Russian invasion - War against Ukraine: this is the situation
At least two people have been killed in a series of Russian artillery attacks on the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. A further seven residents were seriously injured, according to official reports on Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the Russian attacks on Kherson as "pure terrorist attacks". "In total, there were more than 20 Russian attacks in the Kherson region on this day alone," said Zelenskyi in his evening video address. "Brutal strikes, all over the city - houses, streets, hospitals."
According to military administrator Roman Mrochko, the attack on the city center on Sunday was aimed at two hospitals, where only minor damage was recorded. Instead, a multi-storey residential building was hit and severely damaged. According to the military administration, Kherson has been the target of repeated Russian attacks from tube artillery, grenade launchers and rocket launchers in recent days. Since Saturday alone, the city on the Dnipro has been shelled with almost 400 shells. The information could not initially be independently verified.
Air alert triggered
The Ukrainian armed forces reported repeated Russian attacks against the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro near Kherson in order to push them in as far as possible. Fighting was also reported from other sections of the front on Sunday. "Fierce fighting continues in dozens of places along the entire front line," said Zelenskyi. "The most difficult areas are Mariinka, Avdiivka and Bakhmut." He did not give any details.
On Sunday evening, an air alert was issued in both the east and south of Ukraine. Ukrainian media reported the approach of Iranian-made Russian kamikaze drones over the Black Sea. The air defense in Mykolaiv had become active against the drones.
Kallas calls for tribunal for wars of aggression
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas called for an international tribunal to punish those responsible for the Russian war of aggression. "For war crimes, there is the International Criminal Court, which prosecutes these acts. But there must also be a tribunal for the crime of war of aggression," said Kallas in Hamburg when accepting the Marion Dönhoff Prize for International Understanding and Reconciliation.
The war of aggression was "the mother of all crimes". The top politicians responsible must be held accountable. This demand for legal accountability of Russia's political and military leadership is also made by the Ukrainian leadership in its peace plan.
Selenskyj: Strengthening the arms industry
The Ukrainian arms industry is to expand its capacities in the near future. President Zelensky announced this on Sunday evening without giving any further details. "Next week - we are already preparing for this - we will definitely increase the capabilities of our state, especially our defense industry," he said. Most recently, the construction of a tank production plant by a German company was under discussion.
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger told "Wirtschaftswoche" at the weekend that he expected to conclude a contract with Ukraine for the construction of the Fuchs wheeled armored transport vehicle and the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle by the beginning of next year at the latest. The company wants to "rent, retrofit and then operate" existing systems. The systems are well protected against possible attacks.
Study: Ukraine war emits more CO2 than Belgium in a year
According to a recent study, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has caused more climate-damaging greenhouse gases in the first year and a half than a country like Belgium does in a year. An international team of researchers led by Dutchman Lennard de Klerk calculated 150 million tons of CO2 equivalents for this period.
The study, which has been made available to Deutsche Presse-Agentur in advance, was to be presented today at the World Climate Conference in Dubai. CO2 equivalents are used when the emissions of other climate-damaging greenhouse gases - such as methane - are converted into CO2 emissions in order to make comparisons easier.
What is important today
Fighting is expected to resume on the frontlines in Ukraine today in freezing temperatures, especially in the east of the country.
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- Despite the ongoing Russian attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky continues to urge international action against the invasion, calling for an international tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the war of aggression, as echoed by Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
- The series of Russian artillery attacks in Kherson resulted in at least two fatalities and seven serious injuries on Sunday, with the city center targeted, leading to damage at two hospitals and a multi-story residential building.
- The weekend saw an increase in Russian attacks on the Kherson region, including 400 shells on Saturday alone, and repeated attacks with tube artillery, grenade launchers, and rocket launchers, according to the military administration.
- The Ukrainian armed forces reported repeated Russian attacks against bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro near Kherson, aiming to push them further inland, while air alerts were issued in both the east and south of Ukraine due to the approach of Iranian-made Russian kamikaze drones.
- Kaja Kallas, the Estonian Prime Minister, addressed the Marion Dönhoff Prize for International Understanding and Reconciliation on Sunday, calling for accountability for Russia's political and military leadership for the crime of war of aggression.
- In response to the escalating conflicts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky announced plans to expand the country's defense industry capabilities, with discussions about the construction of a tank production plant by a German company and possible contracts for German vehicles due to be finalized soon.
- A recent study has revealed that Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is causing more CO2 emissions than a country like Belgium in a year, with calculations suggesting 150 million tons of CO2 equivalents emitted in the first year and a half of the conflict.
- The frigid temperatures are expected to exacerbate the ongoing fighting in Ukraine, particularly in the eastern part of the country, leading to concerns about the increasing hardship and suffering faced by civilians and healthcare workers in areas close to the frontlines.
- With fighting resuming on the frontlines, Ukrainian hospitals are struggling to cope with the surge in injuries and fatalities, adding to the urgent need for international help and support to bring an end to the ongoing invasion and restore peace to the region.
Source: www.stern.de
