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Zelensky in Kyiv on Tuesday: Russian arms industry stalled?
Photo: Efrem Lukatsky / dpa
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees signs of slowing planning and activity in the Russian military. There are corresponding signals that Russian planning and the work of the defense industry there have come to a standstill, Zelensky said in his evening video address, referring to a report by the military intelligence service. "We will continue to contribute to this slowdown."
In addition, before Christmas, Zelensky appealed to the fighting spirit of his compatriots not to let up in defending the country. It takes a "maximum of attention to defense, a maximum of efforts to the state, a maximum of energy so that Ukraine can achieve its goals," he said. The time to rest will come later. This year, for the first time, Ukraine officially celebrates Christmas on December 25 according to the Western calendar, and no longer only on January 7 according to Orthodox custom.
Ukraine: "Mouse fever" among Russian soldiers
Meanwhile, the »Tagesspiegel« reports, with reference to information from the intelligence service in the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, that the »mouse fever«, the hantavirus, which is transmitted by animals, is said to be rampant among Russian soldiers. On Telegram, the agency said that discontent among Russian soldiers was growing due to inadequate supplies of winter clothing and "complete lack of medical care."
According to the Robert Koch Institute, hantaviruses are excreted by infected rodents through saliva, urine and faeces, and are transmitted to humans through inhalation, for example. Typical symptoms include fever, dizziness and back pain. According to Ukrainian information, the virus has led to "a significant impairment of the combat capability" of Russia. However, the Ukrainian military also recently admitted that the Russians have made territorial gains in their ground offensive in southeastern Ukraine for two months.
Meanwhile, it became known that the new Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov wants to conscript men living abroad for military service next year. Ukrainians of military age from 25 to 60 years old in Germany and other countries should be encouraged to report to the recruitment centers of the Armed Forces. Umjerow announced this in an interview with »Bild«, Welt TV and »Politico« (read more about it here).
However, there are no plans to bring back men from abroad under pressure and call them up, said ministry spokesman Illarion Pavlyuk. He thus clarified Umerov's statements about the mobilization of men abroad. In Germany and other countries, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are registered as war refugees. Officially, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country, which is defending itself against Russia's war of aggression. Many, however, manage to escape.
Three dead in Russian airstrikes
On Thursday, it was also announced that three civilians were killed in Russian air strikes on two coal mines, according to Ukrainian information. In Toretsk in the eastern part of the country, there was a power outage, 32 miners were rescued from underground, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko announced via Telegram. A Russian statement was not immediately available. The government in Moscow rejects accusations that it is targeting civilians.
aeh/dpa/Reuters