Russia Ukraine conflict dwell: Kyiv repels Russian drone assault as Putin’s forces hit by ‘mouse fever’

Vladimir Putin’s troopers in japanese Ukraine’s Kupiansk are reportedly falling sick due to a “mouse fever” outbreak – a viral illness that has left the invading Russian troops severely unwell.

The outbreak of the so-called “mouse fever” has been recorded in lots of models of the Russian forces within the Kupiansk path, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence’s foremost directorate of intelligence stated on its official Telegram channel.

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Sir Keir Starmer has been talking about the specter of Russia as he visited British troops positioned shut tot he border in Estonia.

He stated the UK and its allies “should be ready, we have to deter” in response to Moscow’s actions.

The Labour chief added: “I feel we now have to be aware of that menace from Russia to Europe, to ourselves within the UK and the interference that goes on.”

He stated there was a “actual and fixed menace from Russia, measured in years, and measured again residence within the UK as nicely”.

Sir Keir was accompanied by shadow defence secretary John Healey as they praised British troops for serving to defend Nato’s japanese flank.

Ukrainian President Zelensky has expressed his condolences after a gunman opened fireplace at a college in central Prague.

Mr Zelensky stated: “Stunning stories of tragic occasions in Prague. Harmless individuals have been killed and injured. My honest condolences to the households of the victims. I want these injured a speedy restoration.”

Ukraine is having to extend home borrowing as a consequence of a scarcity of international help in 2024, the nation’s finance minister has stated.

It comes as each the US and EU are struggling to agree on additional assist packages for Ukraine, with the US failing to cross their assist invoice earlier than their Christmas break.

“Sadly, in January and February, the choices taken by the companions are usually not sufficient in order that we will cope on our personal. That’s why we now have a Plan B mechanism in power now,” the Interfax information company cited Serhiy Marchenko as saying.

Russian aerial bombs on Thursday have struck two coal mines in Ukraine‘s japanese city of Toretsk within the Donetsk area, killing three and injuring at the least 5 civilians, the inside minister stated.

“Two bombs hit the territory of one of many mines in Toretsk. One individual was killed and two others have been injured,” Ihor Klymenko, the minister, he stated on Telegram messenger.

There was an influence outage, and 32 miners remained underground however have been efficiently rescued.

Ukraine has legalised using medical hashish in response to the rising variety of individuals affected by war-related PTSD.

Whereas leisure use will stay a felony offence, hashish will probably be allowed for use for scientific and industrial means with strict management.

The regulation will come into impact in six months time.

Ukraine and a gaggle of its Western collectors agreed on Thursday to increase by March 2027 a debt fee suspension agreed in September 2022 that might have expired on the finish of this yr, the Ukrainian authorities stated.

“I’m grateful to our companions from the G7 international locations for understanding Ukraine‘s wants within the time of conflict,” Ukraine‘s Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko stated in a press release.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Thursday that Ukraine was receiving indicators that Russia’s navy planning and exercise have been slowing.

Zelensky, in his nightly video deal with, stated this was famous in a report issued by the HUR navy intelligence directorate.

“There was a separate report from the HUR,” Zelensky stated. “The enemy’s plans, the work of the Russian defence (business). There are indicators indicating a slowdown. We are going to proceed to help their slowdown.”

He didn’t elaborate and it isn’t clear whether or not the he was referring particularly to the Russian defence business or to Russian techniques and goals in a broader sense.

This might be fascinating. After Hungarian chief Viktor Orban blocked the EU’s funding package deal for Ukraine, it’s now emerged {that a} assembly will happen between Mr Oban and Ukraine’s chief Volodymyr Zelensky.

We will solely think about that Mr Zelensky will use the assembly to steer Mr Orban to vary his thoughts on supporting his combat in opposition to Russia.

Mr Orban had earlier stated that any funding package deal for Ukraine mustn’t come out of the EU finances, however be funded individually by the 26 supporting EU member states as a substitute.

Mr Orban can also be against Ukraine becoming a member of the EU.