As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 286th day, we take a look at the main events.
Here’s the situation as of Tuesday, December 6:
Fighting
- A third Russian airport is burning due to a drone attack, a day after Ukraine demonstrated a new capability to penetrate hundreds of kilometers into Russian airspace and attack two Russian airfields.
- A drone crashed into a Russian airfield in Kursk on the border with Ukraine, igniting a fuel tank.
- Russia has said three of its soldiers have been killed in what it said was a Ukrainian missile attack on two Russian military bases hundreds of kilometers from the frontline in Ukraine. Kyiv did not directly claim responsibility.
- Ukraine’s military chief said Russia has enough precision missiles to launch several missiles at Ukraine before it runs out.
- Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that Ukraine continues to destroy Zaporizhzhia’s nuclear facilities, deliberately creating the threat of a potential disaster. Ukraine refuses to destroy territory controlled by Russia.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited soldiers near the front lines in eastern Donbas to celebrate the country’s Armed Forces Day.
- Russia and Ukraine said they exchanged 60 prisoners of war for each side in such an exchange.
- Opposition representatives from five of Russia’s parliaments sent an appeal to urge President Vladimir Putin to pass a decision to end the military force he announced in September to bolster Moscow’s military presence in Ukraine.
Power
- Almost half of the area around the Ukrainian capital will remain without electricity for the next few days after the latest Russian missile attack on electricity.
- Ukraine wants to significantly reduce the power shortage caused by Russian terrorist attacks by Tuesday evening, Energy Minister Germany Galushchenko said.
- The Biden administration is calling a fourth meeting Thursday with oil and gas executives to discuss how the United States can help Ukraine’s energy sector.
- A letter issued by a Russian insurance company, Ingosstrakh, helped the first oil tanker pass through Turkish waters in recent days after Turkish authorities imposed stricter regulations.
Diplomacy
- Hungary voted for a $19bn loan to Ukraine from the European Union.
- The European Commission is considering banning new investment in Russia’s mining sector as part of sanctions aimed at undermining the Kremlin’s ability to support its war effort.
- Russia said it could agree with the US on the need for a lasting peace in Ukraine, but played down hopes of talks until it met the goals of its “special military mission”.
