​The war waged by Russia in Ukraine has reached its 311th day, as Russian forces continue to intensively attack the cities of Bakhmut and Soledar in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces are suffering heavy losses, as well as Kherson, which is under constant artillery and rocket fire. that drones were launched over Kyiv. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned that Vladimir Putin has not given up his plans to control Ukraine and that everyone should “prepare for a long period” of war.

The latest on the war in Ukraine, day 311:

A brief summary of recent events:

• The Minister of Defense of Ukraine says that the Russian army needs at least five years to rebuild. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that given the level of losses suffered by Ukraine, Russian forces have lost strength and will need at least five years to recover, Ukrainian Pravda reports.
• Russia’s richest oligarchs have lost almost $95 billion this year due to tough Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine, losing $330 million a day since the Kremlin’s incursion began, with Roman Abramovich, the former owner of British soccer club Chelsea, the biggest loser. This was reported by the Guardian newspaper
• Zelenskyy promises that in the new year Ukrainian air defense will become “even stronger.” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his belief that Ukraine’s air defense can become “the most powerful in Europe” and help preserve the security of his country and Europe, CNN reports.
• NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that Vladimir Putin has not given up on his plans to control Ukraine and warned that everyone should “prepare for a long period” of war, The Guardian reports.
• Self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics vote on new constitutions: Russian state media reports that the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), both occupied territories in eastern Ukraine claimed by the Russian Federation to be annexed, have adopted new “constitutions.” on Friday, writes The Guardian.
• Russia’s plan to punish foreign investors from “unfriendly” countries: Foreign investors from “unfriendly” countries who sell their shares in Russian companies may be forced to do so at half price or less, the Ministry of Finance said. 10% share of any transaction, Al Jazeera reported.
• A backup power line at the Russian-controlled Zaporozhye nuclear power plant was damaged and shut down by the bombing, Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear agency, said on Friday, CNN reported.
• Ukraine claims to have liberated more than 1,800 settlements: According to the representative of the President of Ukraine, since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, a total of 1,884 Ukrainian settlements have been liberated from Russian occupation.
• Putin says Russian-Chinese partnership can ‘endure all tests’: During a virtual meeting on Friday, Putin told Xi Jinping that their partnership is more important than ever in the face of “unprecedented pressure and challenges from the West”. reports Russian state television.
• China and Russia should “strengthen their strategic coordination” and “instill more stability in the world,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday during a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported, citing CNN.
• Ukraine’s armed forces say they have intercepted more drone attacks: Sixteen Iranian-made drones launched by Russia overnight were shot down by Ukraine’s air defense forces, its military said on Friday. Seven out of 16 drones were shot down in the Kyiv region, local authorities report.
• Russian troops bombed the entire front line in Donetsk: Russian troops bombed the entire front line in the Donetsk region from Thursday night into Friday morning, as fighting continues in eastern Ukraine. According to a Ukrainian official, on Friday, as a result of shelling in the north of Ukraine, three people died.
• Battle for key town of Bakhmut ‘very serious’: Ukraine’s military says Russia is diverting many of its resources to the battle for Bakhmut, an endangered city in Donetsk region, but the Ukrainian military says it has made no progress. An aide to Ukraine’s president said both Ukrainian and Russian forces were suffering heavy casualties in Bakhmut, calling it “very heavy.”