Russia-Ukraine updates: WHO warns of war’s mental health toll
All the updates from December 20, as they happened.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Tuesday, December 20.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Tuesday, December 20.
- The World Health Organization says 10 million people, or approximately a quarter of Ukraine’s population, may suffer from a mental health disorder due to the war.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited the Bakhmut front line and handed out awards to Ukrainian servicemen who have been fighting at the epicentre of the war.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin says the situation in four areas of Ukraine is “extremely difficult” as he orders the country’s Federal Security Service (FSB) to step up surveillance to secure the borders and combat new threats.
- A blast at the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhhorod gas pipeline, which leads from central Russia and through Ukraine, leaves three people dead and one injured, says Moscow’s state-owned TASS news agency.
European Commission clears Uniper bailout
The European Commission has said in a statement it had approved a 34.5 billion euro ($36.6bn) German plan to recapitalise German natural gas trader, Uniper.
Under EU state aid rules, the recapitalisation measure notified by Germany complied with conditions on the necessity, appropriateness and size of the intervention, it said.
“The measure aims at restoring the financial position and liquidity of Uniper in the exceptional situation caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the subsequent disruption of gas deliveries while maintaining the necessary safeguards to limit competition distortions,” it added.
Two military aircraft stranded in Ukraine for 10 months return to Turkey
Two Turkish military transport aircraft that had been stranded in Ukraine since the beginning of the war 10 months ago have safely returned to Turkey, the defence ministry says.
The two Airbus A400M military transport planes of the Turkish Air Force had flown to Kyiv-Boryspil Airport shortly after midnight on February 24, just as Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
The defence ministry said the aircraft had gone to Kyiv to deliver humanitarian supplies and evacuate Turkish citizens but were stranded at Kyiv’s airport when Ukrainian air space was closed due to the outbreak of hostilities.
Luxembourg authorises some frozen Russian assets to be unblocked
Luxembourg’s finance ministry has said it had authorised the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources held at the Clearstream settlement house by Russia’s National Settlement Depository (NSD).
The general licence issue should allow non-sanctioned Russian investors to transfer assets from the NSD – Russia’s domestic paying agent that was sanctioned by the EU in June – to other locations.
Luxembourg’s finance ministry said in a statement that funds would be released “on the condition that these funds or economic resources are necessary for the termination, by January 7, 2023, of operations, contracts or other agreements concluded with, or otherwise involving, that entity before June 3, 2022”.
Moscow tries to close one of Russia’s oldest human rights groups
Russia’s Ministry of Justice has asked the Moscow City Court to shut down one of the country’s oldest human rights organisations, TASS news agency reports, citing a court’s representative.
The Moscow Helsinki Group, which traces its roots to the Soviet era, produces an annual report on Russia’s human rights situation.
Valery Borshov, co-chair of the organisation, said authorities had put forward a “nonsense” allegation that the group’s own charters barred it from defending human rights outside the capital – something it has always openly done.
The move comes as Putin has accelerated a sweeping crackdown on dissenting voices from independent media, human rights organisations and opposition supporters. Last year, a court dissolved two other crucial human rights groups, Memorial Human Rights Centre and its parent structure, Memorial International.
Ukraine strips Danish journalist of press pass amid pro-Russia allegations
Ukrainian authorities have revoked the press accreditation of a journalist from Danish state broadcaster DR, accused of spreading Russian propaganda, DR says.
Matilde Kimer, an award-winning journalist who has covered Ukraine and Russia for DR since 2014, said Ukraine initially revoked her accreditation in August.
At a meeting in Kyiv in December, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) alleged she had been spreading Russian propaganda with her social media posts appearing to sympathise with Russia, Kimer told the Reuters news agency. But the journalist said the SBU did not provide evidence for its allegations and denied biased reporting.
Neither the SBU nor the Ukrainian defence ministry immediately responded to written requests for comment when contacted by Reuters.
Ukraine says Russia could prepare new offensive in Belarus
Ukraine’s defence minister says Russia could prepare an attack force in Belarus to launch a new offensive on Ukraine.
Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and other Ukrainian officials suggested Moscow could attempt a winter offensive after mobilising more troops.
On Monday, Putin visited Belarus, sparking fears the ex-Soviet nation may become involved in the conflict in a more direct way.
Reznikov told Ukrainian television, however, that there was no evidence Russia had already begun assembling an offensive-ready combat force in Belarus or that Minsk would be dragged into the war.“I think it’s not in the interests of the leadership of Belarus to waste its military potential,” Reznikov said.
“So I have hope that they will continue holding this balance”.
Kazakh oil cannot replace Russian oil in Germany: Transneft
Russia’s oil pipeline monopoly Transneft says Kazakh oil will not be able to replace Russian oil for refineries in Germany, the TASS news agency reported.
Oil supplies to Germany from Kazakhstan could “technically” amount to 3-5 million tonnes per year.
Germany’s economy ministry said on Monday it was optimistic that Kazakh oil could help supplement replacement crude oil shipments for the eastern German refinery at Schwedt, which will no longer import Russian oil under European Union sanctions.
Lula says Putin congratulated him on election win
Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says he has spoken with Putin, who he said wished him a good administration and hoped relations between the two countries would be strengthened.
“Today, I spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who congratulated me on the electoral victory, wished me a good government and the strengthening of the relationship between our countries. Brazil has returned, seeking dialogue with everyone and committed to the search for a world without hunger and with peace”, Lula, who will take office from incumbent Jair Bolsonaro on January 1, said on Twitter.
Conversei hoje com o presidente russo Vladimir Putin, que me cumprimentou pela vitória eleitoral, desejou um bom governo e o fortalecimento da relação entre nossos países. O Brasil voltou, buscando o diálogo com todos e empenhado na busca de um mundo sem fome e com paz.
— Lula (@LulaOficial) December 20, 2022
WHO: Risk of mental health disorders high in Ukraine due to war
The World Health Organization says 10 million people, or approximately a quarter of Ukraine’s population, may suffer from a mental health disorder due to the war.
“WHO estimates that up to 10 million people are at risk of some form of a mental disorder, varying from anxiety and stress to more severe conditions,” Jarno Habicht, WHO’s representative in Ukraine, told a Geneva news briefing via video link.
Severe conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Cases have been on the rise after 10 months of conflict, prompting a separate United Nations agency to launch online support services.
So far, there have been at least 700 attacks on Ukraine’s healthcare system, WHO data shows, and Russia’s increased attacks on critical infrastructure since October have added to challenges by causing blackouts.
Conflicting views in Russia over launching counteroffensive: US
A senior official from the US state department said there were conflicting views in Russia on whether to launch a counteroffensive in Ukraine.
“Certainly, there are some [within Russia] who I think would want to pursue offensives in Ukraine. There are others who have real questions about the capacity for Russia to actually do that,” Reuters reported the official as saying on the condition of anonymity.
The official reiterated that the United States would continue its support of Kyiv regardless of which scenario plays out.
Ukraine’s top general, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, told The Economist last week that Russia was preparing 200,000 new troops for a significant offensive that could come from the east, south or even from Belarus as early as January, but more likely in spring.
Gazprom: Gas being supplied in full despite pipeline blast
A local unit of the Russian energy company, Gazprom, says gas is being supplied to customers in full through parallel pipelines following damage to a section of the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhhorod pipeline.
A blast on the pipeline in central Russia killed three people, local officials said, and threatened to disrupt some of the limited Russian gas supply still reaching Europe despite the sanctions on Russia’s exports.
Russia becomes China’s biggest oil supplier, overtaking Saudi Arabia
China’s crude oil imports from Russia rose 17 percent in November as Chinese refiners rushed to secure more cargoes in advance of the G7 price cap on December 5.
The jump made Russia the top oil supplier for China ahead of Saudi Arabia.
From December 5, the EU banned imports of Russian crude oil and G7 nations introduced a cap of $60 per barrel on Russian oil in an attempt to limit Moscow’s ability to finance the war in Ukraine.
But steep discounts of Russian crude still attracted Chinese buyers in November, especially the independent refiners in the oil refining hub of Shandong.
Although, some state-owned refiners began scaling back purchases due to concerns about Western sanctions on Moscow.
China’s imports from Saudi Arabia totalled 6.62 million tonnes in November, or 1.61 million bpd.
That was down 11 percent from a year ago.
Russia will give Iran military components in exchange for drones: UK
The United Kingdom’s defence minister Ben Wallace said Russia intends to give Iran advanced military components in exchange for drones.
“Iran has become one of Russia’s top military backers,” Wallace told parliament as part of a statement on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“In return for having supplied more than 300 kamikaze drones, Russia now intends to provide Iran with advanced military components, undermining both Middle East and international security.”
Poland will not extend Russian oil contract
Poland’s oil refiner and petrol retailer, PKN Orlen, will not extend a contract for Russian oil that expires in January 2023.
“The only binding contract for the supply of Russian oil in 2023 will cease to be implemented when the sanctions are introduced, for which we are prepared,” the company said in a statement, confirming a report by the Polish agency PAP.
Zelenskyy: ‘We will endure and will not give up what’s ours’
Zelenskyy has visited the Bakhmut front line, which has become the site of the heaviest fighting, to award soldiers for defending Ukraine.
On Telegram, Zelenskyy wrote: “Bakhmut Fortress. Our people. Unconquered by the enemy. Who, with their bravery, prove that we will endure and will not give up what’s ours.
“Ukraine is proud of you. I am proud of you! Thank you for the courage, resilience and strength shown in repelling the enemy attacks.”
Three people killed in Russian gas pipeline blast: Officials
Three people have died after a blast ripped through a gas pipeline in central Russia, which brings gas through Ukraine to Europe, local officials and the state-owned TASS news agency said.
Officials said on Telegram that the flow of gas through the section of the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhhorod pipeline had been cut as of 1:50pm (10:50 GMT).
TASS cited local emergency services as saying three people had died and one had been injured.
The Chuvashia regional Emergencies Ministry said the pipeline had blown up during planned maintenance work near the village of Kalinino, about 150km (90 miles) west of the Volga city of Kazan.
The pipeline, built in the 1980s, enters Ukraine via the Sudzha metering point, currently the main route through which Russian gas reaches Europe.
Who controls what?
Here are four maps we update daily, charting the latest war developments.
Electricity supplies in Kyiv at ‘critical’ level, says governor
Electricity supplies in the Kyiv region are at a “critical” level, with less than half the capital’s power needs being supplied after more focused Russian missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure, regional officials said.
Kyiv Governor Oleksiy Kuleba said 80 percent of the region was without electricity for a second day after Russian drones hit energy infrastructure on Monday.
“The situation with electricity supplies remains critical,” Kuleba said on Telegram.
“I want to stress that with every shelling by the enemy, the complexity and duration of the repairs increase.”
National power grid operator Ukrenergo said it could provide less than half the required consumption in the capital Kyiv.
“Supplies to critical infrastructure are a priority. We expect that today we will be able to turn on equipment to enable the security of supplies to be increased, reduce the capacity deficit and connect more consumers,” Ukrenergo said.
Russia-Ukraine gas pipeline hit in blast
An explosion hit the Urengoi-Pomary-Uzhhorod gas exporting pipeline, which leads from Russia through Ukraine, the RBC news outlet reported citing local officials.
The regional Emergency Ministry in Russia’s Chuvash Republic, where the incident took place near the Volga city of Kazan, said it has received a call about a fire at a gas pipeline without naming it.
It said that, according to preliminary information, no one had been injured.
Ukraine to ensure power to agriculture facilities
The Ukrainian government is authorising the agriculture ministry to identify critical facilities that should be prioritised for energy supplies, the ministry said.
Under a government resolution, companies in the “food processing industry and agriculture complex, [and in the] operation of irrigation systems and canals” will be selected to receive priority energy supplies.
Russia has been hitting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with missiles and drones since October, forcing Kyiv to implement emergency blackouts while repairs are carried out.
Last week, the grain traders union (UGA) asked the government to ensure priority supplies of electricity to grain silos to reduce potential damage to the harvest.
UGA said about 10 million tonnes of grain storage capacity were lost because of Russia’s invasion, and Ukraine “cannot afford to lose the harvest that was collected with incredible effort”.
Russia attacked Ukraine oil and gas facilities, Naftogaz says
Ukraine energy company Naftogaz said Russia attacked Ukrainian oil and gas facilities in the country’s east overnight.
“Enemy missiles hit one of the facilities in the Kharkiv region. A large-scale fire broke out at the site, its elimination is currently under way. There are no casualties,” the company said in a statement.
Oleksiy Chernyshov, chief executive of Naftogaz, said the damage would be assessed after emergency services finished their work and that everything damaged would be restored.
Chernyshov said earlier this month that Russian attacks on Ukraine had damaged 350 natural gas facilities but production should be restored by the end of the year.
He said the loss of gas production capacity amounted to about $700 million.
EU foreign policy chief condemns Iran
The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemns Iran’s support for Russia and the ongoing repression of opposition in the country but says the EU will continue working with Iran to restore the 2015 nuclear deal.
“Necessary meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in Jordan amidst deteriorating Iran-EU relations,” Borrell tweeted ahead of a regional conference hosted by Jordan.
“Stressed need to immediately stop military support to Russia and internal repression in Iran. Agreed we must keep communication open and restore JCPOA on basis of Vienna negotiations”.
Necessary meeting w Iranian FM @Amirabdolahian in Jordan amidst deteriorating Iran-EU relations
Stressed need to immediately stop military support to Russia and internal repression in Iran
Agreed we must keep communication open and restore #JCPOA on basis of Vienna negotiations— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) December 20, 2022
Ukraine removes more statues of Russian writers
Ukraine is accelerating efforts to remove statues of Soviet and Russian influence from its public spaces and renaming hundreds of streets to honour its own artists, poets, soldiers and others.
Following Moscow’s invasion, Ukraine’s leaders have shifted a campaign that once focused on dismantling its Communist past into one of “de-Russification”.
Streets that honoured revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin or the Bolshevik Revolution were largely already gone; now Russia, not the Soviet legacy, is next.
This month, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced about 30 more streets in the capital would be changed.
IMF approves donor fund for Ukraine
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it has approved an economic monitoring program for Ukraine, which could help Kyiv secure donor funding.
The monitoring programme “is designed to help Ukraine maintain stability and catalyze donor financing amid very large balance of payment needs and exceptionally high risks,” following the Russian invasion, the International Monetary Fund said in a statement.
Ukrainian authorities are committed to economic and financial reforms, concerning in particular tax collection, the domestic debt market, transparency and the independence of the central bank, the IMF said.
They have four months to prove their progress as per the Program Monitoring with Board involvement (PMB) scheme, the statement said.
Ukraine needed between $40bn and $57bn to cover its budgetary and operating needs for 2023, said Gavin Gray, the IMF’s head of mission for Ukraine.
Rouble drops to seven-month low amid sanctions
The rouble has dropped to a more than seven-month low against the dollar amid market concerns that sanctions on Russian oil and gas are taking a toll on the country’s economy.
On Tuesday morning, the rouble was 2.2 percent weaker against the dollar at 69.19, its weakest mark since May 11.
It had lost 2 percent to trade at 73.54 versus the euro, its weakest since May 6, and shed 2.4 percent against the yuan to 9.89, clipping a near six-month low.
However, the rouble remains the world’s best-performing currency this year.
But after the pressure of sanctions in recent weeks, Veles Capital said in a note that the weakening rouble makes sense, referencing the $60-per-dollar oil price cap and the ninth package of EU sanctions against Moscow.
“On Monday, the pressure was seriously strengthened with information about preparations to introduce a ‘ceiling’ on the price of Russian gas from the start of 2023,” Veles Capital said.