Zelensky says 'deterioration of the weather' linked to fewer attacks


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared during his nightly address that close to 400 shelling incidents were recorded in eastern Ukraine on Sunday. This number is "unfortunately, extremely high," he added, but would have been worse if not for the "deterioration of the weather."
The winter weather is forcing both Ukraine and Russia to reconfigure their tactics and plans. Last week, Zelensky described the fighting in the Donetsk region as "hell," and on Sunday said "the fiercest battles" are still happening there. In the Luhansk region, "we are moving forward little by little with battles," Zelensky continued, adding that in the southern part of Ukraine "we are holding the line, consistently and very calculatedly destroying the potential of the occupiers."
Russian forces withdrew from the southern port city of Kherson earlier in November, and Britain's defense intelligence agency said on Friday some of those troops will likely be moved to the town of Bakhmut in Donetsk. That's where the Wagner Group, a private Russian military force, is on the offensive. The agency also said Russian troops are digging new trenches near the Siversky Donets River between Donetsk and Luhansk, indicating they are preparing "in case of further major Ukrainian breakthroughs."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
El Palace Barcelona: old-world luxury in the heart of the city
The Week Recommends This historic hotel is set within a former Ritz outpost moments from the Passeig de Gràcia
-
The best history books to read in 2025
The Week Recommends These fascinating deep-dives are perfect for history buffs
-
July 4 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Friday’s political cartoons include the danger of talking politics at a family picnic, and disappearing Medicaid entitlements
-
Ottawa Treaty: why are Russia's neighbours leaving anti-landmine agreement?
Today's Big Question Ukraine to follow Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as Nato looks to build a new ‘Iron Curtain' of millions of landmines
-
How drone warfare works
The Explainer From Ukraine to Iran, it has become clear that unmanned aircraft are rapidly revolutionising modern warfare
-
How long can Nato keep Donald Trump happy?
Today's Big Question Military alliance pulls out all the stops to woo US president on his peacemaker victory lap
-
Are the UK and Russia already at war?
Today's Big Question Moscow has long been on a 'menacing' war footing with London, says leading UK defence adviser
-
The secret lives of Russian saboteurs
Under The Radar Moscow is recruiting criminal agents to sow chaos and fear among its enemies
-
Ukraine-Russia: is peace deal possible after Easter truce?
Today's Big Question 'Decisive week' will tell if Putin's surprise move was cynical PR stunt or genuine step towards ending war
-
What's behind Russia's biggest conscription drive in years?
Today's Big Question Putin calls up 160,000 men, sending a threatening message to Ukraine and Baltic states
-
Is the 'coalition of the willing' going to work?
Today's Big Question PM's proposal for UK/French-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine provokes 'hostility' in Moscow and 'derision' in Washington