Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 12-06-2024

EU’s new defense chief urges a bold overhaul to boost Europe’s defenses against Russia, calling for massive spending and long-term contracts to ramp up military production.

The European Union needs a “big bang” of spending and policy changes to ramp up its defenses in the face of the threat posed by Russia, the bloc’s new defense chief, Andrius Kubilius told AFP.  

The former Lithuanian prime minister began work as the EU’s first-ever dedicated defense commissioner this month, tasked with turbocharging Europe’s defense industry and the stuttering push to rearm.  

A service station for gas was destroyed, causing a massive fire that damaged neighboring buildings.

As a result of enemy shelling in Zaporizhzhia on, 17 people were injured, 9 more died. Ivan Fedorov, the head of Zaporizhzhia OVA, reported this in Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

“Nine people died, seventeen were wounded, including two children – the number of victims from the enemy shelling of Zaporizhzhia has increased,” Fedorov wrote.

President Zelensky handed over the first batch of Ukrainian “Peklo” missile-drones. With a range of 700 km and speed of 700 km/h, they are much cheaper than Russian counterparts.

On the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Dec. 6, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky handed over the first batch of modern “Peklo” [Hell] missile-drones to the Ukrainian military. This is the first series of Ukrainian rocket drones to go into mass production.

As of today, five successful launches of the “Peklo” missile-drones have been reported. The rockets have a strike range of 700 km and can reach speeds of up to 700 km/h. For security reasons, the technical details and the exact number of drones delivered have not been disclosed.

With fewer protests over the last two nights, and no clashes on Thursday, Kobakhidze hailed his security forces for "successfully neutralising the protesters’ capacity for violence".

Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday claimed victory in a "battle" against the pro-Western opposition, even as a crisis fuelled by his suspension of EU talks showed no signs of easing.

Tbilisi has been engulfed in turmoil since the governing Georgian Dream party -- accused by critics of creeping authoritarianism and steering the country back towards Russia -- declared that it had won a disputed October 26 election.

Russian casualties hit a record average of 1,523 a day in November, with a high of over 2,000 losses on Nov. 28 alone, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.

Russia continues to suffer devastating manpower losses for limited territorial gains during its intensified offensive operations in recent months, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

In its latest report, ISW estimated that Russian forces sustained more than 125,000 casualties between September and November while only securing around 2,356 square kilometers (910 square miles) of territory.

Romania’s constitutional court said it had decided "to annul the entire electoral process for the election of the President of Romania... to ensure the legality of the electoral process".

Romania's constitutional court announced on Friday that it had annulled the presidential election following allegations of Russian interference, effectively cancelling the second-round run-off that had been due to take place this weekend.

Romanian authorities had cried foul after far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped the first round of presidential elections on November 24, a surprise result in the EU and NATO member bordering Ukraine.

The T-90M tank, Russia’s pride and joy, has long been regarded as a symbol of Moscow’s military might.

The Kremlin is using the threat of an increased offensive in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as with the use of the “Oreshnik” ballistic missile as a bargaining chip in future negotiations.

The Kremlin is attempting to use the threat of an offensive in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions as a bargaining tool, similar to their tactics with the use of the “Oreshnik” ballistic missile, to raise the stakes. This was stated by the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council, Andriy Kovalenko, on Friday, Dec 6, while commenting on remarks made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in an interview with American blogger and host Tucker Carlson.

“Putinists are trying to inflate and present the threat to the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions as a condition for negotiation, making it believable to the US. This nonsense was voiced by Lavrov in his interview with Tucker Carlson, while the Russian army conducts mock crossings of the Dnipro River during exercises and prepares for active operations in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions,” Kovalenko stated on his Telegram channel.

Zelensky will attend the celebrations on the occasion of the restoration of the Cathedral of Notre Dame and will meet with President Emmanuel Macron.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US president-elect Donald Trump could meet this weekend in Paris, where both leaders are to attend the re-opening of Notre Dame cathedral, a Ukrainian official told AFP Friday.

This would be the first meeting between the two since the election of Trump, who has claimed he will secure a ceasefire within 24 hours in the Russia-Ukraine war. His comments have raised fears he would push Ukraine into accepting peace on Russia's terms.

In an exclusive interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov showered the Trump stalwart with a deft and diplomatic distortion of factual reality.

In a rare sit-down interview, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke with Tucker Carlson, during the controversial former Fox News host’s visit to Moscow.

Carlson is a staunch ally of US President-elect Trump and has frequently been accused of disseminating anti-Ukrainian talking points while amplifying Russian propaganda.

Ukraine’s forces are still outgunned by its much larger opponent – but the disparity looks like it is becoming distinctly less than it was before.

The Kremlin’s sometimes overwhelming firepower advantage on the front line in Ukraine seems to be falling, with Russian ground and air forces launching distinctly fewer artillery shells and bombs at Ukrainian defenses, news reports and independent analysts said on Friday.

Britain’s Sky News citing “Western officials” said Russian cannon, howitzers and rocket artillery currently are able to fire only about one and a half times as many munitions than their Ukrainian opposition – a dramatic drop in Russia’s weight of fire advantage.

Some European media reactions to the political crises in France and Germany.

The successful vote of no confidence in the French government this week coincides with the premature end of Germany's governing coalition. The fact that two key EU member states are now mired in economic and government crises gives Europe's commentators pause for thought.

A new centre of power has emerged

Russia’s central bank has taken interest rates to a two-decade high of 21% as Moscow battles to stem the economic fallout from its military offensive on Ukraine and a Western sanctions.

The Russian economy is showing "significant" signs of a slowdown in some sectors as it grapples with waning growth and high inflation, the head of the country's biggest lender warned Friday.

Russia's central bank has taken interest rates to a two-decade high of 21 percent as Moscow battles to stem the economic fallout from its military offensive on Ukraine and a barrage of Western sanctions.

Atesh partisans set fire to a relay cabinet on the rail line that runs from Moscow to the Kursk region, preventing Russia from supplying fuel and equipment to the front.

An agent of the Ukrainian Atesh partisan movement carried out a sabotage operation on a railway connecting Moscow and the Kursk region, delaying supplies to Russian troops on the front line.

“Our agent successfully set fire to a relay cabinet near the settlement of Chekhov, Moscow region, on a key railway line connecting Moscow with the Kursk region,” a statement from the partisans' press service read, adding: “As a result of the sabotage, the occupiers' logistics were disrupted, delaying the delivery of fuel and military equipment intended for the supply of Russian troops on the front line.”

Interview with Kyiv Post’s Chief Editor Bohdan Nahaylo in English (Croatian subtitles) for Croatia’s HRTV on Dec. 4, 2024, about Ukraine’s current situation (from 06.50).

The world in focus, as seen by a Canadian leading global affairs analyst, writer and speaker, in his review of international media.

Large-scale rallies are set to take place at multiple locations in Seoul on Saturday where citizens will protest President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law and call for his resignation, or if he refuses, impeachment. The largest one will be held near the National Assembly in Yeouido, where the critical parliamentary impeachment vote is slated for 7 p.m. that day. At the rally site, the participants are expected to wait for the results of the vote together. The organizers initially planned to gather at Gwanghwamun Square, the symbolic place where millions of people gathered for candlelight vigils in 2016 to oust former President Park Geun-hye over corruption scandals. But they moved to Yeouido to exert more pressure on ruling People Power Party lawmakers who are hesitant about voting in favor of impeachment. Ruling People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon stressed Friday the urgent need to swiftly suspend President Yoon Suk Yeol's powers and duties in order to protect Korea and its people, virtually supporting impeachment of the president following Yoon's bungled martial law declaration. The shift in stance by Han, who initially said until the previous day that his party would make efforts to prevent impeachment, has significantly increased the likelihood of the impeachment motion passing at the National Assembly's plenary session on Saturday - Korea Times

Tens of thousands of people are fleeing Syria's third-largest city Homs in fear that Islamist-led rebels will continue to advance towards the capital, Damascus. The rebels seized Hama to the north on Thursday, a second major blow to President Bashar al Assad who lost control of Aleppo last week. The leader of the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, told residents of Homs "your time has come". Syrian rebels launched a surprise offensive against the government last week and have so far captured two major cities. They have been advancing south - and Homs is the next city on the road from Aleppo to Damascus - BBC

A thick fog hangs over Kyiv and much of the country making driving treacherous – a similar thick fog is enveloping Ukraine’s immediate military and political prospects.

While president-elect Donald Trump threatens Hamas and demands the release of Israeli hostages, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has declared a refusal to accept guarantees from NATO allies as a path to peace instead demanding full NATO membership.

It must be obvious to everyone that NATO will not seriously considering inviting Ukraine to join its military and political alliance at this time. Preventing an escalation in the conflict with Russia remains NATO’s priority and the bloc is pinning its hopes for an end to the conflict through negotiations between Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.

30 years of Budapest Memo helped Ukraine zero days, said Zelensky; Russia threatens Ukraine, West with “any means” to avoid its “strategic defeat”; Ukrainian drones drive any frontline success.

On the 30th Anniversary of the Signing of the Budapest Memorandum, President Volodymyr Zelensky Says That it Never Benefitted Ukraine for a Single Day.

In his nightly address, Zelensky said:

“Today marks thirty years of the Budapest Memorandum. Ten years of war. Not a single day did this document work. And because of this, everyone in the world will now know that a mere signature – by any state – or any assurances or promises are not enough for security.

The operation, involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and marine drones, began around 5 a.m. Traffic on the Crimean Bridge was halted from 5:17 a.m.

Ukrainian forces have reportedly targeted Kerch city in the occupied Crimea with drones in the early hours of Friday, Dec. 6, with explosions reported by residents, according to the Ukrainian Telegram channel Crimean Wind. The blasts were heard near the Zalyv shipyard, and a fire was seen in the Arshintsevo district.

Kerch is one of Crimea's largest cities and serves as a key industrial, transportation, and tourist hub. Like the rest of Crimea, it has been under Russian control since the annexation in 2014.

The outgoing US intelligence coordinator downplayed fears that allies could cut cooperation if Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial pick to replace her, is confirmed.

The outgoing US intelligence coordinator on Thursday downplayed fears that allies could cut cooperation if Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump's controversial pick to replace her, is confirmed.

Outgoing Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines pointed to the role of US congressional oversight committees in preserving "Five Eyes" -- the close intelligence alliance that unites the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Each year on Dec. 6, Ukrainians come together to celebrate Armed Forces Day, a holiday established in 1993 by Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.

Each year on Dec. 6, Ukrainians come together to celebrate Armed Forces Day, a holiday established in 1993 by Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. This day is dedicated to honoring the courage, dedication, and heroism of Ukraine’s service members—past and present—with deep respect and pride.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) encompass various branches, including the Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, Air Assault Forces, Marine Corps, Special Operations Forces, and Territorial Defense Forces. While each branch has its own designated celebration, this day unites the nation in appreciation of all AFU members.

Putin’s iron-fisted Chechen ruler said he wants Ukrainian POWs to be used as human shields. He called President Zelensky a “goat-devil” and said captives looked like they had been living in a resort.

Ramzan Kadyrov, close ally of President Vladimir Putin and authoritarian head of Chechnya, Russia’s restive Caucasian region, spoke with Ukrainian prisoners of war in meetings heavily promoted in state-controlled media, and in one Wednesday exchange offered his own pistol to a Ukrainian service member so he could kill himself.

The images were made public in video aired by Russia’s state-controlled TASS news agency, local Chechnya media platforms, and Kadyrov’s personal Telegram channel, among others.

Special Operations Forces report that during a raid on enemy positions in the Kursk region 17 Russian soldiers trying to take back territory Ukraine had invaded in August were eliminated.

Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) carried out a raid behind enemy lines in the Kursk region, eliminating 17 Russian soldiers and capturing 12, according to a report by the SSO on Telegram.

The 73rd Marine Center and the 6th Ranger Regiment played key roles in the operation. The SSO released a video, which Kyiv Post could not independently verify, showing close combat and the moment Russian soldiers were captured.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• The Kremlin is continuing to suffer significant manpower losses to make tactical advances in western Donetsk Oblast at the expense of Russia's ongoing war effort and the medium-term viability of the Russian economy.
• Russia's constrained labor pool is likely unable to sustain this increased casualty rate in the medium-term, and continued Western military support for Ukraine remains vital to Ukraine's ability to inflict losses at this rate.
• Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov undermined the Kremlin's information operation to portray Russia's November 21 Oreshnik ballistic missile strike against Ukraine as a defensive response to the US permitting Ukraine to conduct strikes in Russia with US-provided ATACMS missiles.
• Russian-North Korean military cooperation will likely continue to intensify in the coming months following the formal commencement of their comprehensive strategic partnership agreement on December 4.
• Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov continues to publicly position himself as a defender of migrants and Russian ethnic minorities in opposition to other senior Russian security officials, suggesting that senior Russian officials may be increasingly divided over Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to promote an inclusive Russian civic nationalism that ensures interethnic and interreligious harmony in Russia.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Kursk and northern Kharkiv oblasts, and Russian forces advanced in the Toretsk, Kurakhove, and Vuhledar directions.
• Russian forces are reportedly increasingly recruiting women for combat and logistics functions.