The European Union claims it has sufficient gas to last winter, but Russia may cut its supplies again next year.
Ursula von der Leyen (President of European Commission) stated that “despite all the actions we took, we might still have a gap up to 30 Billion cubic metres (bcm),” citing data from International Energy Agency. The conference was a news conference.
Sky’s defence editor and security editor noticed two men who were reporting from Odesa. Their activities today are a testament to the courage that the Ukrainian people have become synonymous with when faced with adversity.
Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in its latest analysis of the conflict, focuses on the role of Belarus — and how Moscow is trying to manipulate its ally along Ukraine’s borders.
It says that Russian officials conduct information operations that suggest that Belarusian conventional land forces might join Russia in the invasion of Ukraine.
“Sometimes, the information operations are carried out by Belarusian officials, including President Alexander Lukashenko. This is done to stop Ukrainian forces from strengthening their operations in the theatre by enforcing at the Belarusian borders.
“Belarus is unlikely to invade Ukraine in any foreseeable future regardless of how these information operations progress. Belarusian intervention in Ukraine would, however, be limited to temporarily drawing Ukrainian ground troops away from other areas of the theatre due to Minsk’s extremely limited combat power.
“The Kremlin’s pressure on Belarus to support the Russian offensive in Ukraine is part of a long-term effort for greater control over Belarus.
“ISW had previously concluded that the Kremlin increased pressure upon Alexander Lukashenko, Belarusian President, to formalize Belarus’ integration in the Union State after the protests of 2021 and 2020.”
Bice is an American pitbull terrier who has an important job in Ukraine, comforting children wounded by war.
The energetic eight-year old dog arrived at a rehabilitation facility on the outskirts Kyiv this past week, eager to get started.
Bice waited in the corridor. A dozen children sat at a table and listened to Oksana Sliepora as she explained.
“Who owns a dog?” As she asked, several hands were raised and the room was filled with shouts of, “Me, me… me!”
One boy claimed that his dog was named Stitch. Another said that his dog is called Tank. He added that he has five dogs but had lost all their names. Everyone cracked up laughing.
At first glance, the nine boys and seven girls – who range in age from a 2-year-old boy to a 18-year old young woman – look like schoolchildren learning.
These stories are unique. They witnessed Russian soldiers invade their villages and beat their family members. Some are the daughters, sons, brothers or sister of soldiers who were on the front lines or were killed.
They gather at the Centre for Social and Psychological Rehabilitation (a state-operated centre for community support for those who have been affected by Russia’s invasion in February) to get help with dealing with their trauma. For anyone affected in any way, staff provide psychological therapy.
They used to work with horses in the past, but they now offer canine therapy.
Martin Griffiths, UN Aid chief, arrived in Ukraine on a four-day visit. Officials raced for energy facilities to be repaired after Russian air strikes caused power outages.
The under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator will visit the southern city of Mykolaiv along with the frontline city of Kherson, which was liberated last month, the United Nations said.
It stated that Giriffiths would see the results of the humanitarian response, as well new challenges that have arose amid freezing winter temperatures.
Kherson was recaptured by Russian forces in Nov after nine months of Russian occupation. He will inspect the warm shelters being built for residents to keep them safe in the event they are left without heat, power, or water.
According to the statement, nearly 18 million people in Ukraine – approximately 40% of its population – require humanitarian aid.
Russian terrorist attacks on infrastructure leave “millions without heat or water and electricity while a freezing winter sets in,” it stated.
Bakhmut in Donetsk has seen some the bloodiest battles of war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin appears determined to secure the city despite the fact that his forces made only slow progress against the fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Witness the destruction of many buildings and the destruction of infrastructure that has surrounded the city, which was once the administrative centre for the region. However, it is now mostly deserted.