Zelenskyy in Washington, new aid and electricity supply: highlights of the day

Zelensky's visit to the United States

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived on December 21 for a brief visit to the United States. The plans include a meeting with Biden and key members of the US President's team. The White House announced that Biden and Zelenskyy will have the opportunity to "have an in-depth strategic discussion," in particular about the future on the battlefield in Ukraine. Biden invited Zelenskyy to Washington because he believes that the war in Ukraine has entered a "new phase".

Joe Biden himself stated that he and Zelenskyy have "a lot to discuss".

New military assistance

US President Joe Biden ordered to allocate $1 billion for defense aid to Ukraine. Besides, the US State Department announced assistance for another $850 million, including the transfer of the Patriot air defense system.

The new aid package includes one Patriot system, various ammunition, including HIMARS, armored vehicles, HARM missiles, night vision devices, satellite terminals and their maintenance, etc.

Power supply update

As of the morning of December 21, there is a significant power shortage in Ukraine's power grid. Restrictions caused by damage to the main power grids as a result of Russian attacks are still in effect.

The mayor of Irpin, Kyiv Oblast, said that Ukrenergo continues to restore the energy infrastructure damaged by the occupiers. Now electricity is primarily supplied to critical infrastructure facilities – boiler houses, water pumping stations, hospitals, etc.

"DTEK is trying to alternately supply power to different microdistricts of Irpin according to an approximate schedule of 2/8: two hours of power, eight hours without," Markushyn writes.

The Center for Energy Research believes that Kyiv can return to scheduled power outages in a week and a half. However, in the best case, electricity will be supplied for 10 hours a day.

Russia wants to expand its army

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at the board convened by the President of the Russian Federation that the number of the armed forces of the Russian Federation should be increased to 1.5 million servicemen. The number of contract soldiers is to be increased to 695,000. And for conscripts – gradually increase the draft age from 18 to 21 years and raise the age limit to 30 years.

At the same time, during the draft, Shoigu wants to provide an opportunity for citizens to enlist in military service under a contract from the first day of service.

Investigation into Chonhar

The head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Malyuk said that the question of why there were no explosives in Chonhar in the Kherson Oblast during the offensive of the occupation troops is being investigated within the case of the former head of the SBU in Crimea Oleh Kulinich, who was detained on charges of working for Russia.

According to the head of the SBU, Kulinich reported to Russia on the situation in the SBU and in the country as a whole. He cooperated with the "rat farm" in Moscow, which, together with the staff of the Russian Federal Security Service, collects information on Ukraine.

In addition, Kulinich conducted uncoordinated anti-terrorist exercises at locations in Kherson Oblast. Currently, the relevant criminal proceedings over Chonhar are with the State Bureau of Investigation.

In other news:

• Ukraine's energy facilities committed 193 violations after the first stage of unscheduled inspections. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stressed that inspections of operators during martial law should take place regularly and ordered to provide a public report on the violations found every Friday.
• Russia is building a defense line in Belgorod Oblast. The Ukrainian Armed Forces spotted 4-meter-wide anti-tank ditches, concrete pyramids, minefields, platoon and company strongholds near the village of Ustinka.
• Former Kremlin prisoner Hennadiy Afanasiev died at the front. He was involved in a criminal case on trumped-up charges of terrorist activities in Crimea in the spring of 2014. The same case involved Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov, who is now fighting at the front, and activist Oleksandr Kolchenko.