Day 649 of the Invasion of Ukraine: Klitschko Criticized Zelensky, Called for Honesty on the Situation in the Country

Day 649 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

• Hell on the Dnieper front
• The EC sticks to its position on the start of negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the EU
• Russia launched 23 drones and one cruise missile against Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said
• Klitschko criticized Zelensky, called for honesty about the situation in Ukraine
• Poland and Ukraine have opened a new border crossing to ease truck congestion
• Iran's parliament approved the agreement between Iran and Russia to establish joint centers for cultural activity

Hell on the Dnieper front

Amid optimistic predictions about the outcome of the war in Ukraine, Western support and promises of funding, a frontline soldier tells the BBC the sobering truth about the Ukrainian army's battle to hold on to the east bank of the Dnieper River.

Several hundred Ukrainian soldiers have made it there as part of the counteroffensive that began six months ago.

Under relentless Russian fire, the soldier spent several weeks on the Russian-occupied side of the river as Ukraine tried to establish a bridgehead around the village of Krynky.

In his account, sent via a messaging app, he spoke of military boats thrown out of the water, inexperienced reinforcements and a sense of abandonment by Ukrainian military commanders. It underscores rising tensions as Ukraine's defense against a Russian invasion nears the end of another year.

The Ukrainian military declined to comment on the situation in that area for security reasons.

"The crossing of the...