Ukraine Daily

Wednesday, December 21

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with the Ukrainian servicemen who are defending the city of Bakhmut within his working trip in Bakhmut, Ukraine on Dec. 20, 2022. (Photo by Ukrainian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Zelensky confirms he is on his way to Washington. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed early on Dec. 21 that he’s on his way to the U.S. “to strengthen resilience and defense capabilities of Ukraine.” This will be his first overseas trip since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24.

President Volodymyr Zelensky pays unannounced visit to Bakhmut. Bakhmut has been the site of some of the heaviest fighting for months, as Russian troops have been trying to seize the city.

Ukrenergo: Ukraine faces ‘significant’ energy deficit. Ukraine is facing a significant electricity shortage as of noon on Dec. 20 following Russia’s overnight drone attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure and shelling by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine on Dec. 19, reported Ukraine’s state grid operator Ukrenergo.

Some parts of Kyiv Oblast may remain without electricity for 2-3 more days. Several districts in Kyiv Oblast may take days to restore electricity following a Russian drone attack on Dec. 19, according to Kyiv Oblast Governor Oleksii Kuleba.

Support the Kyiv Independent for as little as $5 a month.

Air Force: Russian kamikaze drone attack on Dec. 19 was largest to date. Russia’s drone attack on Dec. 19, which was launched against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure using 35 Iranian-made kamikaze drones, was the largest to date, according to Ukraine’s Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat.

Minister: Ukraine to receive over 10,000 Starlink systems in coming months. “Elon Musk assured us he will continue to support Ukraine. He understands the situation,” said Digital Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

ISW: Intensifying Russian pressure degrades Lukashenko’s maneuver room to avoid making concessions to Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s long game to “reestablish suzerainty” over Belarus is making progress, the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest report. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed that Russia “gave” Belarus an unspecified number of S-400 air defense systems during his meeting with Putin in Minsk on Dec. 19, confirming ISW’s 2021 forecast that Russian-made S-400 systems would begin operating in Belarus.

UK Defense Ministry: Putin aims ‘to deflect responsibility for military failure’ in Ukraine. The ministry characterized Putin’s televised meeting with senior Russian military officials as “choreographed” to portray a sense of “collective responsibility” for the invasion of Ukraine.

Watchdog: Russia transfers personnel, military equipment closer to Belarusian border with Ukraine. Russia is moving its troops and military equipment from Belarusian training grounds in the northern and central parts of the country to the south, closer to Belarus’ border with Ukraine, Belarusian monitoring group Belarusian Hajun reported on Dec. 20.

UK defense secretary: Russia to provide Iran with high-tech components. Russia is planning to supply Iran with “advanced military components” in exchange for kamikaze drones, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said on Dec. 20, as cited by Sky News.

Italian journalists attacked by Russian forces in Kherson. Russian troops “deliberately attacked” Italian journalists Claudio Locatelli and Niccolo Celesti in Ukraine’s southern city of Kherson, ANSA, an Italian media outlet, reported, citing a video published by Locatelli on Facebook.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine to enter 2023 with frail upper hand over Russia.

In December 2021, most forecasts voiced in the media did not give Ukraine much of a chance in case of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ten months after it started on Feb. 24, 2022, experts and media discuss where Ukraine will strike next, and what else Russia can do to save itself from a humiliating ultimate defeat in this war.

Photo: Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency

Learn More

Ukraine war latest: Zelensky visits front-line Bakhmut, Ukraine urges world to recognize Wagner as terrorist organization.

President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to Bakhmut on Dec. 20, handing out awards to front-line servicemen braving Russia’s deadly assault toward the city in sub-zero temperatures.

Photo: Ukrainian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Learn More

The human cost of Russia’s war

Governor: 2 killed, 3 wounded in Russian attacks on Kherson Oblast. Russian forces attacked the southern region 42 times, using artillery, mortars, MLRS, tanks, and missiles, according to Yaroslav Yanushevych, the governor of Kherson Oblast.

General Staff: Russia has lost 99,230 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. On Dec. 20, the General Staff added 430 Russian troops to its estimated number of Russian losses.

International response

AP: US to send $1.8 billion in military aid, Patriot missile battery, to Ukraine. The United States will provide $1.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine in a package that will include a Patriot missile battery and precision-guided bombs for fighter jets, U.S. officials told the Associated Press.

World Bank approves $610 million package to address Ukraine’s urgent needs. The World Bank Group announced on Dec. 20 a new financing package that includes projects to boost relief and recovery efforts for Ukraine amid Russia’s full-scale invasion. The World Bank will provide additional financing of $500 million through an IBRD loan that is supported by a guarantee from the United Kingdom for the same amount and mobilized under the Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance (PEACE) Project.

Ministry: Ukraine receives $2 billion grant from US for budget support. The Finance Ministry said the money will be used to pay pensions and salaries to Ukrainian emergency workers and provide free medical services.

The Economist names Ukraine ‘country of the year.’ The Economist has chosen Ukraine to be the “country of the year” for 2022 due to “the heroism of its people and for standing up to a bully.”

Want to get the news faster? Follow our website: kyivindependent.com.

Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Olga Rudenko, Thaisa Semenova, Teah Pelechaty, Dinara Khalilova, Oleg Sukhov, Brad LaFoy, Anastasiya Gordiychuk, Olena Goncharova, and Lili Bivings.

If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider becoming our patron on Patreon or donating via GoFundMe. Start supporting independent journalism today.