Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 294 | Russia-Ukraine war News

Here is the situation as it stands on Wednesday, December 14:

Fighting

At least three explosions have been heard in the centre of Ukrainian capital Kyiv, as officials said they have shot down a number of Iranian-made Shahed drones.
Meanwhile, air-raid sirens rang across Ukraine after leaders warned that Russia could launch a new wave of missile and drone attacks.
Russia and Ukraine pounded each other’s forces in heavy fighting around the small eastern city of Bakhmut, once home to 80,000 people.
The town of Klintsy in Russia’s southern Bryansk region was shelled overnight by Ukraine, the regional governor said.

Russia has dismissed a reported three-step peace proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying Kyiv needed to accept new “realities”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said progress would not be possible without considering these realities.
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has warned African leaders at a summit that Russia risked “destabilising” the continent with their rising involvement.
Britain has sanctioned 12 Russian military commanders and Iranian businessmen involved in producing and supplying military drones used in missile attacks on Ukraine.
The United States is finalising plans to send the Patriot missile defence system to Ukraine, a decision that could be announced as soon as this week, three US officials told Reuters.

European Union energy ministers meeting in Brussels have failed to strike a final deal on a bloc-wide cap on natural gas prices after months of infighting over whether the measure can ease Europe’s energy crisis.
Ukraine’s economy could shrink by 50 percent this year if Russia keeps attacking the national power grid and other critical infrastructure, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said.
The European Union reached a deal with Hungary to send an 18bn-euro ($18.93bn) financial aid package to Ukraine and approve a minimum tax on major corporations.
About 70 countries and institutions have pledged more than one billion euros ($1.05bn) in immediate aid to help Ukraine get through winter.