"Russia is intensifying the pressure on various fronts in the run-up to the first anniversary of the war", Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said. According to President Zelensky, fierce battles in the Donetsk region are ongoing and the situation is very difficult.
The U.S. military has reportedly advised Kyiv to focus on a counter-offensive on the southern front rather than the battle for Bakhmut. However, in President Zelensky's words, Ukraine has no intention to surrender the fronthline city which has been surrounded by Russian forces.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov will be replaced by the head of military intelligence, as the country braces for a possible Russian offensive, a lawmaker from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s party said. “Major General Kyrylo Budanov will head the Ministry of Defense, which is absolutely logical for wartime”, said MP Davyd Arakhamia.
Plovdiv will offer concerts, bazaars and an ice park for the Christmas and New Year holidays to its citizens and guests, the municipality has announced. Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov will light the Christmas tree in front of the Plovdiv Municipality..
On Thursday, minimum temperatures will range from 3° to 19°C, with eastern areas reaching 15–19°C and Sofia around 6°C. The day will be cloudy with widespread rain. Heavy rainfall is expected in western regions overnight and in central and southern..
“Solutions for achieving peace in Ukraine must be based on fundamental principles of the UN Charter, such as sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.” This was stated by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev at the informal video..
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