what to remember from Tuesday, December 12

Franceinfo takes stock of the information from the last 24 hours in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine is experiencing its 656th day of conflict, Monday December 11. Volodymyr Zelensky traveling to Washington, Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar hacked and a breakthrough “significant” in southern Ukraine claimed by Russia…Here is what we should remember from this day.

Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington to obtain an extension of American aid

Visiting Washington, Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday, during a press conference with his American counterpart Joe Biden, that he had received signals “positive” of the American Congress on the adoption of crucial aid for his country at war. “I received signals, and they were more than positive”declared the Ukrainian president, affirming however to expect “results” concrete measures on this envelope of 61 billion dollars. Joe Biden has pledged not to “turn your back on Ukraine”, despite sluggish negotiations in Congress. Vladimir Poutine “account” on the fact that the United States is failing to keep this commitment, believes the American president. Cutting off American aid to Ukraine would be a “Christmas gift” to Vladimir Putin, declared President Joe Biden, alongside Volodymyr Zelensky.

First Ukrainian mobile operator targeted by hack

The services of Ukraine’s leading mobile operator, Kyivstar, were paralyzed on Tuesday by a “powerful” computer hacking of which kyiv suspects Russia and its hackers, regularly accused of targeting Ukraine. “This morning, we were the target of a powerful hacker attack. It caused a technical failure which made our mobile communication and internet access services temporarily unavailable.”, Kyivstar said on Facebook. The Ukrainian security services, the SBU, for their part announced the opening of an investigation, saying they were examining the hypothesis according to which “Russian secret services may have been behind the cyberattack”.

Russia claims “significant” advance in southern Ukraine

The Russian army advanced “in a significative way” in the Zaporizhia region, in partially occupied southern Ukraine, Moscow-installed governor Yevgeny Balitsky said on Telegram on Tuesday. Russian forces are increasing attacks all along the front following the failure of the great Ukrainian counter-offensive in the summer. “The situation is continuously tense, but our guys continue not only to hold the defense, but also to gradually advance”he said again, affirming that the Ukrainian forces were suffering “significant losses”.