Russia is ramping up the pressure on Ukrainian nuclear workers at Zaporizhia, coercing them into obtaining Russian passports and signing contracts with Rosatom. By December 31, several hundred Ukrainians are required to comply, with Russians restricting access to workplaces and using a Telegram bot for anonymous denunciations among the staff.
Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is on course to sign a roadmap for the deployment of a Bundeswehr combat brigade with his Lithuanian counterpart in Vilnius, aiming to strengthen NATO's eastern flank in response to Russia's assault on Ukraine. The project has been heralded as a "beacon project of the new era."
In a current assessment, Ukraine reports that Russia is still relying on Iranian drones, with the high launch frequency suggesting a large supply. Minor modifications to the drones are being implemented to make them less detectable on radars.
In Odessa, Russia is stepping up its sabotage efforts, attempting to infiltrate Ukraine with unspecified means. Putin has threatened to cause "trouble" for Finland due to its NATO membership, while the Russian Ministry of Defense claims to have shot down 35 Ukrainian drones targeting Russian territories – a claim that cannot be independently verified.
Local Ukrainian troops in Kherson use homemade drones to defend against Russian attacks, as Ukraine fights back with whatever weapons it has received from its allies. Putin dismisses Biden's warnings of a potential Russian attack on NATO as "nonsense," and tensions build between the two world leaders.
In the northeast, Sumy remains under relentless shelling from Russian forces, resulting in a civilian casualty and causing extensive damage to residential and commercial areas. The majority of Ukrainian businesspeople, despite the ongoing war, anticipate good business growth in the future.
Russian officials report intercepting and destroying 33 Ukrainian drones headed towards Russian territories, while Germany is lauded for its commitment to Ukraine's security by Lithuania's Commander-in-Chief. The blockade of Ukrainian trucks at the Polish border has claimed another life, marking the third fatality connected to the protest.
Austria has abandoned its opposition to EU sanctions against Russia, increasing diplomatic tensions between Ukraine and Austria. The north-eastern region of Sumy experiences 138 explosions in a single day, with communities under constant assault from artillery, grenade launchers, mortars, and drones. The city of Nikopol endures constant shelling, with three injured men and damaged buildings as a result.
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, international responses and diplomatic initiatives have sought to hold Russia accountable and support Ukraine's defense.
