Zelenskyy expresses gratitude to those aiding in the battle against the invasion.
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to all those who have supported Ukraine in its battle against Russia’s attack. This includes soldiers, Emergency Service of Ukraine workers, National Police, National Guard, and others.
Zelenskyy emphasized the significance of maintaining dedication to our shared goal in his daily statement. He also stressed the value of being able to proudly say each week, “I have made a personal contribution to our collective protection.”
On Saturday morning, electricity was turned back on at Ukraine’s Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after it had gone out on Friday. The country’s Energy Ministry announced on Telegram that this prevented another potential “nuclear disaster.”
The statement reported that the [Zaporizhzhia plant] experienced its eighth blackout, which had the potential to cause a nuclear disaster. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the power outage and subsequent restoration.
Russia took control of the plant in March of last year. Although it is no longer producing energy, it still requires electricity to cool one of its four reactors. This reactor is being kept in a state of hot conservation, which means it has not been fully shut down.
According to the ministry, when the plant lost its grid connection, it activated 20 backup generators to meet its power requirements.
At 7 a.m. today, Ukrainian experts fixed the 750-kilowatt line, restoring power to the plant.
Eastern front lines
The conflict in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Avdiivka and Marinka persists, as both Russia and Ukraine assert progress. On Saturday, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Russian forces were unable to make headway in villages near Marinka, but did not mention any movements in the town itself.
The article features Bohdan, also known as ‘Fritz’, who serves as the deputy commander of the 79th Air Assault Brigade. He is seen taking cover after shooting at Russian positions on the frontline near Marinka on February 14, 2023.
Marinka, a former city with a population of 10,000 located southwest of Donetsk, the regional center controlled by Russia, has become a deserted place due to Russian attempts to capture it over the past year. There are currently no civilians remaining in the area.
For nearly 60 days, Russian troops have been launching assaults on the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, situated 40 kilometers north of Marinka. Despite Ukraine’s claim of controlling Avdiivka, there is not a single undamaged structure left.
Last year, Ukrainian military forces recaptured large areas of land in the northeast. However, a counterattack launched in June in the eastern and southern regions has only resulted in small advances.
John Kirby, the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, urged the U.S. Congress to quickly take action and provide aid to Ukraine before the month ends. After that, it may be challenging to provide necessary assistance to Kyiv.
Kirby stated during a press conference that we require immediate assistance in order to efficiently provide uninterrupted aid to them.
Kirby stated that the US anticipates Russia will attempt to sabotage important energy infrastructure in Ukraine during the upcoming winter, similar to their actions last year.
Zelenskyy admits that there has been gradual progress, but denies the idea that the conflict is becoming stagnant.
On Friday, he convened with his military leaders to strategize on achieving tangible outcomes in the upcoming year’s war effort.
During his evening video update, he discussed advancements in methods for mobilizing.
The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters contributed to the information in this report.
Source: voanews.com
