Putin talks to officials of Russian operation in Ukraine, Kremlin says

Europe 1 with AFP 12:11 p.m., December 17, 2022

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with those responsible for the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the Kremlin announced on Saturday, as Ukrainian territory is targeted by massive Russian bombings.

"On Friday, the president spent the whole day at the headquarters of the forces involved in the special military operation" in Ukraine, the Kremlin said in a statement.

The Russian Head of State notably "held a meeting" there with the participation of the Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, and the Chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, and "had separate meetings with the commanders" of the various branches of the army involved in the operation, according to the same source.

"I would like to hear your proposals on our actions in the short and medium term," said Mr. Putin, during the meeting, extracts from which were broadcast on Saturday by Russian public television.

Information to remember:

• According to the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin spoke with those responsible for the Russian military operation in Ukraine

• Ukraine still under heavy Russian bombardment

• Many Ukrainian cities are without electricity, the country tries to restore power

The announcement comes as Ukraine was targeted on Friday by new Russian missile strikes that caused power cuts across the country, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Faced with a series of military setbacks this fall, Russia, which launched an offensive in Ukraine at the end of February, has opted since October for a tactic of massive strikes targeting Ukraine's electricity networks and transformers.

Ukraine scrambles to restore power after heavy Russian bombardment

Ukraine was working on Saturday to restore electricity after new Russian missile strikes that caused power cuts across the country, denounced as war crimes by the European Union.

The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell condemned this new "example of the blind terror of the Kremlin", "cruel and inhuman attacks" against the population which "constitute war crimes".

The EU has also approved new sanctions targeting Moscow which notably prohibit the export of drone engines to Russia or third countries able to supply them.

For its part, France condemned the Russian bombardments on Friday.

"These acts constitute war crimes and in no way weaken France's determination to support Ukraine and to fight against impunity," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

A total of 74 missiles - mostly cruise missiles - were fired by Russia on Friday, 60 of which were shot down by air defense, according to Ukraine's military.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that kyiv and fourteen regions had been affected by power or water cuts.

"All their targets today are civilians. The Russian strikes mainly affect energy and heating supply facilities," said the Ukrainian president.

"It is likely that as a result of this war, the meaning of the word 'terror' will be associated with Russia's crazy actions for most people around the world," added Zelensky, who called for "increasing the pressure " West on the Kremlin and to deliver more anti-aircraft defense systems to Ukraine.

Throughout the country, interventions are underway to restore electricity.

"Our engineers and repair crews have already started working during the airborne alert and are doing everything possible to restore power generation and supply. It takes time. But it will be done," the Ukrainian president said. .

In kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitchko said that only a third of the inhabitants had water and heating, and 40% electricity.

Three people died following a Russian strike which hit a residential building in Kryvyi Rig (south), according to the regional governor.

For their part, pro-Russian authorities in the eastern Lugansk region accused Ukrainian forces of artillery fire on two localities, killing 11 and wounding 17 on Friday.

Faced with a series of military setbacks this fall, Russia has opted since October for a tactic of massive strikes aimed at destroying Ukraine's electrical networks and transformers, plunging millions of civilians into cold and darkness in the dead of winter. .

With this new wave of Russian bombardments on Friday, "it may take longer than before to restore electricity", alerted the national electricity operator Ukrenergo on Facebook, which specified that "electricity (would be) provided in priority to essential infrastructure: hospitals, water services, heating installations, wastewater treatment plants".