Day 296 (16 December)
Attacks from Russia were aimed at Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Kryvih Rih, where a child and his parents were killed as missiles destroyed a residential block.
Kharkiv, the second largest city in the country has lost power for most of the day.
Zelenskyy’s request to share a message during the World Cup final was denied by FIFA. People still see this as a domestic dispute between two neighbouring countries rather than what is it is, which is a world war on democracy.
The EU has introduced a 9th round of sanctions against Russian entities. All I can say is that I have never thought sanctions work except as a deterrent before action takes place. The Russians have found ways to bypass most of the sanctions, hence they have had little effect. This includes stealing Ukrainian grain, and using other countries such as Belarus as a conduit to import components that Russia needs to make weapons.
Russia has stated that if the US sends Patriot missiles to Ukraine they will consider it a ‘provocative ‘act and that would lead to consequences from the Kremlin.
Day 297 (17 December)
Russia continues a large scale attack with more than 70 missiles being launched into Ukrainian territory. It seems that Russia has a new supply of weapons, probably from Iran.
The Wagner mercenary group has executed 10 more convicts turned soldiers for refusing to fight in Ukraine.
Power has been restored to a third of Kyiv, but Kharkiv is still dark after the attacks destroyed energy grids yesterday.
It looks as if Russia is preparing to attack the northern part of Ukraine, aiming for Kyiv and launching the attacks from Belarus. Earlier in the year, an attempt to seize Kyiv was made, and that led to the Bucha massacre that is on the outskirts of Kyiv. The question is what will NATO and the UN do, knowing that the Russians are going to attack from Belarus? As much of the fighting has been in the south Donbas region, and liberating Kherson, and areas such as Crimea, and Mariupol, moving troops north must be tactical, and at least Ukraine has more weapons that it did in February- March this year.
The US responds to the Russia threat of escalation if Patriot missiles are sent to Ukraine. The State Department has said that it is Russia that has acted with provocation, and that the US is not at war with Russia, and never has been.
Six Moldovan television channels have been suspended for broadcasting pro-Russian coverage and misinformation on the war in Ukraine.
A domestic dispute is when a couple can't agree on which TV show to watch together; not a war where one country has invaded another and innocent people are being killed and the country destroyed by a power hungry deranged leader.