UN Security Council meeting over 'persecution' of Moscow Patriarchate, major crash near Lviv: last night's highlights
Russia initiated a meeting of the UN Security Council because of the oppression of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), an accident occurred near Lviv with dozens of victims, and Joe Biden called Olaf Scholz to discuss Ukraine. Here is what you may have missed from the previous night.
Crash near Lviv
On the evening of January 17, a truck collided with a shuttle bus near Lviv. As a result, 36 people were injured, including three children. Doctors assessed the condition of the victims as serious and moderate. Law enforcement officers are investigating the causes and circumstances of the accident.
UN Security Council to meet over "oppression" of Moscow Patriarchate
Russia has initiated a meeting of the UN Security Council because of the "oppression of the only canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine," i.e., the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).
The U.S. Permanent Representative said that Russia's statements on religious freedom are another attempt to justify the unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
Biden has phone call with Scholz
U.S. President Joe Biden had a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during which the leaders discussed support for Ukraine in the war against Russia. Both leaders agreed that this support should be "effective, sustained, and closely coordinated."
Recently, the German Chancellor said he was in talks with allies about the possible supply of heavy tanks to Ukraine. The media wrote that Scholz's position on supplying Kyiv with Leopard tanks strongly depends on the position of the American leader.
Ukraine already has three guaranteed Patriot batteries
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has already received three guaranteed batteries of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems. "But this is just the beginning. We are working on new solutions to strengthen our air defense system," the head of state said.
Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that the United States will prepare the Ukrainian military to use Patriot systems in 10 weeks. In January, the Ukrainian military will be trained at the Fort Sill military base in Oklahoma.
Europe outpacing US in terms of aid to Ukraine
The European Union's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, has said that the assistance to Ukraine from European institutions and EU member states amounts to about 50 billion euros. According to him, Europe is leading the way in terms of military and financial assistance to Kyiv, outpacing the United States in particular.
Why there is still power shortage in Kyiv
The electricity shortage in the capital remains significant: On January 17, the city had a limit of 952 MW. These limits are not enough to move from emergency blackouts to planned, stabilization blackouts.
The energy supply company Yasno explained that consumption volumes are not falling despite savings and warming due to, most likely, deferred consumption, when consumers begin to "catch up" after the electricity supply is restored.
In other news:
- Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov said that the death toll from a Russian missile hitting a residential high-rise is likely to exceed 50 people.
- On January 17, Russian occupation forces attacked the border of Sumy Oblast 37 times. Three communities came under fire.
- The Security Service of Ukraine announced that it would conduct a set of anti-terrorist counter-sabotage measures in certain locations in Kharkiv on January 18 and 19.