War in Ukraine on 1,024: Russia retaliated against ATACMS missiles

Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russia, late on December 12 and early on the morning of December 13, launched 93 missiles and nearly 200 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the 12th major attack in 2024 targeting Ukrainian energy facilities. this country, according to Reuters.

According to him, air defense systems intercepted 81 missiles, including 11 handled by F-16 fighters.

Temporarily, the overall damage after the Russian attack has not been assessed. However, authorities said up to six unnamed energy facilities were damaged in the Lviv region of western Ukraine, bordering Poland.

A source familiar with the matter revealed that the latest attack targeted transformer stations, and focused more on gas infrastructure than before.

For its part, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that it destroyed many enemy energy facilities during the attackretaliatory attack Kyiv launched six US-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles at the airport near the city of Taganrog recently.

Sputnik News quoted information from the Russian Ministry of Defense confirming that all goals of the campaign had been completed, and all facilities on the attack list had been hit.

Also on December 13, the Kremlin praised US President-elect Donald Trump for speaking out against Ukraine using US-made long-range missiles to carry out attacks on Russian territory.

The risk of Ukrainian troops being surrounded in Donetsk

Ukrainian forces repelled the Russian attack near the villages of Uspenivka, Hannivka, Trudove and Romanivka in Donetsk province, and are taking necessary measures to prevent the enemy from encircling them, according to The Kyiv Independent citing information from Ukraine’s Khortytsia military group on December 13.

The above information was released at a time when analysts voiced concerns that Ukrainian units here face an increasing risk of encirclement.

DeepState on December 12 noted that Russian forces stepped up their attack on Uspenivka, about 43 km from the Russian-controlled Donetsk region. Russia is also credited with gaining control of key roads between Uspenivka and Hannivka, threatening to split Ukrainian units there.

The above area is located about 40 km south of the frontline town of Pokrovsk and about 15 km north of the Russian-controlled Vuhledar.

The Khortytsia Armed Forces Group warned observers not to “sentimentally” interpret situations on the battlefield, because these reactions only complicate the situation and benefit the Russian side.

European leaders hold talks about Ukraine’s future

Reuters on December 13, citing well-informed sources, said President Zelensky will participate in talks with leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union. (EU) in Brussels on December 18.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss upcoming support plans for Ukraine in the conflict with Russia.

The talks took place at a time when European countries faced the possibility that the US, the most powerful resource supporting the Kyiv government since the beginning of the war, could change its approach when President-elect Donald Trump returned. return to the White House early next year.

President Zelensky and a number of European allies called for the deployment of troops from continental countries to Ukraine to create a counterweight to Russia to maintain the ceasefire agreement if reached.

“The meeting was not intended to make specific decisions, but was mainly political, discussing what will happen in the coming weeks and months,” according to sources familiar with the matter.

The talks, chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, will take place on the same day European leaders participate in the EU-Western Balkans Summit, and include a general meeting as well as several bilateral events with President Zelensky.