The Ukrainian air force reported that Russian drones targeted vital infrastructure in the Ternopil and Rivne regions of western Ukraine overnight.According to Ternopil’s mayor, the attack caused a power outage in part of the city, occurring just a week after Russian strikes had already disrupted electricity for many residents in the area.
At least one million Ukrainians were left without power due to these strikes.Mayor Serhiy Nadal urged residents on his Telegram channel, “Energy workers and rescuers are working to address the aftermath of the attack. Please stock up on water and charge your phones.”
In a separate update, Ukraine’s air force claimed to have shot down 22 out of 28 drones launched by Russia overnight.According to the report, one drone was considered “lost,” and two others exited Ukraine-controlled airspace.
Additionally, Oleksandr Koval, the governor, stated that Russia targeted energy infrastructure in the Rivne region as well.There were no reported casualties, he added.
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Overnight, air defenses were also active in the Kyiv region, according to governor Ruslan Kravchenko, with falling debris causing damage to four homes, two cars, and a garage.
Furthermore, the Russian military announced the capture of two additional villages in Ukraine.
Claiming progress along the southeastern front, the military reported the seizure of Novodarivka in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Romanivka in the eastern Donetsk region via Telegram.
In response, Ukraine stated its forces successfully repelled a Russian attempt to cross the Oskil River, which has long been a de facto front line in the ongoing conflict.
The Oskil River flows from Russia’s western border through northeastern Ukraine, with both Russian and Ukrainian forces entrenched along its banks.
“As a result of our successful operations, the enemy suffered losses. The right bank of the Oskil River is now under the control of our Defence Forces,” the Ukrainian military’s statement said.
Ukrainian military bloggers had recently reported on a Russian advancement over the river near the village of Novomlynsk in northeastern Kharkiv.
Russian troops have been making gains in the Kharkiv region, which borders Russia, nearing the civilian hub of Kupiansk that is split by the Oskil River.
Kupiansk had a pre-war population of approximately 27,000 and was occupied by Russian forces shortly after their invasion began, following the decision of the town’s mayor to surrender control.
Ukraine managed to reclaim it in September 2022 in a rapid offensive, regaining significant territory in the Kharkiv region.
NATO is set to resist Ukraine’s request for progress on joining the alliance.
Foreign ministers from NATO appeared poised to decline Ukraine’s appeal ahead of Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency in the United States.
The incoming US president has pledged to seek a rapid resolution to the ongoing conflict with Russia, creating urgency for Kyiv to navigate its position before his January inauguration.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that securing security guarantees from Western allies and receiving crucial military supplies are essential before Ukraine can consider halting its offensive.
Zelensky expressed hope that NATO foreign ministers convening in Brussels with Ukraine’s top diplomat would issue “recommendations” for an invitation to join the alliance.
“However, we do not harbor any illusions—some countries remain skeptical,” he remarked.
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Up until now, NATO heavyweights, notably the United States and Germany, have hesitated to endorse Ukraine’s membership, fearing it could trigger a direct conflict with Russia.
Diplomats noted that with the current administrations of President Joe Biden and Chancellor Olaf Scholz exiting, Ukraine was hopeful its foreign ministers could proceed with greater flexibility.
However, US officials privately suggested that the Biden administration would not support Ukraine’s initiative, anticipating that any offer would be reversed by the president-elect.
“Such a gesture one month before the new administration would infuriate Trump, who would act against it immediately,” one European diplomat at NATO concurred.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated, “Ukraine is on the path to NATO, and NATO is on the path toward including Ukraine.”
“Certainly, every time we gather as allies to engage with our Ukrainian partners, it’s a valuable step toward NATO membership,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the US is providing Ukraine with a $725 million (€690 million) package of missiles, ammunition, anti-personnel mines, and additional weaponry, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
This assistance will include Stinger missiles, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), drones, and landmines, among other items, Blinken noted in his statement.
The Kremlin criticized the US decision, claiming it demonstrated the outgoing Biden administration’s intention to escalate the conflict.
Last week, it was reported by Reuters that the Biden administration intended to supply the equipment, primarily anti-tank weapons, to counter Russia’s offensive actions.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the new weapons package.
Russian forces have been capturing villages across eastern Ukraine as part of their strategy to seize the industrial Donbas region.
According to Blinken’s statement, “The United States and over 50 nations are united in ensuring that Ukraine possesses the capabilities needed to defend itself against Russian aggression.”
This announcement marks a significant increase in the scale of assistance compared to Biden’s recent use of the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which enables the US to draw from current weapons stocks to assist allies in emergencies.
Donald Trump is widely expected to alter US strategy regarding Ukraine.
Previous PDA announcements have generally ranged from $125 million to $250 million. Biden reportedly has between $4 billion and $5 billion in PDA already authorized by Congress that he is expected to allocate to Ukraine before Trump assumes office on January 20.
Trump has criticized the extent of Biden’s support for Ukraine, making a quick resolution to the war a key campaign promise. Recently, he appointed Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general who proposed a plan to end the war, as a special envoy for the conflict.
Reportedly, Kellogg’s plan involves freezing the current battlegrounds and compelling both Ukraine and Russia to negotiate, as reported by Reuters in June.
This set of weapons signifies the first occasion in decades that the US has exported landmines, the use of which is contentious due to potential civilian injuries.
While over 160 countries have ratified a treaty prohibiting their use, Ukraine has requested landmines since Russia commenced its full-scale invasion in early 2022, as Russian forces have deployed them on the front lines.
The landmines designated for shipment to Ukraine are described as “non-persistent,” meaning they deactivate after a short period, thus presenting minimal long-term risks to civilians compared to older types of landmines.
