A new Russian missile attack rocked the country and hit the power grid

Ihor Terekhov, mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine, said that critical infrastructure was cut off following Russia’s latest missile attack.

“There is enormous infrastructure destruction, first of all, the energy system,” he said. According to Google Translate of his Telegram posts.

“I ask you to be patient with what is happening now. I know your houses have no light, no heat, no water… We will do everything we can to quickly restore what the Russian occupier has done.

Other reports indicate that the entire city of Kharkiv is currently without power and a nationwide emergency shutdown has been implemented.

-Matt Clinch

According to Yaroslav Yanushevych, head of the Kherson regional military administration, Russian forces shelled the Kherson region 30 times on December 15, killing 4 and injuring 9. His comments were reported by Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform.

Russian shelling hit settlements, transportation routes, health facilities and humanitarian aid centers, Yanushevich noted.

MSC, the world’s largest shipping company, said on Thursday it would continue to ship goods through the Black Sea, while avoiding Ukrainian ports considered more dangerous, such as Odessa.

CEO Soren Toft told CNBC that it would continue to ship food, humanitarian aid and medical supplies to Russia, “of course subject to sanctions.”

“I don’t think it’s my job to be politically active. “There are 150 million Russians, and I don’t think I want to deprive them of basic goods.”

– Karen Gilchrist

According to top Ukrainian officials, Russia may launch a new offensive in Ukraine in January.

Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Valery Zalushny, President Volodymyr Zelensky and General Oleksandr Chirsky spoke in The Economist magazine published on Thursday, detailing their predictions for next year.

“The Russians are preparing about 200,000 new troops,” Zalushny told the publication.

Read more Here.

-Matt Clinch

The Associated Press now reports, citing Ukrainian officials, that explosions were reported Friday morning in at least three cities in Ukraine — Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih in the south and the northeastern city of Kharkiv.

“Explosions in Kharkiv city for the second day in a row. The infrastructure was hit by a missile attack earlier. There may be electrical problems… be careful and take cover,” Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekov said in a Google translation via Telegram. .

-Matt Clinch

Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said explosions hit the capital on Friday morning, after air raid sirens were heard across the country.

“Explosions in the Desnian district of the capital. All services are diverting to the area … stay in shelters!” Klitschko said, according to a Google Translate of his Telegram post.

“Another explosion in Kiev, Dnipro district.”

A fresh barrage of Russian attacks was expected early on Friday, as Reuters reported air raid sirens in places like the capital Kyiv.

Kyrillo Tymoshenko, Deputy Head of the Office of the President; said via the Telegram messaging app: “Don’t ignore air raid warnings, stay in shelters.”

– Matt Clinch

The Pentagon is expanding military combat training for Ukrainian forces, using the slower winter months to instruct larger units in more complex combat skills, U.S. officials said.

The U.S. has already trained about 3,100 Ukrainian troops on how to use and maintain some of the weapons and other equipment, including howitzers, armored vehicles and the high mobility artillery rocket system known as HIMARS. But for months senior military leaders have debated expanding that exercise, citing the need to improve the ability of Ukraine’s company- and battalion-level units to move and coordinate attacks across the battlefield.

A battalion may have 800 troops; A company is very small with a couple of hundred troops.

According to officials, the training will take place at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany. The aim is to use the winter months to improve the capabilities of Ukrainian forces so they are better prepared to face any spike in Russian attacks or efforts to expand Russia’s territorial gains.

– Associated Press

The European Union has approved new economic sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine.

The package, the details of which have not been released, came after several days of deliberations during a meeting of ambassadors of the 27-nation group.

The Czech Republic, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, said on Friday the package would be confirmed through a written procedure. Details will be published later in the constituency’s legal records.

The European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, last week proposed travel bans and asset freezes on nearly 200 Russian officials and military officials as part of a new round of measures.

Targets of recent proposed sanctions include government ministers, lawmakers, regional governors and political parties.

– Associated Press

Four ships carrying wheat and vegetable oil have left ports in Ukraine, the country’s agricultural exports regulator said.

Ships to India and Turkey.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement reached in July between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations reopened three key Ukrainian ports after a Russian naval blockade halted exports for months. More than 13.9 million tons of grain and other goods have left Ukraine since the agreement entered into force.

The agreement between the signatories expires in about three months.

– Amanda Macias