Ukraine: Rocket attack on Kiev, children’s hospital hit

According to Ukrainian reports, at least 45 people were injured as a result of a Russian missile attack on Kiev on Wednesday night. 18 of them were taken to hospitals, including two children, wrote Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko in his Telegram channel. 15 people, including four children, were evacuated from a damaged residential building. Cars caught fire in the building’s courtyard. At least two other houses also burned and a children’s hospital was damaged.

In addition, the water supply network in one district was damaged by the impact of the rocket debris on the road, Klitschko wrote. Emergency services are on site to quickly repair the damage.

On Wednesday night, explosions from anti-aircraft missiles could be heard in the center, as a correspondent for the German Press Agency reported. Only then was the air alarm triggered, which was lifted again after around 40 minutes. According to authorities, houses in the eastern part of the city of over a million people were damaged due to falling rocket parts.

Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for over 21 months. The Ukrainian hinterland is attacked almost daily by Russian drones and missiles. The Ukrainian air defense system has now been massively strengthened with Western help.

Ukrainian military reports heavy fighting around Avdiivka

Ukraine remains under pressure in the fighting in the east of the country. According to the military, the situation around the city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, which has been under fire for weeks, has become even more serious, according to the military. “It is very hot. In fact, it is even hotter today than yesterday and the day before yesterday,” said the head of the local military administration, Vitaly Barabash, on Ukrainian television. According to him, the new wave of attacks by the Russians is related to the ground that has become hard due to the recent frost, which allows the attackers to use armored vehicles. According to him, the defenders shot down dozens of vehicles. However, the pressure from the attackers remains high, also due to the use of the air force.

Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for over 21 months. The Ukrainian hinterland is attacked almost daily by Russian drones and missiles. The Ukrainian air defense system has now been massively strengthened with Western help.

Biden dampens Zelensky’s expectations regarding US aid

Zelensky was in Washington for talks with a view to further US military aid. It was his third visit to the US capital since the Russian war of aggression began in February 2022. He also met members of the US Congress – including leading Republicans. They are standing in the way of approving new aid because in return they are demanding more funding from Biden to protect the US southern border and stricter rules in migration policy. Zelensky said the signals from the talks were “more than positive.” “But we know that we have to separate words and concrete results.” However, the Republican leader of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, made it clear after the meeting that his party’s line had not changed.

In concrete terms, this means that any possible approval of further aid is likely to be further delayed. Johnson insisted on sending his MPs on Christmas break soon. This is particularly problematic because, according to the White House, the US aid approved so far will be used up by the end of the year. It is noteworthy that Biden apparently deviated from his administration’s previous language. He said: “We will continue to supply Ukraine with critical weapons and equipment for as long as we can.” Previously, he had always emphasized that the USA would support Ukraine “as long as it was necessary”.

But the US President never tired of using clear words to warn against an American withdrawal. “Ukraine will emerge from this war proud, free and firmly rooted in the West unless we leave.” During his visit, Zelensky was particularly interested in the issue of air defense. He discussed this with Biden. “We want to win the air battle and break Russian air superiority,” said the Ukrainian president. Whoever controls the airspace controls the duration of the war. In response to criticism of the conduct of the war, Zelensky said there was a clear plan.