New sanctions against Moscow Patriarchate, Zelenskyy talks with Biden: last night's highlights

New sanctions against UOC (MP) figures

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine introduced, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved, economic and other sanctions against seven more leaders of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) — bishops and priests. These include blocking of assets, revocation of licenses, deprivation of state awards, etc.

Zelenskyy's telephone conversation with Biden

Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with Joe Biden. He took the initiative to convene a Global Peace Summit and stressed that Ukraine seeks peace, and for this it is important to consolidate international efforts.

The Head of State also announced that the G7 Summit would be held on December 12 and Ukraine would take part in it.

"We have coordinated our positions with America now. I was glad to feel in the conversation that our formula for peace is perceived positively," Zelenskyy said after the conversation with Biden.

On the situation in the energy system

Chairman of the Board of Ukrenergo Volodymyr Kudrytskyi said that as of the evening of December 11, Ukrainian power engineers were able to restore most of the generating capacities of the power system after the latest Russian strikes (from December 5 to 11).

However, it is currently impossible to fully use the capacity of thermal power plants. Additional time is needed to restore the operation of these facilities. It is expected that next week new power units from TPPs will be connected to the grid to produce electricity.

On demining

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, pyrotechnics have neutralized more than 300,000 explosive objects on the territory of Ukraine and almost 3,000 kilograms of explosives. Currently, they have inspected the territory of about 76,400 hectares.

Other news:

• The Peace Light of Bethlehem was delivered to St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral. This is an annual scouting event before Christmas;
• the film "Mariupolis 2" by Lithuanian director Mantas Kvedaravičius about the life of Mariupol residents under Russian bombardment won the European Film Academy Award as the best documentary film of 2022;
• 232 local residents are currently held in Russian captivity in the temporarily occupied part of Zaporizhzhya Oblast;
• on December 11, the Russian occupation forces fired at a rescue vehicle delivering humanitarian aid to people who remain in Bakhmut. There were no victims.