WAR IN UKRAINE: January 7, 2023
Ukrainians gather outside of a packed Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in central London on January 7, 2023 to celebrate Ukrainian Christmas mass.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 318
A unilateral ceasefire called by Vladimir Putin appears to have had little effect on the ground, with Ukrainian officials accusing Russians of opening fire in several areas. A Ukrainian rescue worker was killed in a Russian strike, while Russian state TV said the city of Donetsk was hit. Russia ordered a 36-hour unilateral ceasefire, to coincide with the Orthodox Christmas. Ukraine rejected it saying Moscow might use it to reinforce troops. Russia's defence ministry insisted it was observing the truce along the entire "line of contact", starting at 12:00 Moscow time (09:00 GMT) on Friday - BBC
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy has praised the United States for including tank-killing armored vehicles and antiaircraft missiles in its latest package of military aid, saying that they will strengthen Ukraine's army on the battlefield. The United States has announced $3 billion dollars in military assistance for Ukraine - RFE/RL
The Ukrainian electricity grid operator, Ukrenerho, has introduced limits for energy consumption across the country, citing expected cold weather in the coming period.
Ukrainian intelligence: Russia planning to mobilize half a million conscripts in January. Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine’s deputy military intelligence chief, said the Ukrainian military believes the conscripts will be sent to the front lines in the east and south of the country and would be part of renewed Russian offensives in the spring and summer, the Guardian reported. Meanwhile, Russia reportedly hiring mercenaries in the Balkans. The Balkans are the main source of mercenary fighters for Russia, according to the National Resistance Center, an organization operated by Ukraine's Special Forces - Kyiv Independent