Suspension of the blockade at one of the checkpoints and an explosion in a house in Lviv: highlights of December 23

Suspension of the border blockade

Polish farmers said that from December 24 they will suspend the protest at the Medika-Shehyni checkpoint. According to the organizers, the point will not be blocked until January 2 or 3. And if they receive a written statement from the prime minister that their demands will be met, the action will probably not be resumed.

At the same time, Polish carriers at another checkpoint, in Dorohusk, announced that the border with Ukraine would be blocked on Christmas. In addition, the blockade will be strengthened: only one truck will be allowed through for three hours instead of three, as before.

Explosion in a house in Lviv

An explosion occurred in a detached house on Kniahyni Olhy Street in Lviv, destroying supporting walls.

According to preliminary information, the gas exploded in the garage of a detached house. The State Emergency Service said that they rescued 2 people from the rubble, including one child.

2 children and 2 women were taken to the hospital with minor burns. Two more men are currently being searched for under the rubble.

Subsequently, the State Emergency Service reported that they had found the body of a woman under the rubble. At the same time, the mayor of Lviv, Andrii Sadovyi, reported that the body of a man aged approximately 45-50 years was pulled out from under the rubble.

Pre-trial restraint for the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense

The court chose a pre-trial restraint for the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, who is suspected of theft of 1.5 billion hryvnia. He will be held without bail until February 19, 2024.

According to the investigation, in December 2022, the suspect signed an agreement with a special exporter to purchase a batch of artillery shells for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, the money was not transferred to the company’s account at that time, since the products were not delivered.

The day before, the Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, detained the official. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

Russian shelling

On the morning of December 23, Russian occupation forces launched a massive missile strike on the territory of the Kirovohrad region. Air defense forces destroyed enemy targets over the Kropyvnytskyi and Oleksandriia districts. No casualties or injuries were reported.

Subsequently, the speaker of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Yurii Ihnat, clarified that Kropyvnytskyi was attacked with ballistic missiles from temporarily occupied Crimea.

The Kherson region is also under attack today. In particular, Russian troops attacked the village of Stanislav with a drone. A 69-year-old local resident died from the injury.

In addition, today Russian troops launched a massive attack on the city of Kherson. Due to the shelling, fires broke out in residential areas. Critical infrastructure was hit — there was a breakthrough in gas networks. One of the city's medical institutions was also under fire.

As a result of the shelling of Kherson, seven people were injured, including a 15-year-old child.

Other important news

• ISW: Ukraine may receive the first F-16 fighters by the end of 2023.
• Estonia allows assistance with the mobilization of Ukrainians.
• Zelenskyy approved new sanctions: more than 50 people and more than 130 companies were included in the list.
• A monument to participants in the Bolshevik “January Uprising” was removed from the center of Kyiv.
• The Ministry of Defense is considering the possibility of serving subpoenas via electronic notification.