Ukraine war - live: Putin’s spokesman says Russia not planning ‘Christmas ceasefire’

Footage obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence on Wednesday 14 December appears to show Russian military engineers blowing up a mock enemy dugout and a command post during training exercises in Belarus.

The footage appears to show Russian soldiers in military vehicles manoeuvring through a forested area blanketed in snow before they deploy a pontoon bridge.

A military vehicle can then be seen driving on the pontoon bridge before the footage cuts to Russian soldiers setting charges in a mock enemy dugout.

They then blow it up, with aerial footage showing the extent of the blast radius.

The Russian MoD statement released alongside the footage read: “Military engineers of the Western Military District are working out their standards at the training grounds in the Republic of Belarus.

“This special type of soldier can support the advancing army in a variety of ways and means. So, after reconnaissance of the area and the selection of a safe area, TMM - a heavy mechanised bridge based on a KAMAZ, begins to deploy in order to restore interrupted traffic in 15 minutes.

At present, Newsflash Media has not been able to verify the claims or the footage.

UK car dealers are being urged to help find used cars to support fighters in Ukraine.

Charity Car4Ukraine.com is sourcing vehicles for the frontline, launching an appeal for pick-up trucks to rescue civilians.

Some farmers have already donated suitable vehicles, many of which will be retrofitted with armoured plating and machine guns.

Suitable models of pick-up trucks have been listed as the Mitsubishi L200, Nissan Navara and Ford Ranger.

Right-hand drive vehicles are particularly sought after as they disarm Russian snipers targeting the driver’s side.

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross has said she sees the possibility of a major prisoner of war swap deal in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

“On an all-for-all exchange, it has happened in the past, it is a known practice, and it can happen in the Russia-Ukraine international conflict as well,” Mirjana Spoljaric Egger told Reuters.

“So this possibility is certainly one that can be taken by the parties.”

She declined to give further details.

This follows news that 64 Ukrainian and American prisoners were released in a prisoner swap deal with Russia earlier on Wednesday.

Disappointment has set in two years after the election of U.S. President Joe Biden was supposed to reset trans-Atlantic relations with the European Union. EU leaders are openly talking about fights, not only friendship.

They say conflict with Washington is the last thing they want, with war raging on their doorstep in Ukraine and common resolve essential in stopping Russia. But money is a threat to that unity.

“We already have war in Europe. The last thing we need is a trade war,” European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager told lawmakers Wednesday.

“Let us never forget the bigger picture. A war is raging at the borders,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “It is not the time for a trade war with our closest partner and ally.”

Raf Casert reports:

The people of Ukraine and their representatives were handed the European Union’s top human rights prize Wednesday for their resistance to Russia’s invasion and defiance during the ongoing war.

The 27-nation bloc awarded the “brave people of Ukraine” the prize in October. Yulia Pajevska, founder of the medical evacuation unit Angels of Taira, human rights activist Oleksandra Matviichuk and Ivan Fedorov, mayor of the occupied city of Melitopol, were on hand to receive it during a solemn ceremony in Strasbourg, France.

“We have witnessed the inspiring resistance of ordinary citizens making the ultimate sacrifice to delay a column of tanks, senior citizens standing up to face down Russian troops with nothing but pride as their weapons. Brave women forced to give birth in underground metro stations,” said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

The EU award, named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in 1989.

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A US citizen has been released as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine.

The head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, identified the individual as Suedi Murekezi.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby previously refused to release additional details as the news broke, citing privacy concerns.

“Just given what we’re seeing in the air and on the ground in Ukraine, it’s difficult to conclude that this war will be over by year’s end,” Kirby stated at a briefing held earlier on Wednesday.

“There is active fighting going on right now. We would expect that that will continue for some time going forward.”

Ukrainian atomic energy agency Energoatom has said it would offer higher bonuses to Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station staff who remain loyal to Kyiv.

The plant in southern Ukraine is the largest in Europe. It has been occupied since shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 but remains in operation by Ukrainian staff.

Energoatom reported that Russian forces were telling Ukrainian workers at the plant that they would not be paid after 1 January if they did not sign contracts with Rosatom, Russia’s nuclear energy company.

“These statements are another shameless lie,” a statement released by Energoatom read.

“Energoatom continues to guarantee the payment of wages and all compensations provided for in the collective agreement to ZNPP (Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant) employees,” it said. “In addition, from January 1, Energoatom is also increasing from 20% to 50% the bonus for ZNPP personnel who stay loyal to Ukraine.”

Russia has not commented on this statement.

In October, Putin issued a decree transferring the plant from Energoatom to a subsidiary of Rosatom, an action which Kyiv has labelled theft.

Allies are discussing how Ukraine’s resistance against Russia’s invasion can be accelerated by giving them a “decisive edge” to prevent a drawn-out stalemate.

A Western official remarked that talks are taking place in the US on how equipment could help Volodymyr Zelensky’s troops to pre-empt attacks.

US President Joe Biden is expected to approve sending a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine to help shoot down incoming missiles.

President Zelensky has requested that G7 allies - Britain included - go further by supplying long-range missiles to be used in deadly attacks.

When questioned about long-range missiles, the Western official reported that there has not been a decision to “change the envelope of equipment that we’re giving to Ukraine”.

The official confirmed: “There are a number of Americans in Congress and in the administration interested to look at the trajectory of the conflict and work out what it would take to give Ukraine a decisive edge without crossing over into an offensive against Russia.

“The alternative which is fundamentally to grind on as they are - that’s not attractive either.

“That’s work that’s going on in the US and with key Nato allies.”

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Both Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak expressed unity over solidarity with Ukraine to end their final encounter of the year at Prime Minister’s Questions.

“I want to finish this year thinking about our friends in Ukraine. As a result of Putin’s barbaric assault on their freedom, millions will spend Christmas in sub-zero temperatures without heating, electricity or hot water,” the Labour leader said.

“Whatever other difficulties and disagreements we have across this dispatch box, we are and will remain united in our unwavering support for Ukraine’s freedom, its liberty and its victory.”

“It has been a point of incredible unity across this House, and indeed the country, something that we can all be proud of in our country that we have stood behind Ukraine at its hour of need.

“This Christmas many families will be laying an extra place at their Christmas table and that speaks to the generosity and compassion of our nation, and long may that continue”, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak further remarked.

Oliver Browning has more:

“These are the drones you’re looking for,” reads an appeal for donations to a Ukraine fundraising effort next to a picture of none other than legendary “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill.

Since Hamill was tapped as an ambassador for United24’s “Army of Drones” campaign earlier this fall, a lot has happened: He had a Zoom call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 500 drones have already been sent to Ukraine and a new effort to raise funds toward 10 reconnaissance drones has been launched.

“The fact that they thought I could help. Who am I to say no?” the actor famed for his portrayal as Luke Skywalker told The Associated Press during a Zoom call last week.

In a late September press release announcing the partnership, Zelenskyy was quoted as thanking Hamill for supporting Ukrainians since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

“For Ukrainians, this means a lot. As in ‘Star Wars,’ good will triumph over evil and light will overcome darkness,” Zelenskyy was quoted as telling Hamill. “With you in the team, there’s no other way around it.”

Martina Rebecca Inchingolo has more: