Section: The Centre for Eastern Studies (Poland)
Tenth massive shelling of Ukraine. 309th day of the war
On 29 December, the Russians launched their tenth consecutive missile strike against the enemy’s critical infrastructure, immediately preceded by a smaller-scale attack using kamikaze drones. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, on 30 December, the defenders allegedly shot down 58 of the 70 cruise missiles and 11 drones used by the...
Russians destroy Kherson. 306th day of the war
On 23 and 24 December, there was massive shelling of Kherson (it was attacked 41 times on Christmas Eve), which continued with less intensity (7–11 times a day) in the following days. 16 residents were killed and 64 wounded. Local authorities have once again called for evacuations – with around 200 people leaving the city daily. Defence Minister...
The brotherhood of arms and values. Zelensky’s visit to Washington
On 21 December, President Volodymyr Zelensky paid a visit to Washington. It was his first foreign trip since the Russian invasion. During his remarks, he thanked the United States for its assistance so far and expressed hope for continued bipartisan support from Congress. President Joe Biden pledged ongoing support for Ukraine until a just peace...
Ukrainian refugees will stay in Germany for longer
More than a third (37%) of Ukrainian refugees intend to stay in Germany permanently, while 34% intend to stay until the end of the war, 27% of respondents have not yet decided how long they will stay in Germany and 2% intend to leave the country within the next year. By mid-December, 1.03 million newcomers from Ukraine had been registered in...
Russia retrofits forces in Belarus. 298th day of the war
On 18–19 December, the Russians launched a kamikaze drone attack on Kyiv, damaging energy infrastructure in two areas of the city. Its defenders reported that 18 of the 23 Shahed-136/131 drones attacking the capital had been shot down. According to the Air Force Command, the Ukrainians were expected to neutralise 30 of the 35 drones that attacked...
Ninth massive Russian missile attack on Ukraine. 295th day of the war
On the morning of 16 December, Russia launched another missile attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. According to initial reports, facilities in the south and east of the country and in Kyiv and Korosten were damaged. However, energy supply interruptions (due to emergency shutdowns) occurred throughout the country. Of the larger cities,...
Russians approach Bakhmut. 291st day of the war
Russian forces have reached the southern and eastern borders of Bakhmut, which was about to be completely ruined due to permanent shelling. According to some sources, fighting occurs in the industrial area in the city’s eastern part. Ukrainian units have repulsed further offensive attempts to the northeast of Bakhmut. They are also expected...
Moldova diversifies gas import sources
On 4 December, Vadim Ceban, the head of Moldovan gas operator Moldovagaz, announced that as of 5 December Moldova will draw gas from two sources. The first will remain Russia’s Gazprom, which supplies 5.7 million m3 per day (mcm/d) under the five-year contract signed in October 2021. The second source, with a daily volume of 3.7 mcm/d, will...
Further devastation of Ukraine’s energy system. 286th day of the war
On 5 December, the Russians launched another attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure facilities in Kyiv, Odesa and Vinnytsia oblasts were hit. The Ukrainian command reported that out of more than 70 missiles of various types used in the attack, more than 60 were shot down. Most of these were cruise missiles Ch-101/Ch-555 fired from...
Surviving the winter: Ukraine ahead of an energy crisis
The massive Russian missile attacks which began in October have led to a serious failure of Ukraine’s entire energy system. In the largest attack, on 23 November, the majority of power plants and combined heat and power plants were damaged, and numerous residential buildings and healthcare facilities were destroyed. Blackouts were seen in...
