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".
On the morning of December 20, due to Russian attacks, consumers in Mykolaiv, Kherson, Donetsk, and Odesa regions were left without power. The occupiers also targeted employees of one of the border thermal power plants, but there were no casualties.
As a result of the Russian missile attack on December 19 on the port infrastructure in Odesa region, 8 people died and 27 more were injured. Some of the victims were in a bus that was at the epicenter of the strike.
Due to traffic restrictions in the mentioned directions, the Mohyliv-Podilskyi – Otach checkpoint on the border with Moldova in Vinnytsia region is currently overloaded.
Law enforcement officers uncovered a scheme for selling mephedrone and amphetamine throughout Ukraine, two men were detained. Drugs worth UAH 95 million were seized during searches in Kyiv, Cherkasy, and Odesa regions.
Russia once again attacked Odesa region, targeting energy and transport infrastructure. As a result of the strikes, the Odesa-Skhidna railway station was damaged, an employee was injured, 74.5 thousand subscribers were left without electricity, and 85 thousand without heating.
Due to Russian attacks on energy facilities in five regions of Ukraine, consumers have been cut off from power, with over 99,000 of them in Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Blackout schedules remain in effect, but additional capacities have been freed up to shorten them.
As of the end of October, 52,960 lawyers were registered in Ukraine. Over the autumn, the list decreased by 401 representatives, but since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the number of lawyers has increased by 8%.
