This Saturday morning, Kiev once again had to fend off a Russian drone attack, another as the Kremlin targets energy infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital ahead of the approaching winter.
In response to questions from the press and his citizens, Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to have significantly increased the number of his soldiers present on Ukrainian territory, according to the USA and Kiev. The American ambassador to Ukraine, for her part, is calling on the US Congress to stop delaying the vote on new aid for the invaded country.
This morning we return to the highlights of the war in Ukraine, observed on the night of Friday, December 15th to Saturday, December 16th, 2023.
Also read: Update for Friday, December 15, 2023
Kyiv attacked again
Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital early Saturday and air defense units repelled a Russian drone attack, witnesses told the British-Canadian news agency Portal and journalists from the Kyiv Independent. No losses or damage were initially reported.
Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the air defense units were deployed as groups of drones approached the city. He added that Russian forces were targeting areas near the city center. Portal witnesses reported loud explosions shortly after midnight.
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New explosions rocked areas near downtown Kiev for 45 minutes. An hour before the explosions, the Ukrainian air force warned that Russian drones had been spotted heading toward Kiev from the south. As winter approaches, Russia is increasing its missile and drone attacks on Kiev's energy infrastructure.
Is Russia exaggerating the number of men mobilized?
As a sign of his major media comeback after more than a year of silence from the press since the start of the invasion, Vladimir Putin highlighted certain successes of his Russian invasion of Ukraine this Thursday in a question-and-answer interview, but would have the number of successes significantly increased Russian troops mobilized in the country.
The Russian President mentioned the number of 617,000 soldiers stationed on Ukrainian territory. For the spokesman for the Ukrainian military intelligence service, quoted by the media The Kyiv Independent (link in English), this figure is incorrect: 450,000 Russian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine.
Also read: Ukraine joining the EU: is it really possible to join a country that is at war?
According to a U.S. intelligence report reported by Portal earlier this week, Russia invaded Ukraine with 360,000 troops, 87% of whom were killed or injured. In this context, the country should not hesitate to launch a new mobilization campaign, undoubtedly after the presidential elections scheduled for March.
US ambassador urges Congress
Bridget Brink, US Ambassador to Ukraine, called on the US Congress to reach an agreement on additional support for Ukraine.
“It is important to ensure and maintain the progress Ukrainians have made so far. It is also important to protect our own national security.”she said in an interview with CNN.
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In the middle of the week, the US Senate decided to postpone its members' vacation trips in order to pass the aid package for Ukraine. But it must also be confirmed by the House of Representatives while on vacation. If the elected officials who make it up, mostly Republicans, could be called back to work, Republican spokesman Mike Johnson has already announced that he will not accept a vote as long as there are no guarantees on immigration to the United States States have been given.
Ukraine needs this help to withstand Russia's military might. Volodymyr Zelensky has already traveled to the USA twice in the last three months to convince Congress to approve the aid requested by American President Joe Biden – in vain.