Ukraine Blows Up Massive Ammo Stockpile in Mariupol: A Daring Move to Defuse a Deadly Threat
Germany Pledges Additional Winter Aid to Ukraine
9:28 am: Germany has announced an additional 100 million euros in winter aid to support Ukraine amidst ongoing Russian attacks on its infrastructure. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized that this support is not only crucial for Ukraine but also for Moldova and European democracy as a whole.
Moldova’s Concerns and European Membership
Baerbock highlighted the concerns of the Moldovan population, stating that they fear if Ukraine falls, Moldova will be next. However, she noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions have had the opposite effect, with Moldova, like Ukraine, now a candidate for European membership.
Ukraine Repels Russian Drone Attack
8:01 am: Ukraine’s armed forces have successfully repelled a major Russian drone attack, downing 34 of the 51 drones. The attacks targeted energy infrastructure in the north-eastern region of Sumy, with 16 Russian drones intercepted in the area.
Russia Claims to Have Shot Down Ukrainian Drones
Russia has reported shooting down 16 Ukrainian drones over its border regions of Bryansk and Kursk. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced that 15 drones were intercepted over Bryansk and one over Kursk during the night.
Meta Bans Russian State Media Outlets
3:46 am: Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has banned several Russian state media outlets from its social media channels, citing ”foreign influence” as the reason. The affected outlets include RT and Rossija Segodnja news agency.
Meta’s Reasoning Behind the Ban
Meta has accused the mentioned media outlets of running targeted disinformation campaigns and attempting to bypass the platform’s control mechanisms. The block applies worldwide and covers all of Meta’s apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.