Ukrainian officials claim Russian armed forces carried out seven rocket attacks on Kramatorsk and two on Konstantynivka last night, despite proclamations of a „Christmas truce” made by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to the Governor of Donetsk Oblast, Pavlo Kyrylenko, the shelling damaged an educational institution, an industrial plant, and a garage cooperative in Kramatorsk around 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, and the industrial zone in nearby Kostyantynivka was also shelled.
The village of Kurakhivka in the Donetsk region was also hit by Russian shelling, damaging private homes and networks supplying the Kurachivka community with heating.
The 23rd Russian forces also reportedly launched rocket attacks in the Kharkiv region, killing a 50-year-old man in the town of Merefa. Explosions were also heard in the suburbs of Zaporizhzhia.
Today marks the 319th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, PAP
The United States recently announced a new weapons package for Ukraine worth more than USD 3 billion, which includes Bradley fighting vehicles and new air defense missiles.
According to a statement released Friday by the US Department of Defense, the new security assistance package includes 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 100 M113 armored personnel carriers, 55 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), and 138 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs).
Washington will also provide Kyiv with self–propelled and towed Howitzer weapons, along with various types of ammunition, including RIM-7 missiles for air defense, 1,200 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) Systems, and 4,000 Zuni aircraft rockets.
According to the Pentagon statement, the „infantry fighting vehicles and other armored vehicles and artillery systems will complement the recent commitment of combat vehicles to Ukraine by Germany and France.”
The new security assistance package was announced after US and Ukrainian officials confirmed plans by Germany to send armored fighting vehicles and „an additional Patriot air defense battery to Ukraine.”
Polish officials warmly welcomed both decisions, with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau saying in a tweet that he „was pleased to receive the German government’s decision,” and government spokesperson Piotr Müller posting that „help for Ukraine means greater security for the entire region.”
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland, PAP
Builders in Łódź renovating an old townhouse recently uncovered a wooden crate containing hundreds of Jewish valuables hidden from the Nazis.
The sensational discovery of a crumbling wooden box filled with hundreds of antique Jewish valuables was made during renovations of a historical townhouse on Północna street in the central Polish city.
The crate contained some 400 glass, metal, and silver-plated objects of everyday and religious use, including pre-war candlesticks, cutlery, glasses, napkins, rings, and various dishes. Local authorities speculated in an interview with „Dziennik Łódzki” that the items may have been hidden from German occupiers at the beginning of World War II.
According to the officials, „the discoveries have been inventoried and handed over to conservators for study. They will then be transferred to the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum in Łódź,” with hopes of preparing „a special, public exhibition.”
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
Polish ski jumper Dawid Kubacki took second place overall in the Four Hills ski-jumping tournament after placing third in the final stage of the prestigious annual series in Bischofshofen, Austria, on Friday.
Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud took home the top prize of the Golden Eagle, while Slovenia’s Anze Lanisek came in third.
Teammates Piotr Żyła placed 10th in Friday’s event and fourth overall in the 71st Four Hills Tournament, while Kamil Stoch, a three-time overall Four Hills champion, finished sixth in Bischofshofen on Friday and fifth overall in the tournament.
Kubacki’s second-place win is the ninth podium finish for Poland in the history of the Four Hills competition and Kubacki’s 33rd career World Cup podium spot.
After 12 individual events this season, Kubacki continues to top the overall World Cup standings, with 930 points, ahead of Lanisek with 822 points and Granerud with 796.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland, fis-ski.com
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy and cold with a chance of rain showers later in the day and a strong breeze coming in from the south. Temperatures will hover around 5°C or 41°F during the day, dropping slightly to a low of 3°C, or 38°F overnight. Similar, cold, cloudy weather is expected again tomorrow, with additional rain showers tomorrow afternoon.
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