Because the conflict enters its 679th day, these are the principle developments.
Right here is the scenario on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.
Combating
- Russia focused Ukraine’s largest cities with a barrage of drones, rockets and missiles, killing at the least 4 individuals in Kyiv and one in Kharkiv. The State Emergency Service stated 119 individuals have been injured. The bombardment, which additionally disrupted water and energy provides, got here after Russian President Vladimir Putin stated he would intensify assaults on Ukraine.
- Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, stated air defences shot down all 10 of the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles fired at Ukraine by Russia. The results of the weapons hitting their targets would have been “catastrophic”, he added.
- Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov accused Russia of “intentionally concentrating on vital infrastructure and residential neighbourhoods” in its attacks on Tuesday. The Russian defence ministry claimed the raids hit Ukrainian military-industrial services, in addition to weapons storage services. “The purpose of the strike has been achieved, all of the targets have been hit,” it stated.
- Poland mobilised two pairs of F-16 fighter jets and an air tanker to safeguard its airspace throughout Russia’s assault on Ukraine. Polish army authorities final week stated a Russian missile briefly flew via the nation’s airspace, prompting concern.
- Moscow stated its air defences destroyed 17 Ukrainian Olkha rockets over Russia’s Belgorod, not removed from the Ukrainian border. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor of Belgorod, stated that one individual was killed and 5 injured within the raids.
- Russia opened an investigation after considered one of its missiles by accident hit the Russian border village of Petropavlovka, 40km (87 miles) from northeastern Ukraine, damaging a number of houses. Nobody was injured.
Politics and diplomacy
- The Russian assaults drew condemnation from throughout Europe. Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, reiterated the European Union’s assist for Ukraine, saying Russia’s air assaults confirmed Moscow was not eager about peace talks. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, in the meantime, stated the assaults had been “Russian terrorism” and referred to as on the West to supply extra assist to Ukraine. Germany’s Overseas Minister Annalena Baerbock promised Berlin’s persevering with assist, saying the most recent assaults confirmed Moscow wished to “annihilate” Ukraine.
- United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk referred to as for the fast de-escalation of preventing, measures to guard civilians and respect for worldwide legislation following the latest “alarming escalation of hostilities”.
- Ukraine’s overseas minister urged Western allies to step up sanctions on Russia and ship extra superior weaponry, together with air defence programs and ammunition, fight drones and long-range missiles. Within the US, a proposed $60bn help package deal for Kyiv is being held up by Republicans in Congress, whereas Hungary has blocked $55bn in EU help for Ukraine.
- Mariana Katzarova, the UN’s particular rapporteur for human rights within the Russian Federation, referred to as on Moscow to right away launch two poets jailed for studying work criticising the conflict in Ukraine. A Moscow court docket final week sentenced Artyom Kamardin to seven years in jail and Yegor Shtovba to five-and-a-half years after they participated in a public poetry studying in Moscow in September 2022.
Weapons
- Turkey stated it might block two Royal Navy minehunter ships promised to Ukraine from travelling via its waters on their technique to the Black Sea as a result of it might breach a world pact that regulates maritime site visitors via the straits that join the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.
- Norway stated it might permit the direct sale of weapons to Ukraine. “Within the extraordinary safety scenario ensuing from Russia’s conflict of aggression, it’s essential that we proceed to assist Ukraine,” Norway’s Overseas Minister Espen Barth Eide stated in a press assertion.