December 26, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

Ukrainian President Zelensky said the front lines of Bakhmut, Kreminna and other areas in the eastern Donbas region are “difficult, painful.”

“The situation there is difficult, painful. The occupants are spending all the resources available to them — and these are significant resources — to squeeze out at least some progress,” he said in his nightly address Monday. 

He thanked employees who worked Christmas Eve and Christmas day to restore energy to different parts of the country. He said that while there are still some outages, the situation is improving.

"As of this evening, about 9 million people are cut off in different regions of Ukraine. But the number and duration of outages is gradually decreasing. I am grateful to each and every person who ensured this result,” he said. 

"Today, I held a special meeting with government officials on the situation in the energy sector and infrastructure. We are preparing for the next year — and not only for the winter months. There are threats that must be eliminated. There are steps to be taken. And the state will definitely make them," Zelensky added.

The Ukrainian president told people to be prepared for further Russian attacks as the war stretches on, saying, "Air defense is preparing, the state is preparing, and everyone must be prepared. Please pay attention to the sirens."

At least three Russian servicemen were killed Monday after a Ukrainian drone was shot down by air defenses as it approached a military airfield deep inside Russian territory, according to Russian state news agencies, citing the defense ministry. It is the second such attempted attack on the city of Saratov Oblast, which houses the Engels-2 military airfield, a strategic bomber airbase, this month.

In comments Monday, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat did not claim direct responsibility for the drone, but did suggest the attack was the “consequence of what Russia is doing.”

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday "we are ready to negotiate," but added, "It's not us who is refusing to negotiate, it's them," according to state media, citing an interview Putin did with state TV. Putin’s remarks come as Russia continues its offensive against Ukraine.

Here are other top headlines to know:

• Calls for Russia's removal from the UN: The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is calling for Russia to be excluded from the security council of the United Nations, and from being a member of the UN entirely. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Russia’s expulsion from the United Nations in the past.
• Putin's remarks on negotiations: Putin said he is ready to “negotiate with everyone involved in this process about acceptable solutions” regarding the war in Ukraine, according to Russian state news agency TASS. In response, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted, “Putin needs to come back to reality.”
• New Putin appointee: Putin has appointed former President Dmitry Medvedev to a new position—that of first deputy chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission, according to the decree published by the government. The decree signed by Putin introduced changes to the Military-Industrial Commission and listed Medvedev, who is currently deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, as its first deputy chairman.
• Strikes in Kherson: On Saturday, Russia struck the southern city of Kherson more than 70 times, killing at least 16 people and injuring at least 64 people, Yaroslav Yanushevych, head of the Kherson region military administration, wrote on Telegram Sunday. 
• Russian gas: Russia is prepared to resume gas supplies to Europe via the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, which was previously stopped for political reasons, according to Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. But, Russia may cut oil output by 5% to 7% at the start of next year, Novak said last week, detailing a concrete threat of a production cut for the first time.

The war in Ukraine has caused severe damage to the country's energy sector, which means many face ongoing blackouts.

CNN's Will Ripley looked into the heightened risk for Ukrainians who depend on power for their vital medical treatments during rolling blackouts. Ripley spoke to a 12-year-old boy who relies on breathing treatments for his cystic fibrosis.

Watch his report, below:

Three Russian servicemen were killed Monday after a Ukrainian drone was shot down by air defenses as it approached a military airfield in Saratov Oblast, deep inside Russian territory, according to Russian state news agencies, citing the defense ministry.

CNN has been unable to independently verify Russian reports the drone was deliberately shot down and did not reach its intended target.

Here's what we know so far about the incident:

Where it happened: It took place in the western port city of Engels, some 500 miles (more than 800 kilometers) southeast of Moscow, located on the Volga River.

Why it is significant: It is the second such attempted attack on the city, which houses the Engels-2 military airfield, a strategic bomber airbase, this month.

Investigation is ongoing: Law enforcement agencies are now investigating the incident at the airfield, said Saratov Oblast Governor Roman Busargin on Monday. The comments, posted on his official Telegram channel, came after reports circulated of an explosion in the city. He added that there were “no emergencies in the residential areas of the city,” and that no civilian infrastructure had been damaged. He also extended his condolences to the families of the servicemen, saying the government would provide them with assistance.

What Ukraine is saying: In comments Monday, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat did not claim direct responsibility for the drone, but did suggest the attack was the “consequence of what Russia is doing.” He added: “If the Russians thought that the war would not affect anyone in the deep rear (of Russia) or anywhere else, they were deeply mistaken. Therefore, as we see, such things are happening more and more often, and let’s hope that this will only benefit Ukraine." Also on Monday, a spokesperson for South of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces warned of a possible retaliatory Russian strike, referencing a similar incident earlier this month in the same region.

What occurred earlier this month: CCTV footage earlier this month appeared to show an explosion lighting up the sky in Engels. At the time, Gov. Busargin also reassured residents that no civilian infrastructure was damaged and that “information about incidents at military facilities is being checked by law enforcement agencies.” He had acknowledged that information about “a loud bang and a burst in Engels in the early morning” was spreading on social networks and the media. The Engels-2 airfield is nearly 6 kilometers (more than 3 miles) from where the CCTV footage was recorded in early December.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is ready to “negotiate with everyone involved in this process about acceptable solutions” regarding the war in Ukraine, according to Russian state news agency TASS, citing Putin’s interview with state TV Sunday.

"I don't think it is so dangerous, I think we are moving in the right direction, protecting our national interests and the interests of our citizens, our people. And we simply have no other choice but to protect our citizens," Putin said. "We are ready to negotiate with everyone involved in this process about acceptable solutions, but it's up to them. It's not us who is refusing to negotiate, it's them.”

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted in response saying, “Putin needs to come back to reality.”

Russia “single-handedly attacked Ukraine and is killing citizens,” Podolyak added. “Russia doesn’t want negotiations, but tries to avoid responsibility. This is obvious, so we are moving to the Tribunal.”

Remember: Putin’s remarks comes as Russia continues its offensive against Ukraine. On Sunday, Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of Donetsk regional military administration, said Russian troops hit Kramatorsk with three rockets. An industrial area was hit but there were no casualties.

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed former President Dmitry Medvedev to a new position—that of first deputy chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission, according to the decree published by the government.

The decree signed by Putin introduced changes to the Military-Industrial Commission and listed Medvedev, who is currently deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, as its first deputy chairman.

The Military Industrial Commission is a permanent body created to ensure the implementation of the state policy in the field of the military-industrial complex, and military-technical support for defense, national security and law enforcement, according to the government’s website. Putin himself is the chairman of the commission.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, heads of the Foreign Intelligence Service, the FSB, the National Guard and others are also on the commission board.

Russia should be excluded from the security council of the United Nations, and from being a member of the UN entirely, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called for on Monday. 

In a statement, the foreign ministry lamented the “illegitimacy of the Russian Federation's presence in the UN Security Council and in the United Nations as a whole.” 

“Ukraine calls on the member states of the UN to resume the application of the UN Charter in the context of the legitimacy of the Russian Federation's presence in the UN, to deprive the Russian Federation of its status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and to exclude it from the UN as a whole,” it said. 

The foreign ministry alleges “gross violations of the norms and principles of international law as well as for crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine, in particular, for war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as the crime of genocide.” 

It says Russia could be re-admitted upon recommendation for UN membership once it “fulfills the conditions for membership in the Organization.” 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Russia’s expulsion from the United Nations in the past.

Some background: When the United Nations charter was signed in 1945, it established the Security Council with five permanent members and six nonpermanent members. The permanent members – the US, the UK, France, the Soviet Union, and the Republic of China – were each given the power to veto any resolutions they opposed.

Today, the Security Council has 15 members, but the five permanent members have remained the same, with Russia holding the former Soviet Union’s seat and China taking the seat of the Republic of China.

Three Russian servicemen were killed Monday after a Ukrainian drone was shot down by air defenses as it approached a military airfield in Saratov Oblast, inside Russian territory, according to Russian state news agencies.

The incident took place in the western port city of Engels, some 500 miles (more than 800 kilometers) southeast of Moscow, located on the Volga River. It is the second such attempted attack on the city, which houses the Engels-2 military airfield, a strategic bomber airbase, this month.

A spokesperson for South of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces warned of a possible retaliatory Russian strike, referencing a similar incident earlier this month in the same region.

Catch up on other key developments regarding this incident and the war:

• Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat did not claim direct responsibility for the drone incident at a Russian military facility in the western city of Engels, but he did suggest the attack was the “consequence of what Russia is doing.”
• Investigative journalist Christo Grozev has been put on Russia’s wanted list, according to the website of the Interior Ministry of Russia. The Interior Ministry’s website says Grozev, who is Bulgarian, is wanted under an article of the Criminal Code, without specifying which article.
• On Saturday, Russia struck the southern city of Kherson more than 70 times, killing at least 16 people and injuring at least 64 people, Yaroslav Yanushevych, head of the Kherson region military administration, wrote on Telegram Sunday. 
• Russia is prepared to resume gas supplies to Europe via the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, which was previously stopped for political reasons, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told Russian state news agency TASS on Sunday.
• Russia may cut oil output by 5% to 7% at the start of next year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told the Russian state television channel on Friday, detailing a concrete threat of a production cut for the first time.

Investigative journalist Christo Grozev has been put on Russia’s wanted list, according to the website of the Interior Ministry of Russia.

The Interior Ministry’s website says Grozev, who is Bulgarian, is wanted under an article of the Criminal Code, without specifying which article.

According to Russia’s monitoring group OVD-Info, a criminal case on disseminating "fake news" about the Russian army has been opened against Grozev.

Grozev is the lead Russia investigator for the investigative group Bellingcat focusing on “security threats, extraterritorial clandestine operations, and the weaponization of information," according to Bellingcat's website.

"I have no idea on what grounds the Kremlin has put me on its 'wanted list,' thus I cannot provide any comments at this time. In a way it doesn't matter - for years they've made it clear they are scared of our work and would stop at nothing to make it go away," he said in a twitter post on Monday. 

Together with the team of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, CNN journalists and journalists from other outlets, he investigated the poisoning of Navalny in 2020.

Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, Grozev has been using open-source digital tools to document war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.