Commander of 211th Brigade is taken into custody, and Putin offers a “duel”: highlights for December 19

Commander of the 211th Brigade taken into custody

The Ternopil City District Court has imposed a pre-trial restraint on Oleh Poberezhniuk, commander of the military unit of the 211th Pontoon and Bridge Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where soldiers were abused. He was taken into custody for 2 months with the alternative of bail in the amount of 908 thousand hryvnias.

Putin's proposal for a “duel” between Russia and the West

Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated during his “direct line” that there is no chance of shooting down Russian “Oreshnik” missiles and suggested that Western countries organize a “high-tech duel” in the form of shelling the Ukrainian capital.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy first called the Russian leadership “scumbags” and later called Putin a “dumbass”.

Defense Ministry responds to the incident with the TRC in Vyshhorod

The Ministry of Defense has promised to bring to justice all those involved in the incident in Vyshhorod near Kyiv, and the police have suspended their officers. Earlier, a video was shared on social media showing the territorial recruitment center’s eployees, along with police officers, trying to open the car door by setting it on fire in order to presumably detain the driver.

Attack on Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the destruction of the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery in the Rostov region of Russia. The facility was hit due to the efforts of the Ukrainian Navy and the Security Service of Ukraine.

A source in military circles tolds hromadske that the facility was hit by Ukrainian-made drones and missiles.

Boiko dismissed from the Verkhovna Rada's Human Rights Committee

The Verkhovna Rada has supported the dismissal of MP Yurii Boiko from the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights, De-occupation and Reintegration of the Occupied Territories. Before the vote, the MPs in the hall chanted “Shame!” to their colleagues who stood up to defend Boiko. A scuffle broke out in the hall.

The Verkhovna Rada also voted in favor of a request to the president to deprive MP Yurii Boiko of the title of Hero of Ukraine.

Scandal over a ramp in Lviv

In Lviv, a conflict broke out between residents of a high-rise building and the family of Serhiy Vlasov, a soldier who lost both legs. Their opinions were divided over a ramp that was installed in the building's entrance.

Neighbors complained about the size of the ramp, but an inspection by the city council showed that accessibility requirements were met and that the ramp met technical standards.

Ukraine will not continue transit of Russian gas

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated that Ukraine will not continue transiting Russian gas to European countries after the contract expires. He said that this issue had been raised by representatives of Slovakia, arguing that their country could suffer losses due to Ukraine's decision.

Other important news:

• The Rada has passed a law to liquidate the MSEC in 2025.
• In Chernivtsi, a student was beaten in a college dormitory: law enforcement officers reported torture.
• Hetmantsev denied the mass closure of individual entrepreneurs after the law on tax hikes.
• In France, Dominique Pelicot, who organized the mass rape of his wife, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
• Special Envoy Kellogg: Russia's losses in the war are 5 times higher than Ukraine's.
• The head of KRAIL, who is suspected of facilitating the work of Russian online casinos, was sent to custody.