Exclusive
| Ukraine ramps up weapons production with US, Italian support. A DIY FrankenSAM, domestic 155mm rounds, and aviation tech are being produced thanks to alliances forged with western companies, says minister, and hints of success with long-range missiles |
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Armenia, Azerbaijan breakthrough signals end of Russia’s South Caucasus influence. Armenia and Azerbaijan’s milestone conciliatory announcement caught Russia flat-footed, threatening to end Moscow’s long-held influence as the key power broker in the strategic South Caucasus region. |
Military
Russian shelling kills two, injures two in Kupiansk district. Russian troops shelled the town of Kupiansk, resulting in the deaths of two women, aged 67 and 71.
Frontline report: Ukrainian drone warfare thwarts Russian assaults in Kherson Oblast. Ukrainian forces have effectively repelled Russian offensive attempts in Kherson Oblast, employing advanced drone operations and counterbattery tactics, resulting in Russian equipment losses and personnel casualties.
ISW: Russian offensives continue near Avdiivka, advancing to sewage treatment plant. Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Avdiivka, achieving a confirmed advance towards a sewage treatment plant south of Krasnohorivka.
Intelligence and Technology
Ukroboronprom, Milrem Robotics to jointly produce multi-domain defense vehicles. Estonia’s Milrem Robotics joins forces with Ukraine’s defense sector to create next-generation, multi-domain robotic systems, aiming to bolster Ukraine’s military capabilities
German UAV manufacturer joins Diia City for drone production in Ukraine. Quantum Systems, a prominent German drone company, is set to establish a Research and Development (R&D) center in Ukraine.
Germany supplies Ukraine with ultramodern reconnaissance system. The German government revealed a new military aid package to Ukraine, which features artillery shells, reconnaissance systems, vehicles, and more, to help Ukraine repel Russia’s invasion.
International
DW: Germany to continue providing military assistance to Ukraine, Scholz pledges. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany would implement decisions enabling the country to keep up its military assistance to Ukraine, as per Deutsche Welle.
“If the world gets tired, they will simply let us die,” Zelenska says. Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s First Lady, expressed deep concern over the potential reduction of crucial Western financial support for Ukraine
Humanitarian and Social Impact
Russia commits genocide against Ukrainian children, Zelenskyy’s top aide says. Russia is erasing any memories of Ukraine from the minds of deported children, the head of the President’s Office said at the first meeting of the International Coalition of Countries for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
Ukrainians in occupied territories face healthcare denial without Russian passports. In Starobilsk, occupied Luhansk Oblast, residents are being denied medical services if they do not possess a Russian passport.
Political and Legal Developments
Reuters: Kyiv condemns Russian plans for elections on occupied territories of Ukraine.
Russian cities cancel New Year’s festivities to fund war against Ukraine. Several major Russian cities have decided to scrap their traditional New Year’s celebrations and use the money to buy military equipment for the Russian troops invading Ukraine.
New Developments
CNN: Russia exploited celebrity Cameo videos to spread anti-Ukraine propaganda on social media. A new report by Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center has said that Russian propagandists have exploited celebrity videos from the Cameo platform to spread fakes on Ukraine on social media, CNN has reported.
Poll: Nearly 50% of Republicans believe US provides too much aid to Ukraine. New poll by the Pew Research Center shows a growing partisan divide in the US over Ukraine aid.
Polish border blockade traps Ukraine’s critical military supplies, including drone components. A border blockade led by Polish truckers causes extensive delays in the delivery of vital military supplies, including drone components and pickup trucks, to Ukraine, suppliers say.
Read our earlier daily review here.
As of 09 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: 338120 (+900)
- Tanks: 5632 (+6)
- APV: 10519 (+11)
- Artillery systems: 8058 (+1)
- MLRS: 919
- Anti-aircraft systems: 605
- Aircraft: 324
- Helicopters: 324
- UAV: 6136
- Cruise missiles: 1585 (+14)
- Warships/boats: 22
- Submarines: 1
- Vehicles and fuel tanks: 10598 (+7)
