On 9 December, the Council of the European Union adopted conclusions on the fight against impunity for crimes committed in connection with the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. In its conclusions, the Council emphasized the need to effectively prosecute perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and urged member states to take a number of actions in this regard.

The Council called on member states to fully implement the provisions of the Rome Statute, which defines core international crimes, such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and to allow the exercise of universal jurisdiction. Universal jurisdiction enables the prosecution of international crimes regardless of where they are committed or what nationality the perpetrator is, which makes it a crucial tool in combating impunity.

The Council emphasized the importance of cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which plays a central role in prosecuting war crimes. It also called on member states to support Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office in its efforts to gather evidence of crimes committed by Russian forces.

These measures were taken in response to well-documented war crimes (such as, mass killings of civilians, forced deportations, and attacks on civilian infrastructure) committed by Russian troops in Ukraine. Their implementation aims to ensure accountability and bring those responsible to justice.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces continued to attack in different areas, including Bakhmut and Avdiivka, and also targeted civilian infrastructure in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk regions. As a result of shelling with the S-300 missiles, residential buildings and infrastructure facilities were damaged, including a bank and a fire station in Velyka Pysarivka. Ukrainian artillery responded with attacks targeting checkpoints and concentration points of Russian forces.

President Volodymyr Zelensky described the situation in Bakhmut, Soledar, and other areas as “very difficult,” accusing Russia of bringing a complete destruction to Bakhmut.

The United States announced a new $275 million military aid package that included anti-drone equipment, air defence systems and HIMARS ammunition. Meanwhile, the Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia was attempting to use negotiations with Ukraine as a propaganda tool, aiming to isolate Kyiv from its Western allies.

On 10 December, the EU Council approved a financial assistance package for Ukraine totalling €18 billion for 2023. The package was intended to:

• provide short-term financial relief,

• finance Ukraine’s immediate needs,

• support reconstruction of critical infrastructure,

• provide initial support towards sustainable post-war reconstruction,

• support Ukraine on its path towards European integration.

  
  

This marked a crucial step in strengthening support for Ukraine as it was fighting Russian aggression.

On 12 December, Russian forces seized control of the southern and eastern outskirts of Bakhmut. According to some sources, intense fighting continued in the industrial area in the eastern part of the city. Ukrainian troops successfully repelled attacks northeast of Bakhmut and around Seversk, Horlivka, and Avdiivka. Both sides carried out offensive operations along the border between the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions, as well as in western Donetsk. Russian forces bolstered their presence in the Svatove region, while Ukrainian forces concentrated their efforts in Bakhmut.

​In the early morning hours of 14 December, three explosions were reported in Kyiv. They were caused by the Shahed-136 drone attack. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian air defences had shot down 13 of them. At the same time, General Oleksiy Hromov said that most of the clashes with Russian forces had taken place in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where 388 skirmishes were reported during one week, compared with only three in southern Ukraine. Ukrainian troops succeeded in pushing the Russians back 1.5 km in the Dibrova area near Bakhmut, and heavy fighting also continued near Bilohorivka.

U.S. officials were finalizing plans to send the Patriot air defence system to Ukraine following an urgent request from Ukrainian authorities amid Russia’s intensified attacks on critical infrastructure. However, concerns were raised that deploying the Patriot system could further escalate the conflict, a point emphasized by Russia’s warnings that the system would be targeted for attack.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence assessed that Belarusian and Russian forces stationed in Belarus did not currently pose a threat to northern Ukraine. Meanwhile, according to the ISW, Russia was reportedly planning an offensive in early 2023, while the Ukrainians continued their counteroffensive. The head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, announced an exchange of prisoners of war. As a result, 64 Ukrainian soldiers and a U.S. citizen, Suedi Murekezia, were released.

Illustrative photo. Generated by AI