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Super strike: why Ukraine blew up tunnel connecting Russia to China, and what could be next. Slashing Putin’s 6,000 km umbilical cord to Beijing in a dramatic flare of sabotage, Ukraine lit the fuse on a series of “small cuts” set to slowly bleed Russia’s war machine dry |
| Expert: Ukraine must radically boost infantry to counter Russia’s “meat grinder” tactics. Ukraine must boost infantry quality to force personnel loss ratios requiring Russia to expend 15-20 soldiers to kill one Ukrainian, argues military expert. |
| Ukraine outmaneuvers Russia at OSCE, in chemical weapons, maritime agencies. A trilogy of diplomatic debacles left Russian officials sputtering blindly at global forums from Skopje to London as Ukraine directed a masterclass in multilateral marginalization. |
Military
General Staff: Ukraine repels 16 Russian attacks near Bakhmut and 14 near Avdiivka. In the last 24 hours, there were 56 battles between Ukrainian defenders and invading Russian forces along the frontline.
Counteroffensive success hinges on these factors, says Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy vows Ukraine “not backing down” despite acknowledging slow progress against Russia.
Lloyd Austin: Ukraine war will “define global security for decades”. The Secretary of Defense shed light on President Joe Biden’s objectives in supporting Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, emphasizing Ukraine’s vital significance to American interests.
Stoltenberg: More arms for Ukraine means quicker war end. As Russian aggression against Ukraine continues, maintaining NATO’s backing of Ukraine is vital, no matter how the war unfolds.
Frontline report: Russian soldiers refuse to attack Dnipro islands as Ukrainians maintain bridgehead across the river. The conflict between Russian soldiers and commanders in the Kherson direction started to grow as soldiers refused to attack islands due to heavy losses. Ukrainians rely on artillery and drones to support their bridgehead across the Dnipro River.
Gruesome video allegedly shows Ukrainian soldiers executed by Russians after surrendering. Ukraine’s ombudsman said he would formally appeal to both the UN and Red Cross regarding video that apparently shows a Russian war crime
As of 03 Dec 2023, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:
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- Personnel: 332040 (+930)
- Tanks: 5575 (+4)
- APV: 10396 (+11)
- Artillery systems: 7949 (+8)
- MLRS: 913
- Anti-aircraft systems: 602
- Aircraft: 323
- Helicopters: 324
- UAV: 5995 (+1)
- Cruise missiles : 1569 (+1)
- Warships/boats: 22
- Submarines: 1
- Vehicles and fuel tanks: 10432 (+22)
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Intelligence and technology
Poland sends 18 Krab self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, more to come. Last year, Ukraine signed a contract with the Polish company Huta Stalowa Wola SA to produce 56 such howitzers.
Germany provides a new military aid package for Ukraine, which includes sniper rifles and ammunition. The package provides an additional 3,840 rounds of artillery ammunition, 15 sniper rifles, vehicles and more
Ukraine shoots down 10 out of 12 Shahed kamikaze drones and a missile in overnight attack. Russian drones were aimed at Ukraine’s Khmelnytskyi and Mykolayiv oblasts. Which targets were hit by the remaining two drones wasn’t disclosed.
International
US Diplomat: “Sinister Russian NGOs” involved in abducting Ukrainian children. Russia’s filtration programs violate the Geneva Conventions, as the mass abduction of Ukrainian children has become a horrifying phenomenon.
Humanitarian and social impact
2 Dead, 7 Wounded as Russia bombs Kherson hospitals and residential building. Russians rained shells on Kherson’s central district from their positions on the occupied east bank of the Dnipro River on Sunday, killing and wounding scores of civilians in the city.
Nobel Prize laureate Matviychuk: “Human rights are not won once and for all. They depend on our choices every day”. Ukrainian human rights activist, Nobel laureate, and head of the Center for Civil Liberties Oleksandra Matviychuk stressed the fragility of freedom in the contemporary West.
Ukraineʼs economy lost €400 mn due to the Polish border blockade. Some military cargo also blocked, including 1000s of tourniquets. Polish protesters blocked all four key border crossings to Ukraine starting on 6 November 2023. The car queues reach 17 kilometers with 1-2 trucks allowed to pass per hour. Not only did Ukraine’s economy suffer, meaning less taxes for the military. Some critical supplies were also stuck.
Political and legal developments
Russia increases its army by 170,000 troops. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the size of Russia’s armed forces by 170,000 troops. The army will be expanded to 1.32 million military personnel, while the total personnel of Russia’s military is now set at 2.21 million, according to the decree, published on 1 December.
Saboteurs allegedly poisoned and killed 35 Russian soldiers in Crimea. Russian telegram channels reported the information, while it is impossible to verify it independently.
New developments
A new mural in Kyiv shows air defense forces and energy workers — two main professions keeping the city safe. In Kyiv, a symbolic mural dedicated to air defense forces and energy workers was opened at 3-A Mykola Mikhnovskyi Boulevard. The project Defenders of Light began in the spring of 2023.
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