**Ukrainian Police Identify Russian Commander Suspected of Bucha Massacre**
The Ukrainian police have named a Russian commander as the suspect in the murder of Iryna Filkina, a Ukrainian woman who became a symbol of the mass killings in Bucha in 2022. Artyom Tarieiev, commander of the 234th Airborne Assault Regiment, is believed to have given orders to kill all civilians in an area on March 5, 2022.
Filkina was shot and killed by Russian soldiers while riding a bicycle. According to investigators, 13 civilians were killed on the same street as a result of Tarieiev’s order. The Bucha City Council said that identifying the suspect is an important step in investigating war crimes committed on Ukrainian territory.
**Ukraine Increases Gas Transit Tariffs**
Starting from January 1, Ukraine will quadruple gas transit tariffs for domestic customers. This change comes after a deal to transport Russian gas through Ukrainian pipes expired. The National Energy Regulatory Commission made this decision during a meeting on December 30.
**Ukrainian Exports Grow by 13%**
The economy minister, Yuliia Svyrydenko, reported that Ukraine’s exports grew by more than 13% over the past year. This growth is mainly due to stabilizing the functioning of Ukrainian seaports.
**President Zelensky Appoints Military Ombudsman**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed human rights activist Olha Reshetylova as military ombudsman, a newly created position. This appointment aims to improve oversight and protection of Ukrainian soldiers’ rights.
**Russia Continues Aggressive Tactics**
The Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Russia continues to carry out constant “human wave” assaults, resulting in record losses for Russian forces. The capital city of Kyiv endured over 500 air raid alerts on December 30, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration head.
**US Announces Security Assistance Package**
The United States has announced a new security assistance package worth nearly $2.5 billion for Ukraine. This aid is part of a larger commitment to provide Ukraine with $15 billion, backed by future revenues from frozen Russian assets.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com