HERE IS THE SITUATION ON THUSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2023. (666 DAY)
In the ongoing conflict, the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson faced Russian shelling, resulting in injuries to nine people, including four children. Simultaneously, Russia targeted Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other regions with both drones and missiles. Ukraine’s Air Force reported the successful destruction of 18 out of 19 Russian attack drones, and two surface-to-air guided missiles were fired at Kharkiv, causing no reported casualties.
Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun acknowledged Russian forces making gains around the industrial city of Avdiivka. Shtupun revealed that the Russians had advanced by one and a half to two kilometers (0.3 to 1.2 miles) in some areas since October 10. He noted, however, that this progress had come at a substantial cost to the Russian forces.
In the evening update from the Ukrainian General Staff, 89 incidents of Russian ground attacks were reported across seven sections of the front line, spanning approximately 1,000 kilometers (600 miles). Of particular concern, there were 31 attacks near Avdiivka.
The United Kingdom’s Defence Ministry, in its latest assessment, highlighted a shift in Ukraine’s Armed Forces strategy towards a more defensive posture. This adjustment comes after a months-long counteroffensive failed to achieve a significant breakthrough. The ministry noted that Ukraine is actively enhancing field fortifications along the front line in response to the evolving dynamics of the war. The situation remains fluid, with both sides adapting their strategies in this protracted conflict.
The Kremlin dismissed the possibility of current peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, labeling Kyiv’s proposed peace plan as absurd for excluding Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the topic of negotiations is currently irrelevant.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a “severe” response to foreign agents engaging in sabotage to assist Ukraine.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich lost his bid at the European Union’s top court to overturn sanctions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
German federal prosecutors announced plans to seize over 720 million euros ($789 million) from an unnamed Russian bank suspected of attempting to violate Western sanctions.
Ukraine’s largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, reported full restoration of its services after a massive cyberattack that damaged IT infrastructure and impacted air raid alert systems. Over half of Ukraine’s population are Kyivstar subscribers.
A Russian court fined Google 4.6 billion roubles ($50.84 million) for allegedly failing to remove “fake” information about the war in Ukraine and other topics, according to the state TASS news agency.
Yekaterina Duntsova, a 40-year-old former broadcast journalist, has entered the race for Russia’s presidential election, advocating for “peace and democratic processes.” Duntsova has openly called for an end to the war in Ukraine and the release of political prisoners, including opposition leader Alexey Navalny. To qualify, she needs to gather 300,000 signatures from across Russia by January 31. Despite challengers, Vladimir Putin is expected to secure a significant victory.
Ukraine’s Minister for Strategic Industries, Oleksandr Kamyshin, announced ambitious plans for the manufacture of drones. Kyiv aims to produce 1 million reconnaissance and attack drones, along with more than 11,000 medium- and long-range attack drones in the coming year. This includes a substantial number of drones with a range exceeding 1,000 km (620 miles).
Japan is reportedly considering the transfer of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, as per a report in Nikkei. The move underscores Japan’s potential involvement in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities amid the ongoing conflict.
