War against Ukraine: this is the situation
Several people have once again been killed by Russian shelling in the south and east of Ukraine. The regional military administration reported three fatalities and at least five injured in the village of Chornobayivka in the Kherson region alone on Thursday. The attack was carried out with cluster bombs, head of the administration Olexander Prokudin announced on Telegram. Two children were also injured in another attack. The information could not initially be independently confirmed.
According to the authorities, two civilians were killed and another injured by artillery fire in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. Another casualty was reported from the neighboring Kharkiv region. According to Ukrainian military sources, a total of more than 110 locations along the front line and the Russian border were shelled within one day.
In his evening video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that the focus on the frontline remained on the fighting around the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. "I am grateful to everyone who is resilient and holds our positions," he added.
Finland closes three more border crossings with Russia
Finland has closed three more border crossings to Russia. The border guards announced that the crossings in Salla, Kuusamo and Vartius had ceased operations in the afternoon. In accordance with the government's decision, they will now remain closed at least until shortly before Christmas. The Finnish government had previously announced that from Friday only the Raja-Jooseppi crossing in Lapland north of the Arctic Circle would be open to vehicles. The regulation is valid until December 23.
In recent weeks, the Finnish Border Guard has registered a sharp increase in the number of people, mainly from the Middle East, entering Finland from Russia on bicycles without the necessary documents and applying for asylum in Finland. According to government figures, there have been around 700 since the beginning of August.
Blockade at Poland's border crossings with Ukraine widens
In Poland, farmers have joined the protests by transport companies and blocked another border crossing with neighboring Ukraine. The farmers began blockading the Medyka border crossing for freight traffic, as reported by the PAP agency. Among other things, they are demanding state subsidies for the purchase of maize and the retention of liquidity loans. Polish hauliers are protesting against cheap competition from Ukraine, which they blame for the slump in their business.
What will be important on Friday
On Friday, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine will have been going on for exactly 21 months. The fighting is currently particularly heavy in the Donetsk and Kherson regions.
- The ongoing conflicts and war in Ukraine continue to claim lives, as demonstrated by the recent Russian shelling in villages like Chornobayivka in the Kherson region, resulting in several fatalities and injuries.
- The international community is taking notice of the situation, with Finland deciding to close additional border crossings with Russia as a precautionary measure, citing an increase in undocumented migrants entering Finland from Russia.
Source: www.dpa.com
