Kharkiv News - Key Updates for December 20: Events in Dvurechne, City Council Session, and Shahed Strike.
Key news of the day — in the MG "Obyektiv" chronicle.
22:30
“Shahed” struck a nine-story building in the Saltivskyi district of Kharkiv, causing a fire and resulting in injuries
The mayor, Ihor Terekhov, informed about the attack by a “Shahed” drone on a residential building in the Saltivskyi district.
“The strike hit between the first and second floors of the high-rise. There is a fire at the scene,” Terekhov clarified.
According to the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleg Synegubov, the drone hit the nine-story building. There is damage to the first two floors. Four people have been reported injured, with three experiencing acute stress reactions and a 12-year-old girl suffering a minor shrapnel wound.
Updates — via the link.
21:55
Daily summary in a video digest
20:53
A Kharkiv resident attacked a police officer with a knife during a document check
A police officer was checking the documents of a 40-year-old Kharkiv resident when the man pulled out a knife. The man inflicted minor injuries on the law enforcement officer, reports the regional police department.
The unemployed Kharkiv resident was detained. He has already been informed of suspicion under part 2 of Article 345 (threat or violence against a law enforcement officer) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The man faces up to five years of restriction or deprivation of liberty.
19:51
Russians attempted an assault near Kupiansk today using armored vehicles
In this attack, the enemy deployed five units of armored vehicles, informs battalion commander of the strike UAVs “Achilles” from the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Yurii Fedorenko.
The enemy's assault was repelled together with the 116th Separate Motorized Brigade, the 114th Territorial Defense Brigade, and the 1st Separate Assault Brigade “Bureviy”. The crews of the “Achilles” battalion destroyed three BMPs and a tank, while another BMP was damaged.
Video: Yurii Fedorenko/Telegram
18:30
About 8,000 couples have married in Kharkiv region since the beginning of the year
The results for 2024 have already been summarized by the Eastern Interregional Department of the Ministry of Justice.
“Residents of the indomitable Kharkiv region traditionally fill their lives with beautiful significant events. Newlyweds in pixel remind us of the value of life, love, and dreams,” the publication states.
16:54
Three battles are ongoing in the Kupiansk direction – General Staff reported where the enemy attacked
Five assaults by the occupiers were halted by Ukrainian soldiers near Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Zahryzovo, and Lozova in the Kupiansk direction, with three battles still ongoing, reported the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a summary as of 16:00.
Additionally, the enemy shelled Tymofiyivka in the Kharkiv region using artillery.
14:50
Zhadan announced the death of Oleshko – founder of the Kharkiv theater “Arabeski”
“Svetlana Oleshko passed away yesterday. We lived together from 1995 to 2007. Eternal memory,” wrote Kharkiv writer and musician, soldier of the National Guard Brigade “Khartiya” Serhiy Zhadan.
14:20
“A historic document”: the city council approved the Kharkiv Sustainable Mobility Plan
The decision was made by the deputies of the Kharkiv City Council today, December 20, during a session.
As explained by the director of the Department of Construction and Road Management, Dmytro Lipovoy, the main goal of this plan is safe movement in Kharkiv.
“This involves the implementation of innovative transport management technologies and a comprehensive update of the transport system. The document was developed as part of the project “Integrated Urban Development in Ukraine II” by a German company with financial support from the governments of Germany and Switzerland. The need for this plan is outlined in financial agreements with the European Investment Bank. This is important now as we are in the process of procuring equipment for our city,” Lipovoy explained.
Deputy Dmytro Bulakh noted that this plan needs further refinement. More details.
13:40
Electricity restored in Tsyrkuni after shelling
As reported by JSC “Kharkivoblenergo,” as a result of ten “arrivals,” 1,523 subscribers were left without power, affecting overhead power lines of 10 and 0.4 kV.
“On Thursday, two teams of energy workers and two units of equipment worked on restoring electricity supply. By the evening, all disconnected consumers were reconnected. Today we continue the repair work necessary for the complete restoration of the network,” specialists reported.
In the regional energy company, it was noted that over the course of the day, energy workers reconnected 2,100 consumers who lost power due to hostilities in the service areas of Lypetsky, Borovsky, Zolochivsky, Derhachi, and Kupiansk electricity distribution networks.
12:56
“Everything is on combat readiness” — Terekhov on the threat to Kharkiv during the New Year holidays
“I would very much like the holidays to pass more or less peacefully. But we remember last year when there were powerful shellings of Kharkiv on the eve of the New Year holidays. There was a hit on the Kharkiv Palace hotel, where people were staying. Additionally, there were hits on residential buildings, there were ‘Shaheds’. There were also very serious damages to residential buildings and office premises. Yes, we have formed rapid response teams, and the situation center is operational. Everything is on combat readiness. We need to expect anything from our enemy,” said the mayor in a national marathon broadcast.
Despite this, nobody has canceled the holidays, Terekhov notes. So, the city will celebrate both Christmas and New Year. However, the mayor once again urged residents to be cautious.
Video: national telethon “Unified News”
11:57
Eight KABs dropped on Kharkiv region by the Russian Armed Forces — Operational-Tactical Group “Kharkiv”
Operational-Tactical Group “Kharkiv” reported on the situation at the front as of 9:00 on December 20.
“In the Kharkiv direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive actions, but actively used aviation. Russian occupiers carried out four airstrikes using eight KABs, as well as 54 strikes with kamikaze drones. They conducted 349 shellings on the positions of Ukraine's defenders,” reported the press service of Operational-Tactical Group “Kharkiv”.
09:34
Situation in Dvurechne: people are leaving the nearby village — RMA
Residents are leaving the village of Kutkivka, near Dvurechne in the Kharkiv region. This trend was reported by the head of the Kupiansk RMA, Andrii Kanashievych, during a national marathon broadcast.
“We observe a picture where the intensification of shelling is prompting people to leave. We see this now in the Dvurechne community, where shelling has intensified, and active actions by enemy FPV drones have increased. Just yesterday, a woman was injured after such a drop. There are nearby populated areas to Dvurechne, for example, the village of Kutkivka, where people had not left for