War in Ukraine. The chronicle minute by minute, day 295

The Russian military took 40 Ukrainian children from Lysychansk and Severodonetsk and brought them to the Stavropol region of the Russian Federation. The accusation comes from the center of national resistance, as reported by Ukrinform. “The occupiers carried out medical examinations on Ukrainian children – claims the national resistance center – to send them to special facilities. In the near future, children will not be returned to their parents until they themselves go to pick them up, then the family will not be able to return back because the Russians have imposed martial law. In addition, the children are subjected to propaganda by the Russians about the causes of the war, using famous Russian actors, athletes and bloggers.” 03:41

The US “will not allow Russia’s comments to dictate the security assistance we provide to Ukraine”. This was stated by Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder in response to the Russian warning that any sending of US Patriot missiles to Kiev “will lead to unpredictable consequences”. “I find it ironic and very revealing that leaders of a country that has brutally attacked its neighbor … choose to use words like ‘provocative’ to describe defense systems aimed at saving lives and protecting civilians,” he added.

Ukraine rejects the IOC’s idea of ​​allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, President Volodymyr Zelensky told International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach in a phone call Wednesday, the New York Times. “Since February, 184 Ukrainian athletes have died as a result of Russia’s actions,” Zelensky said on the call, according to the Ukrainian presidency. “You can’t try to be neutral when the foundations of peaceful life are being destroyed and universal human values ​​are being ignored,” he added, also rejecting the idea of ​​allowing Russian athletes to compete under a neutral banner. 00:26

The World Bank has announced that it is implementing a two-billion-dollar aid package for Ukraine’s private sector. According to data from the central bank of Ukraine, 11% of Ukrainian companies have ceased operations since the start of the Russian invasion. Five million jobs have been lost since the beginning of the conflict, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy. The donor countries meeting in Paris agreed to provide more than a billion euros to the country to support the population in the face of winter, while the infrastructure is devastated by Russian attacks. Since the beginning of the conflict, the World Bank has granted Ukraine almost 18 billion dollars, this time destined for the government, to allow it to maintain essential public services.

The Russian military struck Kherson “more than 16 times” today. This was denounced by the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, while the city, liberated from Kiev on 11 November, is subjected to heavy bombing which has deprived it of electricity. “Since the beginning of this day alone, Russia has bombed Kherson more than 16 times! Just in one day!” he claimed in his evening speech, also condemning the “brutal Russian attacks” in the Donbass and Kharkiv region .

“With the ninth package of sanctions we increase the pressure on the Russian leadership”. This was stated by the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, in the press conference after the European Council. “We stressed that Russia’s strategy of destroying Ukraine’s infrastructure and exposing people to brutal winter temperatures must not and will not succeed. Our common determination to provide political, humanitarian, financial, and even weapons, support to all “Ukraine is intact as long as necessary. This includes the 18 billion euro package that will guarantee Ukraine’s budget for next year,” Scholz recalled. “Ukraine can count on our full support in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he reiterated.