Southern Ukraine under attack, pro-Russian government in Kherson wants to use rubles
Ukraine says Russia used drones to attack energy infrastructure in Odessa, causing a blackout in the southern province. The pro-Russian government wants to introduce rubles in Kherson.
According to the Guardian, on December 10 (local time), the Odessa government in southern Ukraine announced that the energy infrastructure in this area had suffered serious damage after large-scale raids by Russia.
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A transformer station in Odessa was badly damaged. Photo: AP |
"On the night of December 9 and early morning of December 10, the enemy conducted several attacks using suicide UAVs targeting energy infrastructure. The attacks caused serious damage, leaving residents without electricity. No human casualties have been recorded," the Odessa government said in a statement.
Also related to the incident, Odessa Governor Maksym Marchenko said that Ukrainian air defense forces shot down two enemy UAVs. In addition, two energy companies DTEK and Ukrenergo are working non-stop to restore the power system.
Pro-Russian government in Kherson wants to introduce ruble
According to Reuters, on December 10 (local time), Mr. Andrei Peretonkin, head of the Central Bank of Russia branch in Kherson, said that banks in the region controlled by this country will start supporting the conversion of Ukrainian hryvnia to Russian rubles from this weekend.
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Inside a Ukrainian field heating facility. Photo: AP |
"The conversion of the currency will ensure convenience for the population and at the same time help Kherson quickly integrate into the Russian economic space," Peretonkin said.
According to the announcement, the hryvnia is expected to stop circulating in the province from January 1, 2023. Previously, the pro-Russian government in Kherson still allowed people to use both hryvnia and rubles in parallel.
30 more Russian embassy staff to leave US
According to TASS, on December 10, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said that Washington will continue to implement a policy of reducing Russia's diplomatic presence in the country. Specifically, 30 employees of Russian foreign representative agencies will leave the US on January 1, 2023 due to visa restrictions.
Mr. Antonov shared that Russian representative agencies in the US are still facing many challenges. Their staff constantly receive threats or requests to provide intelligence.
