Russia Bombards Ukrainian Cities On Christmas Amid Putin Gets ‘Ready To Talk’

Russian forces bombarded dozens of Ukrainian towns as President Vladimir Putin declared openness to negotiations on Christmas day, a stance Washington has dismissed as posturing in light of ongoing Russian attacks.

Russia launched more than ten rocket attacks on the Kharkiv region's Kupiansk district on Sunday, shelled more than 25 towns along the Kupiansk-Lyman front line, and shelled nearly 20 towns in Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukraine's top military command. The reports could not be independently verified by Reuters.

On the other side, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a defiant message said that Ukrainians will create their own Christmas miracle by demonstrating their resolve in the face of Russian attacks that have left millions in the dark. 

Zelensky also accused Tehran of planning to supply more weapons to Russia, a top Ukrainian presidential aide called for the “liquidation” of Iranian factories producing drones and missiles, as well as the arrest of their suppliers.

On the northern border of Ukraine, Belarus has deployed Russian-supplied Iskander tactical missile systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads as well as S-400 air defence systems, according to a senior Belarusian defence ministry official on Sunday.

According to the media reports, blasts were heard hundreds of kilometres from the Ukrainian front line at Russia's Engels air base. According to Russia, the air base was attacked on 5 December by a Ukrainian drone.

Russian authorities in the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol have begun demolishing the majority of its drama theatre, where hundreds of people were killed in an air bombardment in March, according to Ukrainian authorities.

On Friday, a video posted on both Ukrainian and Russian websites showed heavy equipment demolishing much of the theatre while leaving the front façade intact.