Exclusive
| Russian explosive drone crashes in Romania, NATO doesn’t see attack as intentional. Another Russia’s drone crashed inside the NATO territory, in the area of Grindu in Romania’s Tulcea county, leaving behind a 1.5 m deep crater. |
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“Putin at the table” as EU scrambles to persuade Orban at crucial summit. The EU’s financial and political support for Ukraine is in the air as leaders settle in for long and difficult talks in Brussels, with a 20-30% chance of success |
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But now we dance. How do Ukrainians live with the war? What does normality mean, what purpose do plans for the future have when a missile could strike in the next moment? A personal essay by filmmaker and writer Iryna Tsilyk. |
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Kremlin’s eye: Russian surveillance cameras spied on Ukraine for years. TRASSIR, the covert Russian surveillance system, poses a risk to Ukraine’s security, with concerns rising about potential military intelligence gathered through these cameras and transmitted to Moscow. |
Military
Ukrainska Pravda: Ukrainian Army receives six top secret weapons monthly.
British Intel: Russia opens new Crimea drone site to disrupt Ukrainian air defense. Russia’s use of the Balaklava drone also indicates its continuing dependence on Iranian-supplied systems to sustain its bombardment of Ukraine.
Intelligence and technology
Kremlin’s eye: Russian surveillance cameras spied on Ukraine for years. TRASSIR, the covert Russian surveillance system, poses a risk to Ukraine’s security, with concerns rising about potential military intelligence gathered through these cameras and transmitted to Moscow.
Norway commits $1.8 bn in assistance to Ukraine through 2023. Air defense systems and increased defense industry funding are part of Norway’s just-unveiled support package for Ukraine worth $1.8 bn.
International
Russian explosive drone crashes in Romania, NATO doesn’t see attack as intentional. Another Russia’s drone crashed inside the NATO territory, in the area of Grindu in Romania’s Tulcea county, leaving behind a 1.5 m deep crater.
“Putin at the table” as EU scrambles to persuade Orban at crucial summit. The EU’s financial and political support for Ukraine is in the air as leaders settle in for long and difficult talks in Brussels, with a 20-30% chance of success
Media: Scholz says second Patriot air defense system to arrive in Ukraine this year. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said an additional Patriot air defense system will start operating in Ukraine by the end of 2023, according to DPA/AFX.
Reuters: Spain’s PM wants EU membership talks with Ukraine before year-end. On 8 November, top EU officials recommended that Ukraine be invited to begin membership talks as soon as it meets final conditions.
Denmark plans to send $ 1.8 bn aid package to Ukraine, prime minister says. During the meeting, Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen announced the country was preparing an aid package for Ukraine worth nearly $1.8 billion.
Norway commits $1.8 bn in assistance to Ukraine through 2023. Air defense systems and increased defense industry funding are part of Norway’s just-unveiled support package for Ukraine worth $1.8 bn
Europeans largely welcome Ukraine’s EU membership bid – polls. A new 6-country survey of over 6,000 Europeans revealed support for Ukraine’s EU membership bid, especially in Eastern European countries like Poland and Romania. Germany and France resist Ukraine’s EU accession.
Political and Legal Developments
“Putin at the table” as EU scrambles to persuade Orban at crucial summit. The EU’s financial and political support for Ukraine is in the air as leaders settle in for long and difficult talks in Brussels, with a 20-30% chance of success.
Putin’s Trojan horse? Orban’s veto looms over Ukraine’s EU bid. As EU leaders prepare to converge in Brussels, unblocked funds may persuade Hungary to approve crucial financial aid for Ukraine, but its membership bid still hangs in the air.
New Developments
ISW: Russia likely presses attack to prompt aid debates in West. Russia lost 87% of its pre-war ground forces but continues partial mobilization efforts to sustain its eastern Ukraine offensive, which US intelligence believes is meant to erode Western backing for Ukraine.
Sky News: Security analysts warn Russia may launch cyberattacks on West to undermine Ukraine aid. Security analysts say Russia may launch cyberattacks on Ukraine’s Western allies to undermine their support for the country, Sky News has reported.
Frontline report: Ukraine keeps Avdiivka front “stable” as Russia claims new attacks. Facing heavy losses, the Russian command shifts its narrative, saying that “taking the city may not be their primary goal.”
Read our earlier daily review here.
As of 13 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:
- Personnel: 341500 (+850)
- Tanks: 5682 (+18)
- APV: 10594 (+15)
- Artillery systems: 8076 (+3)
- MLRS: 919
- Anti-aircraft systems: 605
- Aircraft: 324
- Helicopters: 324
- UAV: 6173 (+10)
- Cruise missiles : 1596
- Warships/boats: 22
- Submarines: 1
- Vehicles and fuel tanks: 10662 (+12)
