🗣️ Another German Patriot system lands in Ukraine! 🇩🇪🇬🇧
Once again, Ukraine receives military aid from Germany, this time in the form of a second Patriot air defense system before the year ends. The German government also delivered Patriot missiles to back up the defense system. The aid doesn't stop there, as Ukraine is also set to receive nine Bandvagn tracked multi-purpose vehicles, 7390 155-caliber artillery shells, three remote-controlled mine-clearing devices, and eight tankers.
In an unrelated event, the US Congress approves an eye-popping 886 billion dollar defense budget for 2024! This increase from the 2023 budget is a significant boost to American military capabilities, enabling them to further strengthen their presence in the Indo-Pacific region, counteracting growing Chinese influence and providing aid to Ukraine.
Estonia also joins the ranks of countries supporting Ukraine in their fight against Russia by providing another multimillion-euro military aid package. This new package includes Javelin anti-tank missiles, machine guns, ammunition, and various vehicles along with diving equipment. Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur stated that the aid package is put together with the utmost care to achieve maximum benefit without compromising Estonia's defense capabilities.
In a significant move, the European Union opens accession negotiations with Ukraine and its neighboring country, Moldova. Georgia is now only one step away from receiving the status of a candidate country. This is a significant step in strengthening European defence and unity amid ongoing conflicts within the region.
The Russian air force launched hypersonic missile strikes on a military airport in western Ukraine. The attack by MiG-31 fighter jets left no casualties or visible damage so far, but the situation remains fluid as air defense was activated over Kiev.
Could Putin have let the cat out of the bag in his press conference, revealing Russian losses of 617,000 soldiers in Ukraine? According to various estimates, Russia initiated the conflict with around 250,000 soldiers. Putin then mentioned that there are 244,000 soldiers and 486,000 volunteers at the front, and 41,000 have returned home. Based on these figures, around 322,000 soldiers presumably lost their lives or sustained injuries. Although this remains unconfirmed, it raises concerns about the toll this conflict is taking on both sides.
A bizarre event unfolded as Putin appeared in his annual press conference and proceeded to answer questions from, well, Putin himself! His question and answer session turned into an hour-long propaganda spectacle, with Putin answering his own questions suggesting that diplomacy may not be in the immediate cards.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Germany for a visit, landing at Frankfurt Airport. The specifics of his visit are not yet disclosed, but this meeting could potentially have significant implications for the ongoing conflict.
In the field, Russian forces are relentlessly attacking Ukrainian defenses in the east, aiming to overwhelm the defenders with daily attacks. Commander Zhydkov described the situation, saying it's challenging to hold the lines, and sometimes the tank guns run so hot that they need to take breaks.
Ukrainian President appeals to the EU to get the accession negotiations with his country off the ground while warning not to "deceive the people!" This is a pivotal moment in the EU summit, as Ukraine needs stronger and more present aid in their defense campaign against Russia. Although the 60 billion aid package is still stuck in the US due to Republican blocking, Europe is expected to provide stronger and more sustained aid.
In an intriguing development, Ukraine's largest mobile provider, Kyivstar, has been crippled by a massive hacker attack, leaving millions of customers without mobile phone service. European heads of government will attempt to exert influence on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban today following blockage threats from his politics. Poland, Germany, and France are leading attempts to push Orban's stance toward EU countries' remaining united on Russia during the Ukraine conflict.
As the conflict escalates, Ukraine continues to reinforce their northern defensive lines, and in a show of unity, several NATO countries are considering strengthening their presence in Eastern Europe, providing military aid, and supporting Ukraine.
Despite the ongoing conflict and increasing tension in the region, both sides continue to wage cyberwarfare, as evidenced by the crippling Kyivstar hacker attack believed to be linked to Russian military intelligence.
Enrichment Insights:
Although there is no confirmation, Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn mentioned that in 1961, Soviet authorities lost between 20,000 and 25,000 soldiers fighting against China. This is a different context and a different conflict but highlights the fact that wars have always had significant casualties.
According to the statistics, almost 4,000 civilians have been killed, over 8,000 wounded, and 6,000 caused by explosions in Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that during the conflict, the Russian military has lost 8,100 tanks, 1,250 armored personnel carriers, 4,600 vehicles, 264 artillery systems, 74 multiple launch rocket systems, 270 air defense systems, and 476 drones. The majority of Ukrainian military hardware is made up of weapons of Soviet or post-Soviet origin, while the Russian military largely relies on upgraded Soviet designs.
The Ukrainian military did not provide an update on the number of injured soldiers.
