Fico threatens Ukraine, US imposes sanctions against Georgia's Ivanishvili - Friday brief
RBC-Ukraine collage
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine. Meanwhile, the United States imposed financial sanctions against the founder of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Read more about what happened on Friday, December 27.
Fico threatens to stop supplying electricity to Ukraine
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to stop electricity supplies to Ukraine. He intends to take this step as revenge for Kyiv's refusal to transit Russian gas to Europe.
"After January 1, we will assess the situation and possible reciprocal measures against Ukraine. If necessary, we will stop supplying electricity, which is crucial for Ukraine during power outages," Fico said.
US imposes sanctions on founder of Georgia's ruling party
The United States of America has imposed financial sanctions against the founder and honorary chairman of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party, former prime minister, and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.
According to the US Treasury Department, all assets of Ivanishvili located in the United States or owned or controlled by US persons will be blocked. It is also noted that the decision to impose sanctions on Ivanishvili was made on the basis of Executive Order 14024, issued by President Joe Biden on April 15, 2021, in response to the harmful actions of Russia.
This means that it applies to individuals who commit acts that undermine democratic institutions and values, as well as engage in international corruption.
According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the United States put Ivanishvili on the sanctions list for “undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation.”
White House announces new military aid package for Ukraine
The United States will announce a new military aid package for Ukraine in the coming days, stated John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications.
Kirby did not specify when exactly the US plans to announce a new military aid package, nor what specific weapons it will include.
Ukrainian forces capture North Korean soldier in Kursk region
South Korean intelligence has confirmed reports of a wounded North Korean soldier being captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region. The news of the capture surfaced on Ukrainian media outlets the previous evening.
Russian forces and North Korean overseers are trying to prevent North Korean soldiers from being captured. There have been instances where they were executed by their own forces, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
HIMARS strike on Russian headquarters in Zaporizhzhia: Senior officers eliminated
Ukraine's Defense Forces eliminated three officers of the Russian army in the Zaporizhzhia region. They gathered for a meeting and were taken out by HIMARS.
Defense Intelligence personnel obtained information about a planned meeting involving officers of the command of the 4th Guards Military Base of the Russian occupation forces, participating in the war against Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhia region.
"After verifying and confirming the information, military intelligence officers developed an operation plan that involved the Tavriia Operational Group, the Unmanned Systems Forces, and the SSU's tactical group Typhoon," DIU noted.
According to intelligence, immediately after the field meeting of the occupiers began, a precision strike by HIMARS targeted the gathering of Russian officers and their vehicles. When the evacuation team of the invaders arrived, it was attacked by strike drones from Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces.
