12:18: Latvia Aids Ukraine with Seizure Vehicles
Latvia has been lending a helping hand to Ukraine by sending over vehicles confiscated from drunk drivers. The country passed a law in February specifically for this purpose, and since then, it has gifted 271 such cars to Ukraine, as reported by the news outlet "Delfi," citing information from financial authorities. The estimated worth of these vehicles reaches nearly one million euros.
11:30: Fire on Nuclear Icebreaker in Murmansk
Reports suggest that a fire broke out on the nuclear-powered icebreaker "Sevmorput" while it was docked in Murmansk, Russia. The fire reportedly ignited in one of the cabins and was swiftly extinguished, according to the Russian state news agency Ria Novosti, who cited the rescue service. No injuries were reported. The vessel's operator, Atomflot, confirmed that the blaze did not put the reactor plant in danger. The origin of the fire remains unknown.
11:07: Damage in Port of Odessa Due to Drone Attacks
Ukraine Military Reports Damage:
Ukraine's military reported that the Russian drone attacks on Odessa had caused damage to the port infrastructure due to debris falling from downed drones and a subsequent fire. According to the military, 17 drones were shot down in the Odessa region, but this cannot be verified. The authorities also reported destruction in the Kherson region and the Dnipropetrovsk region, with no casualties confirmed.
10:36: Ukraine Claims Downing of Russian Jets
Ukraine Makes Declarations:
Ukraine declared that they had shot down two Russian fighter jets following Russia's attacks at night. A Sukhoi Su-34 fighter jet was reportedly downed in the Donetsk region the previous day, while an Su-30CM was taken down over the Black Sea. Furthermore, the air force reported strikes against enemy positions and weapons and ammunition depots. Ukraine announced that they had already shot down 28 of 31 drones and two missiles during the night. The most drone attacks in a period of more than six hours occurred in the Odessa area.
10:09: Russia Advances in Arms Race with the West
Russia Believes It Wins the Arms Race:
Denis Manturov, Russia's deputy prime minister in charge of armaments, declared that Russia currently holds an upper hand in the arms race sparked by the war in Ukraine. According to Manturov, Russia began increasing production earlier than Western countries, and the national armaments plan for the years 2025-2034 will be adopted next year. Funds for state defense contracts have doubled in the current year compared to 2022.
9:40: Air Alert Across Ukraine
An Air Alert Throughout:
An air alert was issued across Ukraine around 9:30 am local time, warning of possible missile attacks. The alert lasted for two hours.
9:10: Ukrainian Celebration of Christmas on December 25
Ukraine Celebrates Christmas Earlier:
For the first time, most Orthodox Christians in Ukraine celebrated Christmas on December 25 instead of January 7, as a result of Ukraine changing its holiday calendar in an attempt to distance itself from Russia. Many believers attended Christmas Eve services beforehand. Parliament abolished the national Christmas holiday on January 7, but the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is traditionally affiliated with Moscow, still adheres to the original date.
8:33: Foreign Companies Withdraw From Russian Gas Production
Foreign Companies Abandon Project:
Arctic LNG 2, a gas production project in Russia, is expected to suffer from the withdrawal of foreign shareholders due to Western sanctions, as reported by the Russian newspaper Kommersant. The foreign shareholders forego investments and purchase agreements, resulting in gas having to be sold on the spot market. Chinese oil giants, TotalEnergies from France, and a Japanese consortium are among the foreign shareholders involved in Arctic LNG 2, with Russia's Novatek controlling 60% of the project.
8:01: Ukraine: Air Defense Intercepts Drones and Missiles
Russia Fires 31 Drones and Two Missiles:
Ukraine reported that Russia had launched 31 drones and two missiles at Ukraine during the night, with the air defense intercepting 28 drones and both missiles. Attacks occurred in different regions, including Odessa, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, and Khmelnytskyi.
7:24: Staged Interaction Between Putin and Soldiers
Putin Grants Leaves:
According to the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Putin staged an interaction with soldiers at a ceremony on December 19, 2023, to project an image of a benevolent leader who cares for his military personnel and as an effective commander-in-chief. The interaction was likely a staged event to boost support for Putin and potentially criticize his chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, as ineffective.
6:47: Britain Calls for Backing Ukraine to Prevent Putin's Win
British Defense Secretary Grant Shepps warned that the West must not allow Putin to "win" the war in Ukraine, or else face "incredibly harsh" consequences for Europe, the UK, and the world. To prevent this outcome, Shepps advocated for increased military support to Ukraine.
6:18: Communities in Sumy Under Intense Shelling
Sumy, a region bordering Russia, reported extensive shelling by Russian forces. Seven communities in the region were targeted, with 68 explosions reported, causing no injuries.
5:43: Ex-NATO Supreme Allied Commander Calls for More Military Support
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis urged for more military aid for Ukraine, praising the Ukrainian cause and emphasizing that the West could afford to substantially increase their support without significant risk or cost.
4:58: Ukrainian Air Force Reports Downing of Russian Su-34 Fighter
The Ukrainian air force reported the successful downing of a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber intended for Mariupol. Mika Oleschuk, the commander of the Ukrainian air force, announced that their air defense missile system had destroyed the aircraft.
2:37: Russians Report Casualties and Damage in Donetsk and Kherson
Russian forces reported a woman's death and six civilians injured in Ukrainian shelling of the town of Horlivka in the Donetsk region. Reports also cite destruction of a shopping center and several buildings. In Kershon, five civilians were killed, with gas and water supplies partially disrupted, and a medical facility attacked.
1:37: EU Counts Over 4 Million Ukrainian Refugees
According to the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA), over 4.16 million Ukrainians were registered in the EU as enjoying temporary protection, a 320,000-person increase since January 2023. Germany remained the most important host country, with 1.17 million Ukrainian refugees, and Poland was in second place, with 957,000.
Insights (Enrichment Data)
- Russia has condemned the decision by NATO to provide military aid to Ukraine, viewing it as an escalation of the conflict.
- There have been reports of a cyberwarfare attack on critical infrastructure in Ukraine, believed to have originated from Russia.
- Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has called for strengthened military operations against Russian forces, citing ongoing attacks within the Ukraine conflict.
- The Russian military has been accused of launching drone attacks on Ukrainian military bases, causing significant damage and raising concerns about an escalation in the military operations in the Ukraine conflict.
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