Two administrative buildings in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv were damaged by a drone attack on Wednesday, the city administration said, adding that there were no reports yet of possible injuries or deaths.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defense systems shot down 10 Iranian-made Shahed drones and that explosions occurred in the central Shevchenkivskyi district.
Ukrainians fleeing Bakhmut this week described near-constant Russian shelling that forced residents to shelter in basements and sleep in the bitter cold.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the battlefield report.
Russia’s close ally Belarus announced an emergency military review, including heightened combat readiness in the country’s south, the latest in a flurry of drills that have sparked concern in neighboring Ukraine.
The Kremlin said it had not received any proposal for a “Christmas ceasefire” in Ukraine. Earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Russia earlier this week to begin withdrawing its troops from his country by Christmas.
[1/8] Rescue workers work at the site of a building destroyed by a Russian drone strike, as their offensive in Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine, December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
An announcement on US plans to provide the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine could come as soon as this week, three US officials told Reuters on Tuesday.
The Kremlin said on Wednesday Patriot missile defense systems would be a legal target for Russian strikes against Ukraine if the United States authorizes their surrender to support Kyiv.
In Paris, some 70 countries and institutions pledged just over 1 billion euros ($1.05 billion) to help preserve Ukraine’s water, food, energy, health and transport in the face of Russia’s attacks, said French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.
They also promised energy-efficient LED light bulbs to ease power shortages and help Ukraine weather the freezing winter months as Russia hammers the country’s infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said environmental damage from Russia’s war will affect millions of people for years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will hold talks to discuss 2022 events in late December, Russian business daily Vedomosti reported.
Arms supplies from Italy to Ukraine will stop once peace talks to end the Russian invasion begin, Italy’s defense minister told parliament, as lawmakers approved a government decision to extend military aid to all of 2023.
Russia rejected a peace proposal by Zelensky that would have involved the withdrawal of Russian troops, saying Kyiv had to accept new territorial “realities”.
Written by Himani Sarkar. Editing by Michael Perry, Bradley Perrett and Raissa Kasolowsky
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