Saturday, December 7

Russia’s war against Ukraine

The aftermath of the Russian strike against the regional center of Zaporizhzhia in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Dec. 6, 2024. (Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration / Telegram)

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Crimean Bridge closed after reported Ukrainian drone strikes on Kerch. “Vehicular traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been temporarily suspended,” the Crimean Bridge: Operational Information Telegram channel said.

Russia’s fall offensive cost more than 50 soldiers per square kilometer, ISW says. November marked the fifth consecutive month of rising Russian casualties, with an estimated total of 45,690 soldiers lost during the month.

At least 10 Shahed-type drones veer into Belarus during overnight attack on Ukraine, monitoring group says. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 53 Shahed-type drones from Orel overnight on Dec. 6.

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Zelensky unveils new Ukrainian new missile-drone — ‘Peklo.’ The Peklo (Hell) has a claimed range of 700 kilometers and a speed of 700 km/h.

Putin replaces Kursk Oblast governor due to management ‘chaos’ after Ukraine incursion, media reports. Verstka cited claims that Alexei Smirnov’s handling of defensive structures along the Ukrainian border contributed to his dismissal.

Lukashenko asks Putin to deploy Oreshnik missile systems in Belarus, Russian state-controlled media says. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko asked Russian President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 6 to deploy Oreshnik missile systems in Belarus, a weapon Russia recently used to strike Ukraine, Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti reported.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Zelensky unveils new Ukrainian new missile-drone ‘Peklo’

While some details of Peklo’s capabilities remain undisclosed for security reasons, President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the weapon as a “fundamentally new type.” The Peklo has a range of 700 kilometers (430 miles) and a speed of 700 km/h (430 mph).

Photo: Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram

Tucker Carlson interviewed Russian FM Lavrov — here’s what he said and why it’s not true

Tucker Carlson, a far-right political commentator, released an interview with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Dec. 5. During the 80-minute interview, Lavrov peddled a variety of Russian propaganda talking points with little to no challenge from the interviewer.

Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Children who lost parents in Russia’s war share dreams, hopes in letters to St. Nicholas

For children around the world, the winter holidays are about gifts and a joyful time with their families. But for some Ukrainian children, the season is bittersweet, as it highlights the absence of one or both parents killed by Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Photo: Viacheslav Ratynskyi / The Kyiv Independent

Human cost of war

Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih kills 3, injures 17, including 6-year-old boy. Russian forces attacked Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Dec. 6, killing two people and injuring 17, including a six-year-old boy, according to Governor Serhii Lysak. The death toll rose to three on Dec. 7 when rescuers recovered another body from the rubble.

Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia kills 10, injures 24, including children. Russian forces attacked the city of Zaporizhzhia on Dec. 6, killing nine people and injuring 17, including two children, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.

Media: Russian conscript killed after refusing to fight in Kursk Oblast. 19-year-old Russian conscript Artem Antonov was shot and killed by his commander after reportedly refusing to sign a military contract to fight in Kursk Oblast, the Russian independent outlet IStories reported on Dec. 6.

Opinions and insights

Russia’s alliance of convenience with China is a ticking time bomb

“This burgeoning bromance is likely more a marriage of convenience born of mutual opposition to Western power than a genuine strategic partnership guided by a common vision for the future,” Ryan Tully, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, writes in his latest op-ed.

Photo: Sergei Bobylyov/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Opinion: Why the West misunderstood Russia’s initial assault on Ukraine

“Understanding the events of 2014 and the West’s delayed and inadequate response offers critical lessons for interpreting the current war,” Jakob Hedenskog, Julia Kazdobina, and Andreas Umland write in their latest op-ed.

Photo: Alexander Nemenov / AFP via Getty Images

International response

China says any Ukraine-Russia peace talks need ‘positive energy’ from international community. China has strengthened its ties with Russia since the beginning of its full-scale war against Ukraine. However, Beijing has denied allegations of aiding Russia’s war effort.

Scholz tells journalists joint strategy on Ukraine possible with Trump. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed confidence in reaching an agreement with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on a joint strategy for Ukraine following their phone conversation.

EU fails to approve 15th sanctions package against Russia, Reuters reports. The European Union has failed to approve its 15th sanctions package on Russia, which included an extension for Czechia to import Russian oil products through Slovakia, Reuters reported on Dec. 6, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.

In other news

Zelensky may meet Trump at Notre-Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris, AFP reports. President Volodymyr Zelensky may meet U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Dec. 7 during his visit to Paris to mark the Notre-Dame Cathedral’s reopening, AFP reported, citing an unnamed senior Ukrainian official.

Georgian opposition politician detained by police, crackdown continues on ninth day of mass protests. Georgian police detained Tsotne Koberidze, a politician and member of the Coalition for Change opposition group, on Dec. 6 amid government crackdowns as pro-EU protests in the country continue.

Romanian constitutional court annuls results of presidential election’s first round. The Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the results of the first round of the presidential election, which had been led by anti-NATO, pro-Russian independent candidate Calin Georgescu, Digi24 reported on Dec. 6.

Russia’s Aeroflot airline acquiring old planes to scrap for parts amid sanctions. Russia’s largest airline Aeroflot plans to purchase five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters to disassemble  for spare parts, Russian state media outlet Kommersant reported on Dec. 6.

Russia’s foreign currency reserves fall to lowest levels since 2008 amid mounting deficits. To address its budget shortfall, Russia has also begun selling off gold reserves from the National Welfare Fund.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Chris York, Tymur Zadorozhnyy, Teah Pelechaty, Kateryna Hodunova, Sonya Bandouil and Olena Goncharova.

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