The Ukraine war continues to be fought inch by inch, town by town. This Thursday, Russian forces have advanced on the front and are just 1.5 kilometers from the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk after their troops moved from the south towards the central road and railway hub that had a population of 60,000 people before the war.
Russia controls a part of Ukraine the size of the US state of Virginia and is advancing at the fastest pace since the early days of the 2022 invasion. Control of Pokrovsk, which Russian media call 'the gateway to Donetsk,' would allow Moscow to severely disrupt Ukrainian supply lines along the eastern front and boost its campaign to capture the city of Chasiv Yar, which sits on higher ground offering potential control of a wider area.
On the other hand, United States announced on Thursday a new $500 million military aid package for Ukraine, including drones and ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
This additional aid, provided within a reduction of Department of Defense stocks, also includes 155 and 105-millimeter artillery ammunition, Javelin and TOW anti-tank missiles, demolition and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protection equipment, and light tactical vehicles, among others.
Russia Claims Massive Attack on Ukraine in Retaliation for ATACMS Missile Use
Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed on Friday that its massive attack on the Ukrainian energy system is a response to this week's launch of US long-range ATACMS missiles against an airfield in the south of the country, reports Efe.
"In response to the use of US long-range missiles, the Russian Armed Forces launched a massive attack with high-precision long-range weapons from maritime and land positions," the military statement on Telegram said.
"Severely Damaged" Thermal Power Plants by Russian Attacks on Friday
Ukrainian thermal power plants were "severely damaged" by the massive Russian attacks on Friday morning, said private electricity provider DTEK, reports Afp.
The attacks "severely damaged the power plant equipment," DTEK said in a statement. "This is the twelfth massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector just this year," it added.
Orbán Insists Ukraine Rejected His Ceasefire and Prisoner Exchange Plan
Hungary's Prime Minister, the ultranationalist Viktor Orbán, reiterated on Friday that Ukraine rejected his proposal for a ceasefire in the war caused by the Russian attack on Ukraine, as well as a prisoner exchange during Christmas, reports Efe.
"There is an offer on the table so that, at least at Christmas, no one has to die on the front line," Orbán said in his Friday statements to public radio Kossuth. According to the Prime Minister, "one party accepted this offer, the other did not," referring to Moscow supporting the Hungarian proposal.
Russia Fired 93 Missiles at Ukraine
Russia fired 93 ballistic and cruise missiles at Ukraine in its latest massive attack on Friday morning, said President Volodymyr Zelensky, reports Afp.
"93 missiles were launched, including at least one North Korean. A total of 81 missiles were shot down, with 11 of them downed by F-16 fighters" that Ukraine finally began receiving this year from its Western allies.
Beloúsov Visits Russian Troops' Eastern Group Command Post
Russia's Defense Minister, Andrei Beloúsov, visited the command post of the Russian Eastern troops group, which is fighting in Ukraine, where he received the situation report and awarded several soldiers, his ministry's press office reported today.
The group's commander, Lieutenant General Andrei Ivanáyev, informed the minister that in a month, the units under his command "liberated seven localities and took control of a sector covering an area of over 300 square kilometers," the press release published on Telegram stated.
Russia Launches Massive Air Strike on Ukraine with Dozens of Missiles and Drones
Russia launched a massive air strike on Ukraine on Friday that included dozens of cruise missiles and drones, reports AP.
The Russian army focused on the Ukrainian power grid, wrote Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko on his Facebook page. "The enemy continues its terror," he added.
Russia Shoots Down 23 Ukrainian Drones over Five Regions
Russia's air defenses shot down 23 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight in five regions of the country, Russian authorities reported today, according to EFE.
According to the regional top official, there were no casualties or ground damage as a result of the downed drone fragments.
Ukrainian Government Denounces New Massive Russian Attack on its Energy System
Ukraine's Energy Minister, Herman Galushchenko, warned on Friday that the Russian Army was carrying out a new "massive attack" on Ukraine's energy system, reports AP.
Reformed Ukrainian Military Procurement Agency Boosts Country's NATO Membership Ambitions
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense introduced a new state agency for its armed forces last year. It was the government's response to rampant corruption within the ministry's procurement companies and was supposed to be a driver of reform on the elusive path to NATO membership, reports AP.
The company, tasked with purchasing non-lethal military goods like food, clothing, and fuel, has already contracted 95% of the requested supplies and saved 25% in the process, said Arsen Zhumadilov, CEO of the State Logistics Operator, known by the local abbreviation DOT. Soon, he said, DOT will also start acquiring drones.
Russian Air Defenses Destroyed at Least 11 Drones in Three Regions
Russian air defense units destroyed at least 11 Ukrainian drones in three southern Russian regions late on Thursday, according to authorities.
The Russian Defense Ministry said six drones were destroyed in the Rostov region, east of Ukraine, and four in the Belgrade region, just across the border from northern Ukraine, between 9:00 and 10:00 pm (18:00 to 19:00 GMT).
Meanwhile, the governor of the Bryansk region, also on the northern border, said local air defenses destroyed one drone.
Ukrainian Senior Official Says Kiev Not Ready for Talks with Russia
President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff said in a late Thursday interview that Kiev was not yet ready to engage in talks with Russia because it lacked the weapons, security guarantees, and international status it sought, reports Reuters.
Andriy Yermak's comments on Suspilne public broadcaster come as Zelensky publicly considers the possibility of a negotiated solution to the war with Russia, initiated by Moscow's large-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022. "Not yet today," Yermak told Suspilne when asked if Ukraine was ready to embark on talks.