Picture of the 39th week of war: Ukraine is in the dark, russia is a sponsor of terrorism, one step away from the liberation of Mykolaiv Oblast
And also about the heavy fighting in Donbas, the deployment of the "Points of Invincibility", forecasts from the IMF for the Ukrainian economy and the collection for the "medical billion" - in our chronicle. We tell you how the situation changed during the week from November 21 to 25.
Southern area
Після стабілізації лінії розмежування сил України та рф по Дніпру бойові дії на Херсонщині перейшли в стадію чисельних артилерійських та ракетних ударів. Причому окупанти постійно обстрілюють населені пункти деокупованої частини області, зокрема Херсон, що призводить до жертв серед мирного населення.
After the stabilization of the demarcation line between the forces of Ukraine and the russian federation on the Dnieper, the hostilities in the Kherson region moved into the stage of numerous artillery and missile attacks. Moreover, the occupiers are constantly shelling the settlements of the de-occupied part of the region, in particular Kherson, which leads to casualties among the civilian population.
An active Ukrainian offensive continues on the Kinburn spit of the Mykolaiv region. The military operation takes place in silence mode. For the complete de-occupation of the Mykolaiv region, it remains to free three settlements located there. As noted in the Operational Command "South", the storm at sea contributes to the liberation of this territory. Control over the spit will ensure a potential grain corridor from Mykolaiv port.
Near Zaporizhzhia, the russians are trying to hold captured positions. About ten settlements were affected by the enemy's artillery fire in a week. So, on the night of November 23, the russian invaders hit the maternity ward of hospital with rockets, the baby died as a result of the shelling.
In general, throughout the south, russia is actively preparing for defense, creating new fortified areas. Notably, one of them is created directly near Dzhankoy, the "gateway" to Crimea. This shows that although the enemy hopes to hold the occupied regions of Kherson Oblast and Zaporizhzhia, he is not at all sure that he will be able to do so.
Eastern direction
The most challenging direction on the front right now is the Donetsk region. After the defeat in the Kherson region, the enemy needs at least some kind of victory, so his troops continue their offensive near Bakhmut and Avdiivka. Every assault on the positions of the Armed Forces near these cities for the Russian Federation ends with dozens and hundreds of killed and wounded. However, the enemy will not stop trying to control these settlements at any cost. Due to bad weather, the daily number of assault attempts decreased slightly (a week ago there were several hundred a day). However, at the same time, a huge rate of shelling is maintained: almost 400 per day across the entire eastern front.
In the Luhansk region, the Defense Forces of Ukraine are moving forward in the direction of Svatove and Kreminna, approaching strategically important cities for the logistics of the Russian Federation. At the same time, near Bilogorivka, the enemy is trying to launch an offensive. The occupiers seek to capture this settlement as a bridgehead for further advancement, as well as to protect the city of Lysychansk from semi-encirclement.
As head of Luhansk military administration, Serhiy Gaidai, noted, with the onset of frost, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be able to give "new positive news" from Luhansk region.
The situation in the occupied territories
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that currently there are still about two thousand settlements under occupation. At least dozens of them were completely destroyed by the strikes of the Russian army, like Mariupol or Volnovakha.
The Center of National Resistance reports that the russian federation seeks to change the demographic composition of the temporarily occupied territories. To do this, the Russians carry out the so-called "evacuation" (actually, deportation) of local people in order to take them to Russia and assimilate them. The second part of the plan is to bring russians to Ukrainian lands. They are "lured" with high salaries and benefits. Yes, in the Russian Federation, students are promised free education on condition of further training at the temporarily occupied territories.
Luhansk military administration reports that the occupation authorities will raise utility tariffs starting in January. "Lower tariffs for communal services were one of the "trump cards" of the Russian Federation during the capture of cities. This, in particular, was counted on by the elderly who decided to stay under the occupation," the OVA said. However, even this "gift" of the Russians turned out to be temporary.
Borders' protection
In the north of Ukraine, the situation remains unchanged. As noted in the General Staff, no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups were detected. The readiness of the army of Belarus to conduct independent military operations is assessed as low. The morale and psychological state is also considered low due to the refusal of the majority of personnel to participate in the russian war against Ukraine. At the same time, according to intelligence, about 10-15 thousand Belarusian security forces are ready to take part in the so-called "special military operation" of the russian Federation. First of all, due to the attractiveness of high monetary security.
Controlled and liberated territories of Ukraine
Ukraine continues to prepare intensively for the worst-case scenarios that terrorist attacks from the russian Federation could lead to, such as a long-term blackout. For example, more than 4,000 "Points of Invincibility" have started working in the country, the work of which will be activated in the event of a long-term lack of electricity in the event of new massive russian attacks on the infrastructure. There are all basic services for the population: electricity, mobile communication and the Internet, heat, water, a first-aid kit. They will work free of charge and around the clock at all regional and district administrations, as well as at schools, buildings of the State Emergency Service, etc. One "Point of Invincibility" will be able to receive from 40 to 500 people at the same time without a limit on the time of stay.
Critical infrastructure
On November 23, the country's energy system was subjected to the most painful shelling since the beginning of the full-scale war. The russian Federation launched about 70 missiles and 10 drones at critical infrastructure facilities throughout the country. And although 51 missiles and 5 drones were shot down by air defense forces, the massive missile attack led to a temporary blackout of all nuclear power plants, most thermal and hydroelectric power plants, and power transmission facilities were also affected.
As a result, the vast majority of electricity consumers across the country were cut off. Large cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Kryvyi Rih were left practically without electricity. Power outages also began in some areas of Moldova. The lack of electricity affected the availability of heat and water supply in many settlements. Emergency shutdowns continue for the third day. As of the evening of Friday, November 25, 200,000 to 400,000 consumers in each region of Ukraine remain without electricity.
They support us
In addition to military support, significant efforts of the international community are currently directed at helping Ukraine successfully overcome the cold weather, as well as rebuilding critical infrastructure after russian missile attacks, paying civil servants and socially vulnerable categories, etc. KL
The United States allocates an additional $4.5 billion in direct budget support to Ukraine. The funds will help the Ukrainian government support essential public services, including salaries for hospital workers, civil servants and teachers, as well as social assistance for the elderly and vulnerable.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the allocation of 2.5 billion euros of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine.
Economy
The IMF has updated its macro forecast for Ukraine for 2023. The fund projects the economy to grow by 1% next year after a 33% decline in the economy in 2022. Also, the IMF predicts that the annual inflation rate in Ukraine will remain at the level of about 25% next year. Thus, Ukraine will continue to require significant external financing to ensure adequate resources for key state functions while maintaining economic stability.
Solutions
Fundraising for the "Save a Limb" program has started in Ukraine, which involves conducting 15,000 operations on people with limb injuries, reports the international charitable foundation "Health of the Ukrainian People". The purpose of the program is to provide Ukrainian hospitals with everything necessary for operations thanks to the campaign to collect the "first medical billion".
The authors of the initiative emphasize that every day hundreds of wounded people arrive at hospitals from the front and attacked cities, 70% of which are injuries to the limbs. Therefore, such a program will be able to bring thousands of people back to normal life.
