Welcome to the final 2024 edition of What about Ukraine?, a newsletter that helps you keep updated about what has been said recently about Ukraine in Ukraine, and in the international media.

In our translated article of the week, we spotlight a story about how 44,000 Ukrainian children continue attending Ukrainian school online in the occupied territories. Ukraine is striving to return to in-person education, but families face aerial threats across the country and the repression in the occupied areas, which hinder a return to 'normality'.

A new crisis unfolds in the Black Sea as Bulgaria leads the response to the environmental disaster caused by the sinking of two Russian oil tankers in the Kerch Strait on 15 December. Meanwhile, France has discovered that its companies are selling components to Russia for weapons used on the frontline, and Hungary is debating Viktor Orbán’s Christmas peace proposal, although Kyiv claims it has received no information on such an accord.

This comes in a week when European representatives have gathered to coordinate the next steps in supplying aid to Ukraine. Italy’s defence minister and Spain’s foreign minister are on the same page: support for Kyiv must continue, but a European peacekeeping mission on the ground has been ruled out.

This is our final newsletter for the next three weeks.

Merry Christmas and Щасливого Нового року!

Fermín Torrano
Editor of this week's edition

Ukraine’s Ministry of Education has already set their goals for 2025. After years of predominantly online schooling due first to the Coronavirus pandemic, and later to the Russian full-scale invasion, the Ministry announced a plan to bring as many kids as possible to offline classes. While on the territories controlled by Kyiv online education was a question of safety due to air attacks, for children in the zones temporarily occupied by Russia, this was both a necessity and a danger. On the one hand, it gave kids an opportunity to maintain a connection with Ukraine and their hope of receiving a higher education in free Ukraine, but, on the other hand, following a Ukrainian curriculum presented a risk for the children and their families.

In the piece translated by n-ost this week, journalist Oleksandr Paskhover explores the topic. He reveals that approximately 44,000 kids  in the Temporarily Occupied Territories (TOT) remotely attend classes in Ukrainian schools, alongside a mandatory education with a Russian curriculum. This number has halved since 2022, partly due to families escaping from their hometowns. Another significant reason is the occupying authorities’ increasing efforts to control and sever links to Ukraine. If these authorities discover kids attending Ukrainian schools online, they threaten and punish the families. 

Olena Vorobiova, headteacher of the Enerhodar gymnasium, who escaped city after it was occupied in 2022, but maintained a connection with students and their families, gives an example: 

"I communicate with a family where the mother says, 'We had to go [to the Russian school] after they visited us with a search warrant.' They held out until the last moment before sending their child to the Russian school. But they faced intimidation." [The mother then asked the headteacher if their child could switch to studying the Ukrainian curriculum online outside of normal school hours.]

This piece was originally published by NV, an independent Ukrainian publication which specialises in reports and analyses about Ukrainian and foreign affairs.

Translated by Olesia Storozhuk. 

France

French weapon parts keep feeding the Kremlin’s war machine

Most French companies stopped dealing with Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but many keep feeding the Kremlin’s war machine. Despite EU sanctions, Michelin tyres worth approximately 40 million euros have been sold to Moscow since 2022 through a sophisticated network of intermediaries in countries like Turkey and Kyrgyzstan. The tyres are used on Russian government aircraft, including those in the presidential fleet. Michelin denies any direct commercial links to Russia and claims they have implemented strict compliance processes to prevent sanctions circumvention. (Mediapart) 

Ukrainian refugees are facing a housing crisis in the weeks before Christmas, as local authorities in different parts of France launch eviction proceedings. In Alençon, Normandy, about 20 Ukrainians must leave their shelter, with officials telling them to "call emergency services or return to Ukraine" by the end of December. Among them is Anna, a former bank manager from Dnipro, and Oleg, a 37-year-old IT technician from Kyiv, who both fear homelessness. While the local authorities have promised support starting in 2025, no immediate rehousing solutions are on the horizon (France 3 Regions). This follows a broader pattern across France, particularly in the East, where displaced Ukrainians are being pressured to leave their accommodation, if they haven't sufficiently integrated into the local community socially and professionally. (Le Monde)

From Grenoble to Donbas, France 2 tracked French components in weapons used by the Russian army in Ukraine. Tech made by Lyon-based Elistair that enables continuous drone flight while collecting real-time data through an optical cable is used by Russia's National Guard in Ukraine and by Putin's personal protection service. Microchips made by Grenoble-based STMicroelectronics reached Russia through third-party countries and made it to the battlefield in Donbas. While both French companies deny their products ended up in Russian hands, these components were traced by a French NGO Observatoire des Armements. "If we can track these components with our limited means, then companies can certainly do the same," states an analyst for the NGO. (France 2)

Bulgaria

Russian gas will keep flowing to Hungary through Bulgaria

Hungary and Bulgaria have found a solution that allows Budapest to continue receiving Russian gas through the 'TurkStream' pipeline - which crosses Bulgaria - without violating the recent American sanctions on Russia’s GazpromBank, which receives payments for Russian gas. This was announced by Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó, after an official visit to Sofia. Despite the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions, the import of Russian gas through Bulgaria to Serbia and Hungary continues. Sofia does not purchase the gas, but receives transit fees for gas transported via 'TurkStream', which crosses the Black Sea from Russia’s Krasnodar region, and moves through Turkey to Bulgaria. (Svobodna Evropa)

Bulgaria is coordinating with Ukraine and Romania to monitor the environmental repercussions of the disaster involving two Russian oil tankers on 15 December in the Kerch Strait on the ecosystems of the Black Sea. According to initial data, the tankers leaked at least 3,700 tons of crude oil into the sea. The environment ministers of the three countries spoke about the issue in a video conference, announcing the exchange of all relevant information to limit the damage caused by the spill. (24 Chasa)

Ukraine represents an increasingly important economic and trade partner for Bulgaria, and Sofia is ready to make its contribution to the reconstruction and integration of Ukraine into the European space, as soon as Russian aggression ends. This point was reiterated by the Bulgarian minister of economy Petko Nikolov, during the 'ReBuild Ukraine' conference organised in Sofia. According to data provided by Nikolov, in 2023 the trade between the two countries reached two billion dollars (up from 870 million in 2020), a figure that will probably be repeated in 2024. Nikolov confirmed that Sofia is ready to collaborate with Kyiv also in the defense sector, which he called "a powerful engine" of economic development. (BTA)

Hungary

Influential Russians avoid EU sanctions, thanks to Hungary

Hungary has not vetoed the 15th European Union sanctions package against Russia, but some individuals and entities important to Russia have been taken off the list by the Hungarian government. Budapest has saved Patriarch Kirill, Russia's ambassador to the UN, the Russian Olympic Committee and two Russian football teams, who will not be subject to asset freezes and travel bans. Hungary also continues to veto 6.6 billion euros in funds from the EU’s European Peace Facility to provide munitions to Ukraine. The sanctions package also allows Hungarian oil company MOL to continue to export oil products made from Russian crude oil. (Hvg)

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán took part in a telephone conversation with Russian president Vladimir Putin on 11 December. According to Orbán, he proposed a "Christmas ceasefire", which he said Ukraine had rejected. The details of the alleged proposal have not been made public. The Ukrainian president's adviser, Dmytro Litvin, said that Hungary had not consulted Ukraine (Telex English). Viktor Orbán continues to claim that Russia has accepted his proposal, but there is no such indication in the official Russian communication. Orbán did not comment on the issue for Telex. He said they should "address the Russian president". (Telex English)

A joint conference between Ukrainian and Hungarian historians was held in Uzhhorod in east Ukraine in mid-December. This was the first joint academic forum since the full-scale invasion to be held in Ukraine. It was initiated by the Subcommittee on the History of the Second World War of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. "I did not understand why the Hungarian government does not stand up for Ukraine, and why its press is spreading the aggressor’s propaganda. I thought that we must speak out and express our sympathy," said chairman of the committee, Tamás Stark. The theme of the conference was the Holocaust, a topic that Ukrainian historians have only recently begun to address. (Hvg)

Germany 

Op-ed: "No time left to hesitate" on missile dispatch to Kyiv

Tagesspiegel critiques chancellor Olaf Scholz's cautious stance on Ukraine, questioning his reluctance to send further weapons to Kyiv, such as the Taurus missiles. The article highlights that by "drawing a connection between the delivery of Leopard tanks and nuclear war" Scholz’s rhetoric plays on "fears of escalation". Allies like the US are growing frustrated with Berlin, and are sending a clear signal: "There is no time left to hesitate." The writer debates whether Scholz's stance could haunt Germany as Ukraine’s situation becomes increasingly dire, asking: "Whoever hesitates – will they ultimately be guilty?" (Tagesspiegel)

A Zeit analysis questions whether Taurus cruise missiles would have a decisive effect in Ukraine, as calls for delivery grow louder in Germany. The writer highlights that Taurus "is not a gamechanger", citing the views of military experts, including German Air Force inspector Ingo Gerhartz. He evaluates that 50 Taurus would be "quickly used up," and Germany can only spare around 100 missiles - far from enough to alter the direction of the war. The writer suggests that Germany could instead provide "more flight defence, artillery ammunition and planes" or fund the British Storm Shadow and French Scalp missiles, which Ukraine already uses effectively. This would avoid direct "provocation towards Putin" while helping Ukraine strike Russian targets. (Zeit)

"Russian influence networks" continue to undermine Germany, despite the war in Ukraine and EU sanctions, according to Süddeutsche. The article describes a Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) report, revealing how "dual-use goods" like German machinery still reach Russia via third countries such as Turkey and the UAE. These networks, involving "consultants, lobbyists and politicians," include former chancellor Gerhard Schröder, a longtime "Russia lobbyist" and Putin ally and extend to parties like the AfD, accused of amplifying "Putin’s view of the world" in Germany. As Russia shifts to an "ideological and values-based influence strategy," the CSD urges a stricter enforcement of sanctions. (Süddeutsche) 

Italy

Italy is ready to participate in a UN-led peacekeeping mission 

Italian minister of defence Guido Crosetto expressed scepticism about an imminent truce in Ukraine, considering the intensified Russian attacks to consolidate territorial control, he said in an interview. According to Crosetto, Italy is ready to participate in a UN-led peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, while ruling out an EU-specific mission as unacceptable to the warring parties. Italy is not yet able to reach NATO’s goal for each member state to spend two percent of its GDP on the military, the minister highlighted, and he predicts Donald Trump will demand even higher targets by 2025. Despite debates within the government on the latest aid package for Ukraine, Crosetto stated that this will be finalised. (La Repubblica)

While Rome discusses a new aid package, a survey has found that half of the Italian population has been consistently opposed to military aid to Ukraine. Since the beginning of full-scale invasion in 2022, Italians wavered between an average of 48 and 52 percent on whether to send weapons to Kyiv. The conflict’s global repercussions on energy and security have fueled fears of escalation, with 47 percent worried about Russia’s threats. Only 10.3 percent feel the threat is far, while six percent find the alarmism overstated. A high percentage of younger generations (76.2 percent) feel emotionally detached from the events in Ukraine, because of a lack of quality media coverage and the geographical distance. (La Stampa)

A majority of Ukrainians trust the EU and NATO, compared to many Italian citizens’ mistrust in the transatlantic alliance, as just under one third of Italians believe military spending should reach two percent of GDP. An annual survey for the Ukrainian centre 'New Europe' reveals that Ukrainians continue to trust institutions like the EU (69 percent) and NATO (64.4 percent), while the UN ranks low. Italian PM Giorgia Meloni ranked 12th among foreign leaders, six points ahead of Scholz, despite Italy aiding Ukraine much less than Germany. Although Berlin and Washington have provided significant aid to Ukraine, trust in Western leaders among Ukrainians has declined, with Joe Biden’s approval falling from 82 percent in 2023 to 55 percent in 2024, and chancellor Olaf Scholz dropping to 37 percent. Donald Trump’s popularity is rising. (Il Foglio)

Spain

High-level spy hack kicked out of journalism profession

Russian spy Pablo González, who reported for Spanish publications on Ukraine, and was arrested three years ago and later sent to Moscow in a prisoner exchange, is no longer considered a journalist, argues Reporters Without Borders. González was detained in February 2022 while spying on a NATO convoy in Poland, after having been expelled from Ukraine following an investigation by the Ukrainian secret services, the SBU. In August this year, he was part of a high-profile swap, where the Kremlin welcomed spies with honours. Reporters Without Borders stated that González "has abused the rights that democracies grant to journalists" and added: "He has endangered the journalism profession." (El Periódico)

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky held their first call since signing the bilateral agreement in May, reaffirming mutual support between both countries. Recently, part of the latest shipment of anti-aircraft systems and tanks arrived in Ukraine (Europa Press). Meanwhile, Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares dismissed the idea of the EU sending troops to Ukraine for a peace mission, and stated ahead of his meeting in Brussels with his counterparts: "There is no debate". (Europa Press).

A Ukrainian radio station in Spain with 200,000 listeners? In February 2022, as Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, four Ukrainians living in Alicante decided to launch this project. With backgrounds in real estate and no prior experience in radio, they saw the growing influx of their compatriots in the Iberian peninsula and seized the opportunity. In just three years, Spain’s Ukrainian population has tripled. The station features Ukrainian music alongside 25 percent Spanish tracks and shares information about Spanish towns, festivals and traditions. "Our goal is to improve communication between Ukrainians and Spaniards," explains one of the founders. (La Vanguardia)

The Europe-Ukraine Desk curated this newsletter. This week's edition has been composed by our team from all over Europe: Marika Ikonomu, Kornelia Kiss, Katarina Kukla, Oksana Mamchenkova, Clara Marchaud, Francesco Martino, Antonina Rybka and Fermin Torrano.
Michael Bird was our proofreader. 

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