Monday, December 11

Russia’s war against Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky leaves the Congress after the inauguration ceremony of Argentina’s President-elect Javier Milei, in Buenos Aires on Dec. 10, 2023.(Photo by Alejandro PAGNI / AFP via Getty Images)

Military intelligence: 304 Ukrainians evacuated from Gaza. Ukraine has evacuated 315 people from Gaza, including 304 Ukrainian nationals, two Palestinians, and nine Moldovans, from the besieged Gaza Strip, the country’s military intelligence agency (HUR) said on Dec. 10.

Zelensky to meet Biden in the US on Dec 12. President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to the U.S. on Dec. 11, where he will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden the following day, the two leaders’ offices announced, as U.S. funding for Ukraine is rapidly running out and further aid is being held up in Congress by Republican opposition.

Zelensky arrives in Argentina, meets South American leaders. President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Argentina on Dec. 10 to attend the inauguration of the country’s president-elect, Javier Milei. The trip was Zelensky’s first official visit to Latin America during his presidency, including the time before Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Commander: Russian troops continue offensive operations along eastern front line. The situation in Ukraine’s east remains difficult as Russian troops continue conducting offensive operations along the entire front line, Ground Forces Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on Dec. 10.

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Ministry reports power outages in 455 settlements due to weather, Russian attacks. The worst situation caused by the Russian attacks was reported in Donetsk Oblast, where 121 settlements remain without power, the ministry said. Repairs are underway there.

General: Russia conducting fewer assault operations in southeast. Tarnavskyi said on Telegram that Ukrainian forces were holding on to Avdiivka despite Russia’s endless attempts to encircle the embattled city.

UK Defense Ministry: Russia’s Dec 7 strike likely start of campaign against energy infrastructure. In its intelligence bulletin on X, the Defense Ministry said that Russian forces had likely used Tu-95 planes to fire Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles on Dec. 7 – the first time they were used since Sept. 21.

Governor: Downed missile over Kryvyi Rih damaged business premises, 2 trucks. Lysak added that there were no casualties and said that civilians should seek shelter during air raid sirens even if air defense is working.

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Ukraine war latest: Russian assaults continue along eastern front line, decrease in southeast

The situation in Ukraine’s east remains difficult as Russian troops continue conducting offensive operations along the entire front line. Additionally, the Guardian reported that allies of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban are set to meet with U.S. Republicans in Washington for a closed-door meeting to lobby for the end of military aid to Ukraine.

Photo: Andre Alves/Anadolu via Getty Images

This week in Ukraine Ep. 37 — What’s behind the crisis at the Ukraine-Poland border?

Human cost of war

Governor: Russian shelling kills 1, wounds 4 in Kherson Oblast. Russian troops on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River targeted residential areas on the outskirts of Kherson and damaged an educational institution in the city, the governor said.

Update: Russian missile strike on Kyiv injures 4. Russian missile attack during the early hours of Dec. 11 injured four individuals in the Darnytskyi district of the city. A previous version of this article stated that only two individuals were injured.

General Staff: Russia has lost 338,820 troops in Ukraine. Russia has lost 338,820 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Dec. 10.

International response

Slovak truckers to resume blockade at border with Ukraine. The Slovak truckers union UNAS will renew its blockade at the Uzhhorod-Vysne Nemecke border crossing between Slovakia and Ukraine on Monday, Dec. 11, local media reported citing the UNAS president.

Zelensky holds call with von der Leyen. President Volodymyr Zelensky held a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of meetings in Brussels this week that will determine future aid to Kyiv as well as Ukraine’s EU accession.

US Senator: Republicans ‘holding Ukraine aid hostage.’ Senator Chris Murphy, a democrat, told NBC News on Dec. 10 that he wished Republicans weren’t holding further aid to Ukraine hostage to immigration reform as military assistance to both Kyiv and Israel continues to get held up in Congress.

Guardian: Orban allies to meet Republicans to discuss end of Ukraine aid. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s allies are reportedly set to meet with U.S. Republicans in Washington for a closed-door meeting to lobby for the end of military aid to Ukraine, the Guardian reported on Dec. 10.

US bypasses Congress to help Israel in contrast with Ukraine aid. The emergency measure, used by President Joe Biden’s administration to bypass Congress, comes amid more reports that the U.S. could be running out of funds to help Ukraine.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Rachel Amran, Lili Bivings, Oleg Sukhov, Asami Terajima, Francis Farrell, Daria Shulzhenko, and Alexander Query.

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