As the war in Ukraine enters Day 300, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed again to European leaders for more weapons, tanks, and enhanced air defense to help his country defend itself against Russia.

As the war in Ukraine enters Day 300, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed again to European leaders for more weapons, tanks, and enhanced air defense to help his country defend itself against Russia.

Zelensky made the plea in a video address on Monday to the leaders of 10 countries that make up the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a British-led group of northern European countries.

Responding to appeals for a “one hundred percent air shield for Ukraine,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak assured Zelensky that JEF leaders would be „talking about how best we can continue to support you and get you everything that you need.”

Before the meeting, the government in London announced it would supply “hundreds of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition next year, under a GBP 250 million (EUR 287 million) contract that will ensure a constant flow of critical artillery ammunition to Ukraine throughout 2023.”

Source: Radio Poland, Reuters

Russian soldiers deployed to Belarus are set to begin tactical exercises, Russian news agency Interfax reported on Monday, citing Russia’s defense ministry.

No date or location for the upcoming exercises was provided in the statement, the Reuters news agency reported.

In October, Belarus’ defense ministry announced that 9,000 Russian soldiers were being transferred to Belarus as part of the creation of a “regional grouping for the protection of its borders.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit yesterday to Minsk to meet with Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko. The outcome of the meeting is not yet known.

Source: Radio Poland, PAP

Pope Francis has approved the publication of a decree regarding the recognition of the martyrdom of a Polish family killed by Nazi Germans for sheltering Jews on their farm.

Józef and Wiktoria Ulma, farmers who lived in the village of Markowa in Podkarpackie, hid eight members of a Jewish family for nearly a year before being discovered by German police in March of 1944. The entire Ulma family, including six children and Wiktoria Ulma’s unborn child, were subsequently shot to death on March 24, 1944, along with the Jewish family they had been hiding.

The Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem posthumously honored the Ulmas with the title of Righteous Among the Nations in 1995, and a museum in their name was opened in the Markowa in 2016.

The recent decree by Pope Francis paves the way for the beatification of the Ulma family, which is expected to be held in Poland in 2023.

Polish President Andrzej Duda welcomed the Pope’s decision, writing on Twitter: “For helping and hiding Jews, the Ulma Family (Polish family) was murdered by the Nazi Germans. Their heroism is a symbol, and the memory of them will last.”

Additional information about the Ulma family and other Polish heroes can be found on the website of the POLIN museum: https://sprawiedliwi.org.pl/en.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland

Gdynia officials lit up the tallest Christmas tree in Trójmiasto on Sunday on the mainmast of the Dar Młodzieży or “Gift of Youth” sailing vessel.

Some 500 meters of wiring and an equal number of bulbs were strung across the tall ship’s masts to create a 60-meter tall Christmas tree, a tradition born during the Independence Cruise in 2018.

The Dar Młodzieży, used as a training vessel by Gdynia Maritime University, is the first Polish-built, ocean-going sailing vessel to circumnavigate the globe, repeating the famous voyage of her predecessor, the Dar Pomorza.

The Christmas illumination was launched jointly by the chairwoman of the Gdynia city council, Joanna Zielińska, rector of the Gdynia Maritime University, Professor Adam Weintrit, and the commander of the Dar Młodzieży, Captain Mirosław Peszkowski.

Trojmiasto’s largest Christmas tree can be viewed at the end of the South Pier of the Pomeranian Quay in Gdynia.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Local officials are warning residents against venturing out onto frozen ponds, lakes, or rivers, as the ice may not be able to support their weight.

Police have warned that children wanting to play on smooth surfaces and adults wanting to do some ice fishing can put themselves in mortal danger by venturing onto unstable icy surfaces.

Contrary to appearances, officials warn, “five-centimeter ice is not ice you can walk on,” and may collapse at any moment, a risk increased by warmer weather starting on Tuesday.

According to Jakub Bagiński, spokesman for the Słupsk police, “several people die under the ice every year” despite repeated warnings.

In case of an accident, officials urge residents to remain calm and call the local Straż Pożarna for help, as firefighters have special equipment for rescuing people and animals who have fallen through the ice.

Source: Radio Gdansk

Weather

Today will be cold and wet, with clouds and a strong chance for freezing rain throughout the day, accompanied by strong winds from the southwest. Temperatures will be warmer than yesterday, with a high of 4°C, or 39°F, dropping to a low of 3°C or 37°F overnight. Similar temperatures are expected tomorrow, with a chance for rain, sleet, or snow throughout the week.

Elizabeth Peck