Boris Johnson supports Christmas appeal to send medical supplies to Ukraine
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Vladimir Putin’s forces have turned Ukraine’s day of commemoration for a Soviet-era famine which killed millions into a “day of terror”, president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.
On the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor, he was joined by other European leaders in Kyiv in warning that hunger “must never again be used as a weapon” – as shells hit civilian homes in central Ukraine, people fled newly-liberated Kherson, and Kyiv continued to reel from Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
Accusing the Kremlin of reviving the “genocidal” tactics of Josef Stalin, as restrictions on electricity use remained in place across 15 parts of the country, Mr Zelensky said: “Once they wanted to destroy us with hunger, now with darkness and cold. We cannot be broken.”
As analysts suggested that troops were “bogged down” by poor weather conditions, the British Ministry of Defence claimed that Russia was unlikely to muster enough “quality forces” to achieve a breakthrough in a key Donetsk battleground it may be seeking to use as a launching point for a “future major advance north”.
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1669577213Ukrainian official says Russian attacks on energy amount to ‘genocide’
Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Andriy Kostin told the BBC in an interview that Russia’s attacks on the energy grid in Ukraine amounts to ‘genocide’.
People in Ukraine are facing energy shortages amid the freezing cold weather.
Energy usage restrictions have been applied in 14 regions across Ukraine as well as the capital Kyiv.
Genocide, as well as killing, refers to harming members of a group, including forcibly transferring children to other places.
So far, 11,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia.
Lucy Skoulding27 November 2022 19:26
1669573872Protest in front of NATO HQ for Ukraine
A protest in support of Ukraine took place outside NATO’s headquarters in Brussells, Belgium as NATO is set to reconvene on Tuesday.
One protester thanked NATO members for help already given to Ukraine but said more air defence systems are needed.
Jana Brovdiy, member of the Promote Ukraine Association, told Al Jazeera: “Ukrainians have shown that they are able to destroy a lot of these missiles, but we still don’t have enough this air defence systems.
“And as a result, the energy infrastructure, people, civilians are without electricity, without light, without energy, without heating.
“So we really need more air defence systems, to protect our civilians and to survive the winter.”
Lucy Skoulding27 November 2022 18:31
1669570793Ukraine only has enough power for 80% electricity needs
Russia has attacked Ukraine’s energy strategy for the seventh time since the start of the war.
Ukraine currently only has enough power to meet 80 per cent of its electricity needs.
The Kyiv Independent tweeted: “Electricity deficit at 20% in Ukraine after latest Russian attack.
“Days after Russia’s seventh attack against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, state grid operator Ukrenergo said that electricity producers cover almost 80% of consumption needs.”
Lucy Skoulding27 November 2022 17:39
1669567222Pace of war in Ukraine slowed by extreme weather
Deteriorating weather conditions have caused the pace of the war in Ukraine to slow down in the last few weeks according to expert analysis.
The Institute of the Study of War (ISW) predicts the pace will pick up again the coming weeks though as temperatures will continue to drop and this will cause the ground to freeze over.
The ISW tweeted: “The overall pace of #Russian and #Ukrainian operations along the frontline has slowed in recent days due to deteriorating weather conditions but is likely to increase starting in the next few weeks as temperatures drop and the ground freezes.”
According to BBC Weather it is currently -1C in Kyiv, where it is around 6.40 pm local time. Light snow is expected this evening.
Lucy Skoulding27 November 2022 16:40
1669566151Signs Russian forces might leave nuclear power plant
An expert has said there are signs Russian troops might leave the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
Zaporizhzhia, a city in the southeast of the country, was seized by Russian forces in March this year.
But Petro Kotin, head of Energoatom, said on national television: “One gets the impression they’re packing their bags and stealing everything they can.”
Lucy Skoulding27 November 2022 16:22
1669564178Ministry of Defence confirms it’s supplied missiles to Ukraine
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) says it has proed Ukraine with Brimstone 2 missiles as part of its aid package.
A tweet from the MOD account earlier today read: “As part of its aid package, the UK has proed Brimstone 2 missiles, a precision-guided missile, to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“This aid has played a crucial role in stalling Russian advancements.”
Alongside it, the MOD shared a explaining that a Brimstone 2 missile is a precision-guided missile originally designed for use for air-to-ground stikes.
Lucy Skoulding27 November 2022 15:49
1669563907Pictured: Kherson bridge destroyed as Russia retreated from key city
Here are some new and striking images of the Antonivsky Bridge, the main crossing in Kherson across the Dnipro River, which was blown up as Russian forces retreated from the city earlier this month.
Rybar, an influential Russian military blog, reported that Russia had destroyed the bridge, and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky had accused Moscow of destroying critical infrastructure during the retreat.
(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Andy Gregory27 November 2022 15:45
1669562952Russia’s tactics likened to Holodomor by president of European Commission
The president of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, has compared Russia’s tactics in Ukraine with that of the man-made famine implemented by Josesph Stalin.
Holodomor caused the deaths of millions of Ukrainian people between 1932 and 1933.
The president tweeted: “90 years after the Holodomor, the Kremlin is again using food as a weapon. We stand with Ukraine to guarantee global food security.
“Under President @ZelenskyyUa‘s Grain from Ukraine initiative, the @EU_Commission will pay to ship 40,000 tons of Ukrainian grain via two boats.”
Lucy Skoulding27 November 2022 15:29
1669561927Four hospitalised by Russian shelling in Dnipropetrovsk, says governor
Thirteen people have been injured by a Russian rocket attack in Dnipro on Saturday, the regional govenor has said.
A 17-year-old boy is among four who were taken to hospital, said Valentyn Reznichenko, warning that another person may be beneath the debris being cleared by rescuers.
Andy Gregory27 November 2022 15:12
1669560307Seven civilians killed in Russian attacks on Saturday, Zelensky aide alleges
Seven civilians were killed and 19 injured by Russian attacks across four regions on Saturday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s deputy chief of staff has alleged.
Five people were killed in Donetsk, one in Kharkiv and one in Kherson, while 10 were injured by Russian missile strikes in Dnipropetrovsk, the Kyiv Independent said in a report citing presidential aide Kyrylo Tymoshenko.
Andy Gregory27 November 2022 14:45
