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https://nordictimes.com/world/russian-advances-on-the-eastern-ukrainian-front/

World

Russian advances on the eastern Ukrainian front

The war in Ukraine

Published December 17, 2024 – By Editorial staff
Russian soldiers from the “Vostok” force in battle on the southern Donetsk front.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Russian forces are advancing rapidly in the Donbass, approaching strategically important Pokrovsk. At the same time, Russia claims that four US Patriot anti-aircraft systems have been destroyed, which could be a major blow to Ukraine's defenses.

In response to the developments, Ukraine has carried out a reorganization in its military command to face the threat.

– Yelizavetivka, Veselyi Hai, Hannivka, Trudove and Uspenivka have fallen, sources reported over the weekend.

Kurakhove, south of the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk, is said to be about to fall. Russian forces are said to control 90% of the city's civilian buildings.

Ukrainian counter-offensives from villages such as Pishchane have so far failed to halt the Russian advance. Russian forces have also raised their flag in Hannivka and taken control of the community of Pushkine, north of Pokrovsk.

At the same time, Russia is strengthening its positions on the Oskil River and expanding its bridgehead towards Dvorichna. These advances represent the fastest Russian advance since the start of the war in February 2022.

Due to reporting restrictions on both sides, it is difficult to verify the data from the Ukrainian battlefields.

Pokrovsk – a frontline city

Russian forces are closing in on Pokrovsk, a strategically important city in eastern Ukraine. According to pro-Russian war bloggers, advanced special forces have already reached the city's area, which is a major hub for both road and rail transportation, Reuters reports.

Pokrovsk, one of the country's main suppliers of coke to Ukraine's steel industry, still has around 11,000 civilians living under constant shelling. All critical infrastructure – electricity, water and gas – is destroyed, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Military analysts warn that a fall of Pokrovsk would be a significant setback for Kiev and potentially move the conflict closer to central Ukraine, further complicating the country's defense.

According to Moscow's Defense Ministry, in the past month Russian forces have seized over 300 square kilometers of territory in eastern Ukraine.

North Koreans in combat?

The Russian advances threaten to impair Ukrainian forces' access to key transportation routes in the area. If Pokrovsk falls, Russia could gain a strategic advantage and advance more easily towards Chasiv Yar, which is on higher ground and provides control over a larger area.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, at least 30 North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia have been killed or injured in the Kursk region of western Russia. There, Ukrainian forces are desperately trying to maintain a foothold under heavy pressure.

This is the first time Kiev has given such a detailed report on North Korean losses since Pyongyang began sending soldiers to support Moscow.

Russian reports: Patriot systems destroyed

Ukraine's defense leadership has responded to recent developments by replacing General Oleksandr Lutsenko with General Oleksandr Tarnavskiy as commander of the operational and tactical command in Donetsk.

Lutsenko has long been criticized by Ukrainian military bloggers and politicians for his failure to stop the advance of Russian forces.

Meanwhile, Moscow claims that Russian air forces and artillery groups have destroyed four US Patriot air defense systems, including a combat command vehicle, an AN/MPQ-65 radar station and four firing platforms. The data is reported by the Russian state channel RT, among others.

The war has been further intensified by Ukraine's use of US ATACMS missiles against Russian targets, which the Biden administration authorized last month.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/world/eu-taxpayers-have-paid-over-e180-billion-to-ukraine/

World

EU taxpayers have paid over €180 billion to Ukraine

Welfare collapse

Published today 9:50 am – By Editorial staff
Archive photo.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The EU has so far approved more than €180 billion in economic support to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022. Recently, an additional package worth approximately €6 billion was approved, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to demand increased grants and loans.

Last week, the European Commission approved almost six billion euros in new support to Ukraine.

The amount consists of €4.1 billion in a macro-financial assistance (MFA) loan and €1.8 billion in a support package, a large part of which consists of grants.

With this disbursement, the EU's total support to Ukraine now exceeds an astronomical €180 billion. In addition, there is military and financial support from other Western countries, not least the United States.

Zelenskyy demands more money

The day before the EU's decision, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was interviewed by Bloomberg. He emphasized the need for additional financing.

– We must find other alternatives. It is a question of our survival. That is why we really need it. And I count on our partners, Zelenskyy said.

In the same interview, he hinted that Ukraine hopes to gain access to frozen Russian assets in the EU, where a loan worth over €140 billion is being considered.

The Russian funds are held, among other places, at the securities depository Euroclear in Belgium. However, Belgian authorities and the company oppose the use of the assets.

– There are at least as many frozen assets in the rest of the world. It's a bit frustrating that everyone is pointing at us, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever told HLN, a Belgian news outlet.

De Wever has so far blocked proposals for seizure and emphasizes the risk that Belgian taxpayers could be forced to compensate Russia if there is no legal basis.

Ukraine in difficult military situation

The Ukrainian president admits, however, that the war is going hard for Ukraine and that the strategically important city of Pokrovsk, among others, is under heavy pressure. He emphasizes, however, that defense decisions are left to Ukrainian commanders.

– No one is forcing them to die for some ruins, he reportedly commented on the military chain of command.

Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Russia wants Ukraine to give up the rest of Donetsk Oblast, including the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, and that the country is then prepared to end the war.

According to him, it has therefore become important for Russian President Vladimir Putin to conquer Pokrovsk in particular. Thereby showing the US and Donald Trump that Ukraine cannot win the war and that the only possibility for peace is to agree to Russian demands.

Demands that Zelenskyy stubbornly refuses to accept.

– We cannot leave eastern Ukraine. No one will understand that. People will not understand it. And most importantly, no one can guarantee us that if they get this or that city, they won't continue afterward. We have no deterrent, Volodymyr Zelensky says.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/germany-donates-additional-millions-to-ukraines-energy-sector-despite-corruption-scandal/

World

Germany donates additional millions to Ukraine’s energy sector – despite corruption scandal

The war in Ukraine

Published November 13, 2025 – By Editorial staff
The Merz government continues to donate millions to Ukraine - despite the country's recurring and extensive corruption scandals.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Berlin is increasing its financial support to Ukraine's energy system with an additional €40 million – while a major bribery scandal rocks the country's state-owned energy company.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced on Tuesday that Berlin is allocating €40 million to help Ukraine meet its winter energy needs.

The purpose, he says, is to ensure that Ukrainian households and industries can continue to function despite the strains of war.

– Germany is helping Ukrainians survive another winter of war with an additional €40 million, Wadephul said in a statement, while noting that Germany has already spent around €9 billion in military support to Kiev this year.

Investigation into bribes at state nuclear power company

The announcement coincides with Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) launching a comprehensive investigation into what is described as a high-level criminal organization.

The organization is suspected of earning large sums through bribes and illegal contracts with the state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom.

So far, seven people have been charged, and according to Ukrainian media, businessman Timur Mindich is identified as one of the main suspects.

Mindich, who has close ties to President Volodymyr Zelensky and was previously his business partner, allegedly left the country shortly before his residence was searched by investigators.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claims that Western aid to Ukraine has largely been "stolen" due to widespread corruption.

Former American National Security Advisor Michael Waltz has similarly described Ukraine as "...one of the most corrupt countries in the world".

Volodymyr Zelenskyj
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky increasingly pressured by Ukraine's recurring corruption scandals. Photo: President Of Ukraine/Public Domain

Corruption continues - support likewise

Corruption has long been a pervasive problem in Ukraine. A survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) showed in September that 71 percent of the population feels that corruption has increased since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022.

Ukraine has implemented anti-corruption reforms since 2014 - including creating new institutions such as the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP).

Despite the reforms, corruption remains a widespread problem in the country, particularly in certain sectors such as the energy sector. There is criticism that Western support risks ending up in corrupt structures.

Transparency International's latest corruption index places Ukraine at 105th out of 180 countries – better than Russia (154th), but far from EU levels. Despite this, Western countries continue to pour support into Kiev.

Germany's decision to increase its contributions thus raises questions about how the aid will be monitored and how effectively it is actually being used in a country still struggling with systemic corruption.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/denmark/copenhagen-to-become-hub-for-ukrainian-arms-exports/

Denmark

Copenhagen to become hub for Ukrainian arms exports

The war in Ukraine

Published November 4, 2025 – By Editorial staff
In September, a Ukrainian rocket fuel factory was established in Sønderjylland, Denmark – now the collaboration is taking another step with a weapons export office in the capital.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Ukraine plans to open two arms export offices in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Berlin, Germany, before the end of the year, despite expected Russian reactions. The aim is to finance domestic production of in-demand weapons systems by selling surplus production, confirms President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen welcomes the announcement, but Danish television channel TV 2's defense correspondent Anders Lomholt warns that the decision is not without risks for Denmark.

— Russia will definitely see it as a provocation. We saw very sharp reactions when it was decided to allow a Ukrainian factory near Vojens where they will manufacture rocket fuel, says Lomholt.

Denmark and Germany were selected due to their willingness to cooperate both at the state level and within the defense industry. The offices will promote exports of Ukrainian weapons that are not in high demand domestically, while the revenues will be used to purchase advanced American weapons systems.

— This is about weapons that we can afford to sell, so that we get money for our domestic production of things that we lack and that we don't have enough money for, says Zelensky.

Revenue finances US weapons

From the Russian side, there is according to the defense correspondent great dissatisfaction that Denmark is not only supporting Ukraine, but also actively promoting Ukrainian arms industry with massive weapons support.

Among the weapons that Ukraine continues to develop and export are the Flamingo and Ruta missiles. The money from exports will be used to purchase expensive American weapons systems such as Patriot missiles and the Tomahawk cruise missile, although the latter still lacks approval from the United States.

Zelensky also states that Ukraine aims to produce 600-800 interceptor drones per day by the end of November. These are used to fill gaps that have emerged due to a shortage of air defense systems.

— This is really very good news for Denmark and especially for our defense industry, that they now prioritize cooperating even more closely with Denmark, claims Troels Lund Poulsen

Today's announcement is the latest development in the increasingly deep cooperation between Denmark and Ukraine. In September, it was announced that a Ukrainian company will produce rocket fuel for the Ukrainian defense forces in Sønderjylland.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/germany-sends-patriot-systems-ukraine-wants-more/

World

Germany sends Patriot systems – Ukraine wants more

The war in Ukraine

Published November 4, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing contracts for an additional 25 Patriot air defense systems. Each system costs approximately $1 billion.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Ukraine has received additional American-made Patriot air defense systems from Germany. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed this on Sunday.

The increasingly questioned and pressured president publicly thanked German Chancellor and former BlackRock executive Friedrich Merz for the delivery of new American air defense systems. The previous agreement between the countries has now been implemented, the president announced on Sunday.

"Our agreements have been fulfilled. More Patriots are now in Ukraine and being put into operation", he stated.

Ukraine has long demanded more advanced weapons from its Western allies, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and additional Patriot batteries. According to New York Times reporting in May, the country owned eight Patriot systems, but only six of these were operational.

"More systems needed"

Zelensky was clear that he wants even more weapon deliveries going forward.

"Of course, more systems are needed to protect key infrastructure sites and our cities across the entire territory of Ukraine, and we will continue working to obtain them – not only at the political level with states and leaders but also directly with manufacturers of all necessary air defense systems and missiles for them", the president continued.

Russia's Ministry of Defense claims to have destroyed approximately 40 Patriot launchers since 2023.

New contracts being prepared

US President Donald Trump has so far declined to deliver Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, but has instead urged NATO countries to purchase American weapons on Kiev's behalf. Moscow has consistently stated that no foreign support will change the battlefield situation in Ukraine's favor.

Last month, Zelensky said that Ukraine and the US are preparing a contract for 25 Patriot systems. He added that deliveries could take several years unless EU countries show "goodwill" by prioritizing Kiev or transferring systems they already own.

With a cost of approximately $1 billion per system, Ukraine hopes to finance the purchases through an EU loan backed by frozen Russian assets. Russia has, for its part, condemned all attempts to confiscate its assets as theft.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com