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Anton Gerashchenko is an official advisor and a former deputy minister at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, ex-member of the Ukrainian parliament. Cooperation - @Tatiana_Pravda
In Yakutia, Russia, presumably, an asteroid has fallen. This was reported by eyewitnesses on social networks, and they also published footage of the falling object.
I wonder what the people of Yakutia thought about it.
South Korea's National Assembly voted to lift martial law with 190 votes in favor. The vote was unanimous among those MPs who were inside the chamber.
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More videos of clashes in Seoul near the parliament building.
The opposition called the declaration of martial law and suspension of work of parliament by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol unconstitutional and said it would no longer recognize Yoon Suk Yeol as president.
The opposition calls on citizens and MPs to go to the parliament. At the same time, special forces are trying to take control of the parliament building.
It is reported that MPs are trying to get into the parliament.
Protesters are obstructing the work of the military, and the first clashes have started.
It is reported that special forces have already entered the building of the National Assembly.
President of South Korea Yoon Sook Yeol has declared martial law. In his national address, he said the decision was made to remove pro-North Korea forces from the country and to protect the liberal constitutional order.
Media report that the decision comes amid a potential impeachment of Cabinet Ministers.
The situation is developing rapidly. The President has disbanded the Parliament, and the entrance to the building is blocked. The Opposition called for people to gather outside the National Assembly.
I know I have many followers from South Korea. Friends, could you let us know what is going on? I hope you are all safe.
Source: https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241203012152315
"Putin has not changed the goals. The goal is to destroy Ukraine. The goal is not to gain more territories. Till Putin has not changed the goals, the war will continue." – Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna.
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said that at today’s ministerial meeting in Brussels, NATO foreign ministers will focus on how to get Ukraine to enter peace talks with Russia from a position of strength.
Rutte added that the partners hear Ukraine's requests for membership, but the Alliance will prioritise the provision of military assistance to Ukraine at this meeting.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a speech on foreign policy at the Lord Mayor's Banquet at the Guildhall, London.
“We must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so that they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence – and right to choose their future."
Russian propagandists led by Solovyev propose to hit the western part of Ukraine with Oreshnik missiles and wipe it out.
Is that how they see the negotiation process?
Another Internet cable has been damaged between Finland and Sweden, Aftonbladet reports.
This break happened on land within Finland. Authorities suspect sabotage. An investigation is ongoing.
Source: https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/3MopBe/uppgifter-nytt-kabelbrott-pa-internetledning
A pensioner from Khmelnyk created 96 bases for camouflage nets in two years. Sviatoslav Stelmakh works at home and helps the front.
📹: Suspilne
According to the Levada Center, 39 percent of Russians believe that the use of nuclear weapons during Russia's war against Ukraine could be justified.
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"We're at our positions, and we have f*cking nothing to eat. Look at the f*ckery that's going on behind the zero line."
A Russian serviceman recorded a video in which he talked about how fellow soldiers do not want to deliver food to them at zero line so as not to become victims of Ukrainian drones.
Supply train soldiers, or so-called "camels," are the lowest caste in the Russian army. Predominantly convicts or delinquent soldiers, often unarmed, they carry ammunition and food to positions on foot, being easy targets and virtually expendables. They are increasingly refusing to do their job, simply throwing away ammo and food to rot while their comrades starve in their positions.
What about "we don't abandon our own"?
"Where should Russia go? Preferably, to hell."
Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Kyiv. What did the President say:
◼️"To end the war in 2025, Ukraine needs to be stronger."
◼️"Ukraine could hit more military targets in the Russian Federation if Germany supplied Taurus missiles."
Scholz in his stead stated that in December Ukraine will receive its sixth IRIS-T air defense system and Patriot launchers. Apart from that, Ukraine will get Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and Sea King helicopters.
The German chancellor underlined that Germany’s support will not weaken and said that the attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure were “unacceptable”.
Ukraine has returned six more children from the temporarily occupied territories as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
"The stories of these children are a vivid illustration of the fact that Russia is trying to wipe out the Ukrainian nation by all means – by imposing propaganda and hatred of Ukraine, by threatening families to take their children away, by forcibly mobilizing our young boys into the Russian army.
For example, 16-year-old Vitalii skipped school so that he would not be taken to the city by force and registered for military service, as was the case with his classmates. The family of 14-year-old Artem was held hostage – he was not given the documents without which it is impossible to leave the temporarily occupied territory. However, when Russian occupiers abducted his mother, it became clear that he had to leave by any means necessary. Fortunately, the boy was taken out, but his father remained in the occupation.
These are just two stories out of many thousands.
The military is leaving the Parliament building after the vote to lift martial law passed - YTN
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Members of the National Assembly have gathered for an emergency parliamentary session.
In the meantime, the military is trying to get into the building of the Parliament.
The only official comment from Russia regarding the events in South Korea for now comes from Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the MFA.
She makes a "joke" on her Telegram channel:
"What have Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia decided on this issue? Will sanctions be imposed on Seoul? Or will South Korea be luckier than Georgia?"
The NATO Ministerial Meeting in Brussels happened to coincide with the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum on Dec 5.
Before the meeting, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Sybiha said that the Budapest Memorandum "failed to secure Ukrainian security and Trans-Atlantic security."
"So we must avoid repeating such mistakes. That’s why, of course, we will discuss with my partners the concept of Peace Through Strength, and we have a clear understanding of which steps we need from our friends to do our home job," he said.
Ukraine’s MFA also released a statement regarding this anniversary and what it means for the future of Ukraine and global security.
Here are the main points:
◼️The Budapest Memorandum was supposed to guarantee Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and was to become “a significant step in strengthening global nuclear disarmament.” Yet Russia, one of the guarantors of Ukraine’s security, “blatantly disregarded” the Memorandum when it launched aggression against Ukraine in 2014.
◼️The agreement failed to prevent aggression by Russia, a nuclear country towards Ukraine, a country that gave up its arsenal. It is “a dangerous precedent” that triggered other countries to create or expand their nuclear weapon programs and increased security threats around the world.
◼️“The Budapest Memorandum is a monument to short-sightedness in strategic security decision-making.” This mistake must be corrected by providing Ukraine with clear, legally binding security guarantees.
◼️“The only real guarantee of security for Ukraine, as well as a deterrent to further Russian aggression against Ukraine and other states, is Ukraine's full membership in NATO. With the bitter experience of the Budapest Memorandum behind us, we will not accept any alternatives, surrogates or substitutes for Ukraine's full membership in NATO.”
◼️Ukraine’s NATO membership is the only way to deter Russia and stop the erosion of the principles of nuclear non-proliferation.
Full statement: https://mfa.gov.ua/en/news/zayava-mzs-ukrayini-z-nagodi-30-richchya-z-chasu-pidpisannya-budapeshtskogo-memorandumu
Russia is reportedly evacuating naval ships from Tartus, Syria amid rising tensions, – OSINT analyst Covert Shores for Naval News.
On Monday, the auxiliary ship Yelnya, a crucial asset to Russia’s Mediterranean presence, was observed leaving the port.
Russia has a variety of military vessels stationed in Tartus. These comprise of two Gorskhov class frigates, one Grigorovich class frigate, two auxiliaries and an Improved-Kilo class submarine.
It is not yet confirmed whether the remaining vessels have also departed, but reports suggest that they may have followed Yelnya out of Syria.
Naval analyst Droxford Maritime noted that there is a "realistic possibility" that these departures are linked to the deteriorating security situation in Syria. "Given the military developments on the ground, it seems likely that Russia is moving its naval assets to safer locations," he commented.
Source: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/12/first-sign-russian-navy-evacuating-naval-vessels-from-tartus-syria/
Protests in Georgia went on for another night.
Police resorted to force once again to disperse the crowds. 34 more people were arrested.
In the meantime, a growing number of reports about the mistreatment of detained protesters have been emerging. Detainees allege being beaten, insulted, and subjected to other forms of physical and psychological abuse by law enforcement. Many have suffered serious injuries and require medical attention, according to Transparency International Georgia.
One protester, Davit Jaliashvili, recounted to TV Formula that at least 20 officers assaulted him, landing about 50 blows in total. "They led me down a corridor and started hitting me. Each officer punched or kicked me at least once or twice before I was put into a minibus, which I thought was my escape from that hallway. It turned out to be the opposite — that’s where it all truly began. A special forces officer entered the van and began a brutal beating. They threw us to the floor and kicked us in the face and head. It was inhumane," he said.
Jaliashvili also shared that another detainee was brought in and threatened with sexual assault: "We’ll use a baton on you," officers reportedly said.
Meanwhile, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili stated that the protests were peaceful until met with violent repression. "The Georgian people are not demanding anything unconstitutional; they are asking for the stolen elections to be returned. This follows an evident systematic Russian-style scenario under which the elections were stolen," she said.
The parliament of Abkhazia voted against the ratification of the agreement on Russian investment projects in the republic, TASS reports.
I’ve previously written about how Abkhazia’s local elites are trying to resist the takeover of their land and resources by Russian clans. They are not fighting against Russia, but it’s a positive sign of weakening Russian influence in the unrecognized republic nonetheless.
The Ukrainian "Peaky Blinders" drone unit received authentic hats from Steven Knight, the creator of the hit British TV show it is named after.
The hats were even signed by the star of the series, Cillian Murphy.
The Peaky Blinders unit is currently defending Ukraine on the frontlines.
Russian drones targeted energy infrastructure in Western Ukraine last night.
Part of the city of Ternopil remains without electricity in the aftermath.
Another energy object was hit in Rivne, local authorities report.
📸: Ternopil State Emergency Service
Russian propagandist Mardan:
"If necessary, Russia will fight until the end, until all the goals and objectives of the special military operation are achieved. Translated into simple, everyday language - the liquidation of the state-political entity called Ukraine is inevitable, logical, and consistent with the national interests of Russia and the Russian people."
"In order to protect our own German and European security, it is important to support Ukraine and it is equally important to clearly enter into a peace process together with the international community, and that is why I am here in China today." - German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock during today’s visit to Beijing.
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Yesterday, Romanians voted in critical Parliamentary elections after a surprise first-round victory of far-right candidate Călin Georgescu in the Presidential election in November.
The Parliamentary results are nearly finalized, with 99.45% of votes counted. The ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) leads with 22.6%, followed by the hard-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) at 18.2%. Elena Lasconi’s center-right Save Romania Union (USR), a pro-European opposition party, took 12.1%, while the Liberals (PNL), part of the ruling coalition, secured 14.4%.
Two smaller far-right parties, SOS Romania and the Young People’s Party (POT), also cleared the 5% threshold to enter Parliament, winning 7.6% and 6.3% of the vote, respectively. This consolidates a growing far-right bloc in Romanian politics, with the AUR, SOS, and POT collectively holding a significant portion of Parliamentary seats. The ethnic Hungarian UDMR party, which has often aligned with ruling coalitions, garnered 6.5%.
AUR, SOS, and POT not only share ultranationalist agendas but also harbor anti-European and pro-Russian sympathies, echoing the rhetoric of Georgescu, who is set to face Lasconi in the Presidential runoff on December 8.
Meanwhile, allegations of Russian interference continue to cloud the Presidential election. Georgescu’s campaign leveraged TikTok in a way that investigators suspect involved bot amplification. A court-ordered recount of the first round results is currently underway, but according to the Financial Times, it is almost completed and there has been no significant discrepancy found.
Romania stands at a critical juncture. While pro-European parties remain key players in Parliament, the consolidation of far-right forces signals deepening challenges for democracy. The Presidential runoff will now decide whether Romania can withstand this crisis and stay on its democratic, European path.
📸: Reuters
"Out of 8 people, only 3 are alive. We're wounded, I'm spitting blood... I'm lying here like a sieve, all shot up."
A Russian soldier showed the realities of a "meat assault," where only three out of eight soldiers survived - they were seriously wounded. There is no evacuation, soldiers are forced to survive on their own, and the command does not care about these "extra" people.
Andrei Kostin, Head of VTB, Russia's second-largest bank, gave a demonstrative interview to the Reuters news agency:
"I don't really believe that the sanctions will be lifted quickly. I don't see how that is possible. A good example is the Jackson-Vanik amendment.”
He doesn’t think that Russia's forex reserves, frozen in the West after the start of the war, will be returned.
“In the West, they say, let's pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine from the reserves. And they will draw up such a bill that even the reserves will not be enough," – Kostin said.
What are the conclusions that we can draw from this interview?
◾️ part of Russia’s economic elite understands the real catastrophic state of the Russian economy and is looking for a way to end the war and “make a deal”
◾️they understand that Ukraine will not lose its statehood
◾️they understand that sanctions will not be lifted momentarily
◾️Russia is losing its currency and gold reserves
◾️they think it’s possible that Russia will have to pay reparations in the future
Kostin’s statement appears on the platform of one of the most high-profile Western media. Consequently, this is a signal to the world’s elites, “dipping the toe in the water”.
I doubt that interviews like this are not sanctioned by a higher authority.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/russias-vtb-does-not-expect-western-sanctions-be-lifted-soon-2024-12-02/