$44 million in aid to Ukraine and new UK sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet
The United Kingdom has allocated emergency support worth £35 million (over $44 million) to help Ukraine restore its energy grid. The country is also introducing new sanctions against Russia, including 20 vessels from its shadow fleet. This was announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to the government’s website.
Of the new financial assistance, £20 million will be spent to meet emergency energy needs and provide additional capacity for power generation and critical energy infrastructure protection, as well as to support vital repairs to the power grid.
This is a project to generate an additional 20 MW of electricity, enough to supply up to 20,000 homes with electricity.
The remaining £15 million will go to humanitarian aid, five of which will go to UNICEF. Another £10 million will go to the UN High Commissioner’s Office.
100 thousand bodies in mass grave in Syria are victims of Assad’s regime
A mass grave containing the bodies of at least 100,000 people tortured by the government of fugitive President Bashar al-Assad has been found near Damascus. This was reported by Reuters.
The head of the “Syrian Emergency Operations Group” Muaz Mustafa said that the site in al-Qutaifa, 40 kilometers from the capital, is one of five mass graves he has identified.
There are more such huge graves than the five he has already found, Mustafa said. He claims that there are allegedly victims from the United States, Great Britain, and other foreigners along with Syrians. So far, there is no confirmation of this information.
1.89 billion hryvnias, additionally allocated by the Defense Ministry for the purchase of drones
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has allocated an additional UAH 1.89 billion for the purchase of drones. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense.
Thus, 55% of the amount was allocated for Mavic drones, including those with night vision, and another 18% for FPV kamikaze drones.
Reconnaissance drones, bombers, and spare parts will also be purchased.
The Ministry of Defense notes that this will provide the military with additional drones through decentralized procurement. That is, the brigades will independently purchase what they need to perform combat missions, and the drones will be sent to the front immediately.
7.3 magnitude earthquake in Vanuatu
On the morning of December 17, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 occurred off the coast of Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean. This was reported by the US Geological Survey.
The tremors were recorded 30 kilometers west of the Vanuatu capital Port Vila. The epicenter of the earthquake was at a depth of 57 kilometers. Reuters reports that buildings and cars were damaged in Port Vila. In particular, the building housing the embassies of the United States, Great Britain, France, and New Zealand was seriously damaged. Local TV channel VBTC reported that one person was trapped in the rubble. Communication was interrupted throughout the country.
At least one person may have been killed in the quake, local journalist Dan McGarry reported, citing police. There are also injuries. Reuters noted that it was unable to get a comment from the authorities on the injuries and deaths from the quake.
€1.5 billion per month: Ukraine will receive financial assistance from the EU
Starting in January 2024, the European Union will pay Ukraine €1.5 billion a month. The bloc will receive the money from the frozen assets of the Russian Federation. This was announced by Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas.
Ukraine needs even more support. As Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told us, the situation on the battlefield is very difficult. We heard him clearly. Ukraine needs more ammunition, stronger air defense, and support for its defense industry, – says Kallas.
These regular tranches were announced in early December by European Council President António Costa during a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Costa added that the money Brussels receives from the use of frozen Russian assets can be spent on supplying the Ukrainian army.
