VLADIMIR Putin has met with top security officials amid reports of Russia being hit with fresh strikes for the second day in a row.
The meeting came after Russia reported an explosion at an oil storage tank near Kursk and a blast at a large military fuel depot in the Bryansk region.
The Kremlin said Putin had convened a meeting with his Security Council to discuss the state's "domestic security."
Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putin’s spokesman said authorities were taking "necessary" measures to protect the country from attacks.
Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for any of the strikes.
Read our Ukraine-Russia live blog below for the latest news...
Brave Brit POW returns to Ukraine and speaks about terrifying moment he was captured by Russia
Shaun Pinner has returned to Ukraine and spoken for the first time about the moment he was captured by Russian forces in his daring bid to escape the siege of Mariupol.
The ex-Royal Anglian soldier, had been fighting alongside Ukrainian troops when he was captured.
He also revealed how army training in resistance to interrogation helped him endure torture, starvation and beatings during six brutal months as a prisoner of war.
Shaun said: ”I feel like the luckiest man alive. People ask if I am religious. I was for those six months in captivity. Every day.”
Read more here.
One injured in Russian strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Oblast Valentyn Reznichenko has confirmed that one person has been injured after a Russian strike hit an industrial enterprise in the city of Kryvyi Rhi, the Kyiv Independent reports.
Details on the severity of the damage are yet to be confirmed.
Putin’s mobilisation increases threat to Ukraine
Ukrainian forces have begun fighting better trained Russian soldiers following Vladimir Putin’s mobilisation order in September, the commander of their ground forces has said.
General Oleksander Syrskyi said the eastern frontline had become “very tense” and faced daily attacks despite Moscow’s reliance on outdated battle gear.
“Such a number of personnel increased the threat for us and these are not just words – these are new brigades, new battalions that have been trained, this is the replenishment that the army was waiting for because it was exhausted,” he said.
“Those who come now have a better level of training than those who were previously sent to the front.”
Electricity deficit in Ukraine at 19% after yesterday's attack
According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, energy workers are working eliminate the consequences of Russia’s Dec. 5 attack, which has left the country's electricity deficit at 19%.
Shm6yhal said: ''Energy workers will eliminate the consequences of Russia’s Dec. 5 strike on energy infrastructure in the coming days, but the capacity deficit will last.''
Health Ministry recommends suspending hospitalisations due to power outages
The Health Ministry have recommended that elective surgeries and hospitalisations be suspended due to ongoing blackouts across Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defence pay tribute on Ukrainian Armed Forces day
Today the Ministry of Defence have paid tribute to ''Ukrainians from all walks of life who continue to fight for their freedom, families and liberation from the illegal invasion.''
A video was posted to mark the occasion involving those who are currently helping to train recruits across the country.
Take a look below.
Today on Ukrainian Armed Forces day, we pay tribute to Ukrainians from all walks of life who continue to fight for their freedom, families and liberation from the illegal invasion. 🎥👇 We heard from those helping to train recruits across the country. 🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/LtUEqrAaaZ
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) December 6, 2022Russian detention facility discovered in Kherson Oblast
Today the Prosecutor General's Office have provided pictures of another Russian detention facility discovered in Kherson Oblast.
The facility is allegedly used to detain over 100 people with pro-Ukrainian views.
⚡️Prosecutors discover another Russian detention facility in Kherson Oblast.
Russian occupiers allegedly used the facility to detain over 100 people with pro-Ukrainian views. The detainees could be subjected to physical and psychological pressure.
📷 Prosecutor General's Office pic.twitter.com/y0gANakspV
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) December 6, 2022Forbes estimates Russia's Dec. 5 strikes cost $400-500 million
Forbes Ukraine has estimated that Russia's missile strike yesterday cost around $400-500 million.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Moscow had fired over 70 cruise missiles during its sixth attack on Ukraine’s energy system on Dec. 5.
The strike killed at least four people and caused emergency blackouts across the country.
One killed in Russian strike
The Deputy Head of the President's Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko has reported that one person has been killed in a Russian strike on an infrastructure facility in liberated Kherson.
Emergency services are reported to be working at the scene.
Russia has enough missiles left for several new waves of mass strikes
Russia has enough missiles left for several new waves of mass strikes on Ukraine, the Kyiv Independent reports.
They cited Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Intelligence Directorate, who said that Russia continues to produce new missiles, but the number of new weapons is incompatible with how many they use.
Hungary blocks 18 billion euros of EU assistance for Ukraine
Budapest has blocked a proposed an 18 billion euros support package to assist Ukraine according to the Hungarian Finance Ministry.
The country's Finance Minister Mihály Varga said: "It was known that Hungary doesn't support changes to the financial regulation.''
Czech Finance Minister and EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council President Zbyněk Stanjura said that the EU is currently looking for another mechanism to start allocating funds to Ukraine.
Zelensky meets troops at eastern frontline to mark Ukraine’s Armed Forces Day
President Volodymyr Zelensky has today met with troops on the frontline in Donbas to mark Ukraine's Armed Forces Day.
Photographs provided from the President's office show Zelensky shaking hands with soldiers as he thanked them for their resilience and strength.
He said: ''Today, the east of Ukraine is the most difficult direction, and I am honoured to be here now with our defenders in Donbas.''
Zelensky visits front line in Donbas on Ukraine’s Armed Forces Day.
“Today, the east of Ukraine is the most difficult direction, and I am honored to be here now with our defenders in Donbas,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 6. pic.twitter.com/DEWaKabKSo
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) December 6, 2022More information revealed on Russian airbase attack
The British Ministry of Defence has shared some new information regarding the missiles that hit Russian airbases yesterday.
The statement reads: “On 05 December 2022, multiple open sources reported explosions at Engels Airbase, in Russia’s Saratov Oblast, and at Dyagilyaevo airfield near Ryazan, south-east of Moscow.
“Two Tu-95 BEAR heavy bombers were reportedly damaged at Engels and three people were killed when a fuel tank exploded at Dyagilyaevo.
“The causes of the explosions have not been confirmed. However, if Russia assesses the incidents were deliberate attacks, it will probably consider them as some of the most strategically significant failures of force protection since its invasion of Ukraine.
“The sites are much deeper inside Russia than previous similar explosions: Engels is over 600km from Ukrainian-controlled territory.
“Engels is the main operating base of Russia’s Long Range Aviation (LRA) within western Russia and is home to more than 30 heavy bombers.
“These aircraft contribute to Russia’s nuclear deterrent and have also frequently been used to launch conventional cruise missiles at Ukraine. The LRA is likely to respond by temporarily moving bombers to dispersal airfields.
“The Russian chain of command will probably seek to identify and impose severe sanctions on Russian officers deemed responsible for allowing the incident.”
Russian attacks designed to ‘inflict as much damage as possible’
The head of Ukraine’s Ukrenergo energy operator has slammed the brutality of Russia’s attacks yesterday.
“The time that Russians chose for this attack was connected with their desire to inflict as much damage as possible,” Volodymyr Kudrytskyi said.
At least four people were killed in Russian bombing yesterday.
60 Ukrainian POWs freed in prisoner swap
As Ukraine celebrates Armed Forces Day, 60 of its soldiers have been freed from Russian captivity.
Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, took to Twitter to detail the exchange.
He said: "Another successful POWs swap.
"Symbolically, it took place on the Armed Forces Day. 60 people are coming home.
"Among them are army servicemen, the National and Border Guards."
Another successful POWs swap. Symbolically, it took place on the Armed Forces Day. 60 people are coming home. Among them are army servicemen, the National and Border Guards. pic.twitter.com/EoNCEbTiht
— Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak) December 6, 2022
Russian official accuses Ukraine of 'nuclear terrorism'
A top Russian official has accused Ukraine of attacking the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The Russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, accused Kyiv of launching over 30 missiles at Europe's largest nuclear power station, reports the Guardian.
“Our units are taking all measures to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” Shoigu said.
“In turn, the Kyiv regime seeks to create the appearance of a threat of a nuclear catastrophe by continuing to deliberately shell the site.
“We classify these attacks by Ukrainian troops as nuclear terrorism,”
Putin lackey dismisses idea of peace talks
One of Putin's top allies has dismissed the idea of peace talks with Ukraine.
Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said: "The outcome should be a just and durable peace - one can agree with this.
"But as for the prospects for some sort of negotiations, we do not see any at the moment."
Prosecutor General’s Office records over 51,000 Russian war crimes
According to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, the Russian military has committed 51,161 war crimes and crimes of aggression in Ukraine since the start of the war, the Kyiv Independent reports.
The figures come after the Prosecutor General’s Office latest report on December 4.
Britain pays tribute to Ukraine on Armed Forces Day
The British Ministry of Defence took to Twitter today to pay tribute to the brave soldiers of Ukraine on their Armed Forces Day.
"On Ukrainian Armed Forces Day, we salute the men and women of Ukraine’s Armed Forces who are fighting to free their nation," the MoD said.
"Thousands of Ukrainians from all walks of life have received basic training in the UK to help prepare them for the frontline."
On Ukrainian Armed Forces Day, we salute the men and women of Ukraine’s Armed Forces who are fighting to free their nation.
Thousands of Ukrainians from all walks of life have received basic training in the UK to help prepare them for the frontline.
🇬🇧🤝🇺🇦#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/YEnLUqjrmt
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) December 6, 2022Brave Brit POW returns to Ukraine and speaks about terrifying moment he was captured by Russia
Shaun Pinner has returned to Ukraine and spoken for the first time about the moment he was captured by Russian forces in his daring bid to escape the siege of Mariupol.
The ex-Royal Anglian soldier, had been fighting alongside Ukrainian troops when he was captured.
He also revealed how army training in resistance to interrogation helped him endure torture, starvation and beatings during six brutal months as a prisoner of war.
Shaun said: ”I feel like the luckiest man alive. People ask if I am religious. I was for those six months in captivity. Every day.”
Read more here.
In pictures: Life in Kyiv as city hit with power cuts
Kyiv has been hit with almost-constant power cuts in recent weeks, as the Kremlin seeks to destroy Ukraine’s infrastructure amid a freezing winter.
Still, the steadfast Ukrainian people have found ways to live.
Russian lossses surpass 92,000 as war enters tenth month
Russian losses have now surpassed 92,000, accoridng to Ukrainian military sources this morning.
510 of these casualties reportedly came in the last 24 hours.
This comes as two Russian airbases were struck with missiles of unknown origin.
Video of smoke rising from Russian airbase shared online
A video allegedly showing smoke rising from one of the Russian airbases hit by missiles yesterday.
Shared by Aric Toler of Bellingcat, the video reportedly shows the aftermath of an attack in Kursk.
Russian attacks designed to 'inflict as much damage as possible'
The head of Ukraine's Ukrenergo energy operator has slammed the brutality of Russia's attacks yesterday.
“The time that Russians chose for this attack was connected with their desire to inflict as much damage as possible,” Volodymyr Kudrytskyi said.
At least four people were killed in Russian bombing yesterday.
More information revealed on Russian airbase attack
The British Ministry of Defence has shared some new information regarding the missiles that hit Russian airbases yesterday.
The statement reads: "On 05 December 2022, multiple open sources reported explosions at Engels Airbase, in Russia’s Saratov Oblast, and at Dyagilyaevo airfield near Ryazan, south-east of Moscow.
"Two Tu-95 BEAR heavy bombers were reportedly damaged at Engels and three people were killed when a fuel tank exploded at Dyagilyaevo.
"The causes of the explosions have not been confirmed. However, if Russia assesses the incidents were deliberate attacks, it will probably consider them as some of the most strategically significant failures of force protection since its invasion of Ukraine.
"The sites are much deeper inside Russia than previous similar explosions: Engels is over 600km from Ukrainian-controlled territory.
"Engels is the main operating base of Russia’s Long Range Aviation (LRA) within western Russia and is home to more than 30 heavy bombers.
"These aircraft contribute to Russia’s nuclear deterrent and have also frequently been used to launch conventional cruise missiles at Ukraine. The LRA is likely to respond by temporarily moving bombers to dispersal airfields.
"The Russian chain of command will probably seek to identify and impose severe sanctions on Russian officers deemed responsible for allowing the incident."
