As a result of Russian strikes on the Pivdennyi port in Odesa region, a vegetable oil spill occurred in the Black Sea. The port's water area is temporarily closed to eliminate the consequences.
Over the past day, 126 combat engagements took place on the front, with the highest activity in the Pokrovsk, Huliaipole, and Kostiantynivka directions. The enemy launched two missile and 65 air strikes, using 39 missiles and 160 guided aerial bombs.
The Russian army attacked a critical infrastructure facility in Chernihiv, which led to a fire. According to Dmytro Bryzhynskyi, head of the Chernihiv City Military Administration, no one was injured.
Energy workers are stabilizing the situation in Ukraine after Russia's massive attack on energy infrastructure. Restoration work is underway in Rivne, Ternopil, and Odesa regions, with consumption restrictions applied in all regions.
In Odesa region, the head of the city council's land commission was detained for demanding $9. 5 thousand for the lease of 95 hectares of land. She faces up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Over 11 months of this year, local budgets received UAH 41. 4 billion in land payments, which is 15.3% more than last year. Dnipropetrovsk region, Kyiv, Odesa and Lviv regions provided the largest revenues.
As a result of the night shelling of Odesa region on December 23, a civilian vessel under the flag of Lebanon, which was transporting Ukrainian soybeans, was damaged. Civilian warehouses and critical energy facilities were also affected, but there were no casualties.
Large-scale schemes for illegal border crossing by conscripts have been exposed in four regions of Ukraine. The organizers transported men to Moldova and Hungary for tens of thousands of dollars, and also issued fictitious disability documents.
As a result of the ninth massive attack by the Russian Federation, Rivne, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi regions are almost completely de-energized. There are also power outages in 6 more regions, and emergency blackouts have been applied in Odesa region and throughout Ukraine.
On the night of December 23, Russian UAVs attacked the south of Odesa region, damaging energy, port, transport, industrial and residential infrastructure. As a result of the strikes, a civilian dry cargo ship, warehouses, roofs and windows in 122 private houses and three high-rise buildings, as well as a garage, were damaged.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a Staff meeting dedicated to the situation at the front, strengthening the air defense of Odesa region, and the strategy of long-range strikes against the Russian Federation. The head of state announced a change in the leadership of the "South" Air Command to increase the effectiveness of air defense.
After the resumption of traffic on the Odesa-Reni highway, border guards are recording an increase in passenger and transport flow on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border. No checkpoint stopped working, despite the complications of movement after the Russian attack on the bridge near Mayaky.
In Odesa region, Russia attacked energy infrastructure and the port of Pivdennyi overnight, where about 30 containers with flour and oil caught fire. Over 120,000 subscribers in the region were left without electricity, and emergency crews are working to restore power.
Christmas week began with massive Russian attacks on Ukraine; Russia attacked energy infrastructure in 5 regions. As of morning, a significant portion of Odesa residents are without electricity. Schedules are in effect, but efforts to reduce them continue by freeing up capacity.
On the night of December 22, Russian occupiers attacked the energy and industrial infrastructure of Odesa region. An energy facility and a warehouse building were damaged, and one person was hospitalized.
200 combat engagements, over 2,500 shellings, and 1,779 kamikaze drones were recorded in 24 hours. The highest intensity of attacks was in the Pokrovsk direction, where the enemy stormed the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 47 times.
Queues of hundreds of cars have formed at the border with Poland, especially at the Krakovets and Shehyni checkpoints. Over the past day, almost 67,000 people crossed the border in Lviv region, with entry into Ukraine prevailing.
International passenger and cargo carriers can cross the border with Moldova and Romania through checkpoints in Odesa region. Access is via the M-15 highway ("Odesa – Reni"), but due to the limited capacity of the road, additional time should be factored in.
Over the past day, seven civilians were injured in shelling in the de-occupied territories of Kherson region. Russian troops used artillery, mortars, MLRS, and drones, damaging houses, transport, and infrastructure.
Over the week, Russia launched about 1,300 attack drones, almost 1,200 guided aerial bombs, and nine missiles of various types at Ukraine, with the Odesa region being particularly affected. Ukraine is countering this Russian terror by receiving financial and security assistance from international partners.
Yesterday, Russia massively attacked the civilian infrastructure of the Odesa region. Transport, port, and industrial infrastructure facilities were targeted, resulting in fires and property damage.
Healthcare facilities in the south of Odesa region are operating normally, and emergency teams are working without interruption. Hospitalization routes have been adjusted to take into account bypass roads, ensuring a full range of medical care.
In Odesa region, bus traffic is being launched through two checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border, which previously operated only for passenger cars. This will allow for quick adjustment of passenger routes and reduction of the load on individual directions, and the number of buses that can be processed at the Mohyliv-Podilskyi – Otaci checkpoint has also been increased.
In Odesa region, transport links have been partially restored after Russian attacks, allowing cars, minibuses, and small trucks to cross the Dniester. Banks, post offices, and supplies of food and fuel have also resumed operations, and emergency services are working in an enhanced mode.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba stated that there is no threat to Ukraine's export potential, but there are risks of increasing Russian attacks. Constant shelling of Odesa region may be related to attempts to disrupt the grain corridor.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba stated that the evacuation of the population from some communities in Odesa Oblast after Russian attacks is not planned. He noted that the situation in the communities is normal, and issues regarding food and pensions have been resolved.
Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksiy Kuleba stated that he sees no preconditions for fuel price increases after the strikes on the Odesa region. He held talks with gas station operators and carriers, who confirmed the absence of a threat of price hikes.
The bridge in Mayaky, Odesa region, suffered more than 5 enemy hits, making passage impossible; a pontoon crossing was deployed as an alternative. Employees of the Restoration Agency are working to restore the bridge, despite constant air raid alerts.
After Russia's deadly attack on the Odesa region, which damaged transport infrastructure, alternative routes across the Dniester have been created. They are already operational, allowing people to move with certain restrictions.
The song "Shchedryk" was written at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1936, its English version was released, which is known to the world as "Carol of the Bells".
