Russia Rules Out Christmas Ceasefire in Ukraine as Fierce Fighting Continues

Russian officials said Wednesday they have no plans to impose a ceasefire in Ukraine over the Christmas holiday after nearly 10 months of war. Overnight, Ukraine’s military launched a massive artillery attack on the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk. Ukraine also took credit for a drone attack on an air base about 50 miles inside Russian territory. Elsewhere, at least two people were killed by heavy Russian artillery fire in Kherson, where Russian attacks on the power grid have left residents without electricity. The continued fighting came as the Pentagon said it would more than double the number of Ukrainian troops at its training program in Germany.