10:09 Russia sees itself ahead in the arms race with the West

The worldwide competitive edge in the weapons race traces back to the turmoil in Ukraine, as per Russia's perspective. "I might not come off as boastful, but I can say that we accelerated production earlier than the Western nations," said Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, responsible for military equipment, according to the RIA news agency. The question remains: How long will this rivalry persist? Manturov hinted at the 2025-2034 arms plan, which is set to be adopted next year. Defense expenditures for state contracts have doubled in this year compared to 2022.

Meanwhile, an air alert remains in effect across Ukraine since 9:30 am, warning of imminent missile attacks.

This Christmas, Ukrainians are celebrating on December 25 for the first time. Orthodox Christians in Ukraine are switching from January 7 to December 25 as their primary celebration date. Ukraine made this change to distancing themselves from Russia, with parliament abolishing the national Christmas holiday on January 7. Only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, linked to Moscow, is preserving the traditional date.

Russian shareholders of the Arctic LNG 2 gas production are placing their stakes on hold due to Western sanctions. This results in foregone investments and agreement cancellations, pushing gas sales to the spot market. Notably, Chinese companies CNOOC Ltd and China National Petroleum Corp hold 10% shares each in this project, alongside TotalEnergies and a Japanese consortium.

Overnight, the Ukrainian military reported 31 drone and 2 missile attacks on various regions, including Odessa, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, and Khmelnytskyi. Despite these strikes, no casualties were reported.

Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis supports Ukraine, highlighting the "just cause" for military aid. He estimates that half the Russian army has been destroyed without any losses for US or allied soldiers and argues that this level of support is affordable and crucial to the West.

Enrichment Data: The evolution of the military competition between Russia and the West centers on several key aspects, connecting escalating expenses and technological advancements in the defense realm:

Russia

1. Monumental Defense Spending:
2. Russia is projected to invest a staggering $132 billion in defense in 2025, which equates to 6.3% of its GDP. This significant expenditure mainly targets the warfare and security sectors, striving for the development of cutting-edge military technologies - specifically, nuclear-capable missiles and hypersonic weapons.
3. Industrial Capacity and Accomplishments:
4. Despite sanctions, Russia's robust industrial capacity continues producing ammunition and high-tech weapons systems, like the nuclear-capable multiple warhead IRBM Oreshnik. Nevertheless, these measures' quality is affected by sanctions, and long-term production sustainability appears challenging.
5. Labor Shortage and Equipment Replacement:
6. Russia faces a critical labor shortage due to casualties in Ukraine, which restricts its ability to grow production. The majority of its tank and armored vehicle manufacturing mainly refers to refurbished stockpiled equipment, emphasizing concerns about the serviceability of its current reserves.
7. Economic Dependence on Military Spending:
8. Russia's economy heavily relies on military spending, which is anticipated to remain high even after the Ukraine conflict concludes. Rebuilding the armed forces needs sustained investment and will require about 8 years.

The West (NATO)

1. Unified Strategy and Military Dominance:
2. despite NATO's military and economic superiority, coordinating and implementing an effective strategy to counter Russia's aggression is vital. NATO is focusing on designing a comprehensive strategy to counteract Russia's military advancements, including its nuclear capabilities and hypersonic technology.
3. Enhanced Military Capabilities:
4. NATO is investing in modernizing its military capabilities, including developing advanced missile systems and improving electronic warfare capabilities to counteract Russian developments. This includes plans for producing more advanced missile systems like the Iskander ballistic missiles and Kh-101 cruise missiles.
5. Sanctions Impact:
6. While sanctions have undeniably impacted Russia's weapons industry, they have also amplified costs and increased dependency on allies for specific technologies. This has motivated NATO member states to focus on developing indigenous abilities to challenge Russian advancements.