The regional capital Cherson, which was only recaptured by the Ukrainian army last month, was already the target of Russian attacks over the Christmas period. On December 24, at least ten people were killed and 55 others injured in an attack on the central market of the city, which had a population of around 290,000 before the war.
The Ukrainian General Staff also announced on Wednesday that inhabited areas on the right bank of the Dnipro River near the city of Kherson were also shelled with mortars and artillery.
Barely changed front line
On the front in eastern Ukraine, the heaviest fighting continued around the town of Bakhmut, which has been under attack by Russian troops for months, and further north in the towns of Swatove and Kreminna. Here the Ukrainian forces are trying to break through Russian positions.
The frontline has changed little, but Russian pressure has increased as Russia has deployed additional tanks, armored vehicles and soldiers to combat zones, says Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj recently described the situation on this section of the front as “painful and difficult”.
“Understanding what needs to be done in spring”
Zelenskyj expects a decision in the defensive war once morest Russia in the coming year. “We will continue to prepare the armed forces and security of Ukraine for next year. It’s a crucial year,” said Zelenskyy on Tuesday evening following consultations with the military leadership. “We understand the risks of winter. We understand what needs to be done in the spring,” he added.
The President of Ukraine also announced in his daily video address that he would deliver his annual state of the nation address in parliament. “I want this message not to be a report, but our dialogue with you regarding the coming year,” said the 44-year-old.
It is regarding formulating the tasks for the future. The speech is expected before the turn of the year. Selenskyj did not name an exact date. Last year he gave the speech to the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada on December 1, almost three months before the beginning of the Russian aggression once morest his country.
Persistent power outages in Kyiv
Away from the contested front sections, the people of Ukraine are also suffering from the consequences of the war. According to the city administration, the population in the capital Kyiv must expect sudden emergency shutdowns once more and once more until the end of winter.
“We will have to live under these conditions all winter,” said the deputy chief of the city administration, Petro Pantelyev, on Ukrainian television on Tuesday. As in other Ukrainian cities, the power supply in Kyiv has been severely affected by the Russian rocket attacks. Specialists worked around the clock to repair the system, but the situation remained difficult, Panteleyev admitted. The official warned that the capacity was not sufficient, especially on working days, when there was an increased power consumption.
Further attacks feared
Since October, Russia has repeatedly launched rocket attacks on Ukraine’s energy supply infrastructure. The danger of further attacks remains acute, the Ukrainian general staff warned in its situation report on Tuesday. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal earlier said Ukraine might spend New Year’s Eve without emergency shutdowns if there was no further shelling. However, there is a high risk that the Russian military will once more target objects that supply electricity in Ukraine.
