annul the broadcast license of TV Rain”, Ivars Abolins said on Twitter, adding the broadcasts will cease on Thursday.

One dead after Russian shelling in Kharkiv, says governor

Tuesday 6 December 2022 08:30 , Emily Atkinson

One person has been killed so far during Russian shelling on the Kharkiv region today, reports suggest.

A 68-year-old man died in Obukhivka, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on Telegram.

He said Russian forces shelled Kharkiv Chuhuivskyi, Kharkivskyi, and Kupianskyi districts.

Russian state-owned bank hit by largest cyber attack in its history

Tuesday 6 December 2022 08:45 , Aisha Rimi

Russia’s state-owned bank VTB was hit by the largest cyber attack in its history on Tuesday.

It warned customers of temporary difficulties accessing its mobile app and website, but assured them that their data remained safe.

“The bank’s technological infrastructure is under an unprecedented cyber attack from abroad," VTB said in a statement. "The largest not only this year, but in the whole time the bank has operated.”

Russian government entities and state-owned companies have been targeted over events in Ukraine, with the websites of the Kremlin, flagship carrier Aeroflot and major lender Sberbank among those to have seen outages or temporary access issues.

VTB said the majority of attacks had come from abroad, but that it was particularly concerned by traffic from Russian IP addresses. It said it would hand over all identified Russian IP addresses to law enforcement.

Russian military death toll in Ukraine up to 92,200

Tuesday 6 December 2022 09:05 , Aisha Rimi

Ukraine’s Armed Forces have reported that about 92, 200 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine from February 24 to December 6, including 510 over the past day alone.

Ukraine aims to reduce power outages by Tuesday evening

Tuesday 6 December 2022 09:37 , Aisha Rimi

The power deficit caused by the latest wave of Russian air strikes on Ukraine will be significantly reduced by Tuesday evening, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in televised comments.

Missile strikes across Ukraine on Monday destroyed homes and knocked out power in some areas.

Kremlin says it does not see prospect of peace talks on Ukraine for now

Tuesday 6 December 2022 10:24 , Aisha Rimi

The Kremlin said that it agrees with the US about the need for lasting peace in Ukraine, but does not see the prospect of negotiations at the moment.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview on Monday that the conflict in Ukraine would end “almost certainly with diplomacy” and negotiations, and that “just and durable peace” was needed.

“That the outcome should be a just and durable peace - one can agree with this. But as for the prospects for some sort of negotiations, we do not see any at the moment,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

He added that in order for talks to happen with potential partners, Russia would need to fulfill the goals of its “special military operation”.

Watch: Ukraine calls out India for 'buying cheap oil while we are suffering'

Tuesday 6 December 2022 11:09 , Aisha Rimi

Russian lawmaker says 60 soldiers to be freed in prisoner swap with Ukraine

Tuesday 6 December 2022 11:30 , Aisha Rimi

Russia is set to receive 60 soldiers in a prisoner swap with Ukraine on Tuesday, a lawmaker from Russia’s ruling party said.

“The Russian Ministry of Defence is conducting another exchange of prisoners of war today. Sixty Russian servicemen are returning home,” State Duma deputy Shamsail Saraliev wrote on Telegram.

Russia’s invasion has killed over 400 children in Ukraine

Tuesday 6 December 2022 11:48 , Aisha Rimi

At least 443 Ukrainian children have been killed as a result of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s office said. A total of 853 children have also been injured. Officials say the number of children killed and injured is reportedly higher as the total tally does not include casualties from Russian-occupied territorities and zones of active fighting.

Russia hit by third drone attack at airfield in two days

Tuesday 6 December 2022 12:10 , Aisha Rimi

An oil storage tank at an airfield in Russia‘s Kursk region was set ablaze on Tuesday morning after it was hit by a drone, the regional governor said.

The attack comes a day after Moscow accused Ukraine of similar attacks on two air bases at Ryazan and Saratov in south-central Russia on Monday.

Ukraine has not directly claimed responsibility for any of the attacks, but if it were behind Monday’s attacks, they would be the deepest inside Russia since the start of the war.

Aisha Rimi has the full story:

Russia hit by third drone attack at airfield in two days

Ukrainian embassies receive ‘bloody packages’, says foreign minister

Tuesday 6 December 2022 12:29 , Aisha Rimi

Ukrainian embassies have received more “bloody packages”, Ukraine’s foreign minister said, adding that the country’s embassies in Romania and Denmark received such parcels on Tuesday.

Over the past week, Ukrainian missions in several European countries have been sent packages containing animal eyes and coated in a pungent liquid. No one has claimed responsibility for sending the packages.

Russia accuses Ukraine of ‘nuclear terrorism'

Tuesday 6 December 2022 12:36 , Aisha Rimi

Russia has accused Ukraine of threatening the safety of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant with constant shelling to create the image of a “nuclear catastrophe”, claiming Vladimir Putin’s soldiers are the ones keeping the facility safe.

It comes as the UN’s nuclear power agency is engaged in talks to protect the Zaporizhzhia plant, which has been occupied by Russia since the early stages of its invasion. Ukraine strongly denies attacking the site and instead accuses Russia of shelling in its vicinity.

Arpan Rai has the full story:

Russia accuses Ukraine of ‘nuclear terrorism’ as UN races to protect Zaporizhzhia

Watch: Ukrainian soldier does ‘Pikachu dance’ while gunfire rings out

Tuesday 6 December 2022 13:15 , Aisha Rimi

Zelensky meets troops at eastern frontline to mark Ukraine’s Armed Forces Day

Tuesday 6 December 2022 13:56 , Aisha Rimi

Marking Ukraine’s armed forces day, President Zelensky travelled to the eastern Donetsk region and vowed to push Russian forces out of all of Ukraine’s territory.

Mr Zelensky said in a video address to Ukrainian forces from the city of the Sloviansk, a key Ukrainian stronghold in the east: “Everyone sees your strength and your skill. I’m grateful to your parents. They raised real heroes.”

On Telegram, he wrote: “Thank you for this resilience and strength. You are an outpost of our independence.”

 (via REUTERS)
(via REUTERS)
 (AP)
(AP)
 (AP)
(AP)

Hungary vetoes Ukraine aid package

Tuesday 6 December 2022 14:29 , Aisha Rimi

Hungary has vetoed an 18 billion euro (£15.4 billion) financial aid package to Ukraine.

The move exacerbates a dispute over the rule of law in the country and Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s outlook on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Instead of ensuring unanimous support for aid to Ukraine, Hungary’s veto made sure that the EU’s other 26 member states would need to work out a more complicated technical plan to make sure aid can keep flowing to Kyiv in the new year.

Tuomas Saarenheimo, the chairman of the EU Council Economic and Financial Committee, said: “In the end agreement was found on formulations that allow a flexible and quick way to deploy funds to Ukraine without fundamentally changing the way the EU manages its funds. I say ‘agreement’, but in the reality that agreement was minus one.”

Many nations see Mr Orban’s evasive tactics as a thinly veiled attempt to blackmail the EU into releasing billions in regular funding and pandemic recovery cash that has been held up.

Ukraine warns Iran about consequences of arming Russia

Tuesday 6 December 2022 15:08 , Aisha Rimi

Ukraine is closely following Iran’s every step in the matter of military-technical cooperation with Russia. If it continues, Ukraine will act accordingly “soon.”

“We are now closely following Iran’s every step in the matter of military-technical cooperation with Russia. All rational arguments suggest that this cooperation must be terminated immediately. But we will see what final decision will be made in Tehran and will act accordingly soon,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said at an online briefing on Tuesday.

He noted that Ukraine “is working on Iran on all fronts”, including warning the Iranian side about the potential consequences of supplying weapons to Russia.

“Our signal to them [the Iranian side] was very clear: first, either you stop or you will face a set of the most severe consequences; second, no matter what benefits you have from cooperation with Russia in the supply of drones or other weapons, the negative consequences for you will outweigh any benefits,” Kuleba said.

European Commission considers sanctions on Russia’s mining industry

Tuesday 6 December 2022 15:46 , Aisha Rimi

The European Commission is considering a ban on new investments in Russia’s mining sector as part of a fresh set of sanctions aimed at eroding the Kremlin’s ability to fund its war against Ukraine, the Financial Times reported .

The ban would be part of a ninth European Union sanctions package that officials are planning to discuss with member states in the coming days, the newspaper reported, citing people with knowledge of the discussions.

Officials hope to have the ban, which will exempt some specific products, agreed upon by the end of next week, it said.

The FT said the new sanctions package could also include export controls on civilian technologies that Brussels believes Russia is using to support its arms factories, a ban on transactions with three more Russian banks, and targeted sanctions against another 180 individuals.

Drone attacks on Russian air bases will have ‘psychological’ impact, says western officials

Tuesday 6 December 2022 16:30 , Aisha Rimi

Attacks on airfields deep inside Russia will have struck a powerful psychological blow, senior Western officials, meaning that Moscow would have to think much more carefully about how it keeps its long-range bombers safe.

The Engels air base, near the city of Saratov and at least 600 km (372 miles) from the nearest Ukrainian territory, and two other airfields have been hit in the last two days by drone attacks.

Reuters reported that senior Western officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strikes were the deepest inside Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.

“If it were them (the Ukrainians)... it does show that they can operate in Russia at will, and that will deeply worry the Russians,” one official said. “Psychologically I think it strikes a blow.”

The officials said they were confident that it was at the Engels base that Russia kept its strategic long-range bombers, but that now it would have to think of moving them.

“It may have the effect of pushing those bombers into dispersed locations,” the official said. “It certainly makes the Russians less confident ... (that) anywhere is safe.”

Latvia shuts down exiled Russian broadcaster

Tuesday 6 December 2022 17:00 , Aisha Rimi

Latvia has shut down a Russian independent television station after it was described as a threat to national security, the state media regulator said.

The National Electronic Media Council (NEPLP), Latvia’s media regulator, said the decision to cancel the licence was taken “in connection with threats to national security and public order”.

“Everyone must follow Latvian laws and respect them,” said the regulator’s chairman Ivars Abolins, adding that the broadcasts would cease on Thursday.

Aisha Rimi has the full story:

Latvia shuts down exiled Russian broadcaster due to national security threats

Tuesday 6 December 2022 19:23 , Sam Rkaina

We’re now ending our live coverage of the war in Ukraine for the day. But keep checking independent.co.uk for the latest updates.