Latest news on Russia and the Ukraine war

Emergency power shutdowns have been implemented in Ukraine on Thursday because the national power operator struggles following repeated Russian bombardment on the country’s energy network.

“As of 11:00 a.m. on December 8, because of harm brought on by missile strikes to power plants and the high-voltage network, the system has a big shortage of electricity,” grid operator Ukrenergo said on Telegram.

Consumption limits had already been exceeded in several regions and emergency shutdowns were applied this morning, Ukrenergo said. Earlier this week, Russia launched a latest wave of missile attacks once more targeted at its energy infrastructure, a move designed so as to add inflict more hardship and discomfort on Ukrainian people as freezing temperatures set in.

“The situation is complicated by weather conditions: in lots of regions within the west of the country, frost, rain with snow and powerful gusts of wind cause icing of wires and their damage,” the corporate said.

Eastern Ukraine, where fighting is at its most intense, is facing essentially the most difficult situation after Russian forces “subjected several districts to massive artillery shelling.” 

“Where the situation allows, an examination of the state of the ability grid is carried out. After receiving permission from the military, repair work will begin,” Ukrenego said. Emergency repair work continued across the clock within the regions of Kyiv and Odesa, it said.

— Holly Ellyatt

The Kremlin claimed the war in Ukraine could end immediately if Kyiv has the political will to accomplish that.

“Zelensky knows when all this may end, it may all end tomorrow if [Kyiv] wishes,” Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday.

Ukraine has said it’s going to no conduct cease-fire operations with Russian while Russian troops remain on its territory and while President Vladimir Putin is in power.

— Holly Ellyatt

Russia’s fleet shot down a Ukrainian drone over the Black Sea, the Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, the most important city within the annexed Crimean peninsular, said on Thursday.

“This morning, a ship of the Black Sea Fleet shot down a UAV over the ocean,” Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said on Telegram.

Reuters was unable to instantly confirm battlefield reports from either side.

— Reuters

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday night that intense fighting continues in the realm around Bakhmut in Donetsk. 

“Initially, regarding the Donetsk region, Bakhmut districts and other hottest spots. A really fierce confrontation is ongoing there, every meter counts. I thank all our guys who destroy the enemy right there – every single day, every night, every hour,” Zelenskyy posted on Telegram Wednesday after meeting with the military’s leadership. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy visited troops on the front line in Donetsk.

He said fighting within the neighboring Luhansk region, in addition to the northeastern Kharkiv region, was discussed, in addition to the acute crisis Ukraine’s energy system faces.

“We’re consistently increasing the generation and provide of electricity – we’re adding more volume almost every single day,” Zelenskyy said, although the country’s armed forces warned Thursday that “the specter of Russian missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy system and important infrastructure stays.”

The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces noted on Facebook that while other regions in Ukraine are coming under attack, Russian forces proceed to pay attention their assaults on Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.

“Over the past 24 hours, units of the defense forces have repelled attacks by Russian invaders outside the settlements of Ternova, Kharkiv Region; Stelmakhivka, Ploshchanka, Chervonopopivka and Bilohorivka, Luhansk region, and Bilohorivka, Berestove, Yakovlivka, Bakhmutske, Bakhmut, Opytne, Kurdiumivka, Maiorsk, Marinka, and Novomykhailivka, Donetsk region,” the report said.

Russia launched seven missile strikes and 16 airstrikes, in addition to greater than 40 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems, the military update noted. CNBC was unable to instantly confirm the data.

— Holly Ellyatt

Kyiv’s mayor on Wednesday warned of an “apocalypse” scenario for the Ukrainian capital this winter if Russian air strikes on infrastructure proceed and said although there was no need for people to evacuate now, they ought to be able to accomplish that.

“Kyiv might lose power, water, and warmth supply. The apocalypse might occur, like in Hollywood movies, when it isn’t possible to live in homes considering the low temperature,” Mayor Vitali Klitschko told Reuters in an interview.

“But we’re fighting and doing every little thing we are able to to ensure that that this doesn’t occur,” the previous world heavyweight boxing champion said, raising his booming voice to drive the purpose home.

Based on Klitschko, 152 civilian residents of Kyiv have been killed and 678 buildings destroyed because the starting of Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, but town faces fresh tribulations this winter as Russia recurrently kilos Ukraine’s power grid with missiles.

— Reuters

The European Union proposed travel bans and asset freezes on almost 200 more Russian officials and military officers as a part of a latest round of sanctions geared toward ramping up pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine.

The proposals were made by the EU’s executive branch, the European Commission. They have to still be debated and endorsed by the 27 member countries, a process that routinely ends in the commission’s suggestions getting watered down.

The targets of the newest advisable sanctions include government ministers, lawmakers, regional governors and political parties.

“This list covers key figures in Russia’s brutal and deliberate missile strikes against civilians, within the kidnapping of Ukrainian children to Russia, and within the theft of Ukrainian agricultural products,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in an announcement.

With a fresh raft of sanctions, the commission also intends to focus on the Russian defense industry and more Russian banks, and to impose export controls and restrictions on products like chemicals, nerve agents, electronics and IT components that could possibly be utilized by the armed forces.

— Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his invasion of Ukraine could possibly be “lengthy,” because the brutal conflict drags into its tenth month.

As Russia struggles to carry ground it gained this yr in Ukraine, Putin downplayed the necessity to mobilize more troops. Considering one other round of conscription “simply doesn’t make sense,” Putin said, based on an NBC News translation of his remarks at a gathering of his human rights council.

Of the 300,000 reservists called up during Putin’s partial mobilization earlier this yr, 150,000 are actually in Ukraine, the Russian president said.

He added that “there isn’t any mass withdrawal” from Russian positions in Ukraine.

— Jacob Pramuk

Kyiv residents brace for a chilly, dark winter as Russia continues its missile strikes which have caused widespread power outages across the country.