Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends an International Human Rights forum, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 9, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy recently stated that Ukrainian soldiers have achieved significant advancements on the front lines. However, he did not provide specific details regarding the progress made by the military forces.
Separately, Ukraine’s air force said that it had “destroyed” 36 cruise missiles launched by Moscow in a fresh wave of attacks.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden ordered his administration to assist the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian port of Odesa was struck by a Russian missile attack overnight, said Oleh Kiper, the region’s governor.
The attack killed one security guard and damaged a cargo terminal at the port.
Since Moscow exited the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal last week, Odesa has become a regular target of Russia’s attacks.
Moscow’s anger against Ukraine and its Western backers was reflected when Russia refused to speak at a UN Security Council meeting called to discuss the recent attacks by the Kremlin on the Ukrainian port of Odesa.
The confrontation began at the start of the council session, which was called by Russia to discuss the divided Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky protested that the UK, which currently holds the council presidency, was permitting only two briefers while Moscow also wanted the Archbishop Gideon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to speak.
Polyansky accused the UK of bias and censorship.
Deputy British Ambassador James Kariuki said that, despite a time constraint, the UK offered a compromise to allow a third Russian briefer to submit a statement.
Polyansky was not satisfied. This prompted Kariuki to put Russia’s proposal to have the archbishop’s brief to vote.
China and Brazil supported Moscow, while 12 other council members abstained from voting.
Polyansky called the council’s response an “egregious” example of double standards on human rights and freedom of religion.
He said that as “a sign of protest” Russia would not to speak during a Ukraine-backed session called by Kyiv to take up the Odesa attacks.
