Latest Developments in the Ukrainian War

As the conflict enters its 673rd day, here are the key updates.

Here is the current situation in Ukraine on Thursday, December 28, 2023.

Fighting Intensifies

You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?

• In a devastating nighttime air raid, Russian forces unleashed dozens of attack drones over Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, resulting in the death of two individuals and injuring four others. The Ukrainian air force successfully intercepted and shot down 32 out of the 46 Iranian-made drones launched by Russia. However, the remaining drones hit areas near the front line, particularly the southern Kherson region. The attack caused significant damage to residential areas, a mall, and the power grid, leaving approximately 70 percent of households in Kherson city without electricity, according to Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
• Despite Russia’s recent claim of capturing Maryinka in eastern Ukraine, experts from the Institute for the Study of War believe this strategic gain will not provide them with a significant advantage on the battlefield. However, localized Russian offensive operations continue to exert pressure on Ukrainian forces along the front in eastern Ukraine.
• The general prosecutor’s office in Ukraine has initiated a war crimes investigation into the alleged execution of three Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces. The incident is said to have occurred earlier this month near the village of Robotyne in the southeastern Zaporizhia region.

Politics and Diplomacy

• During his five-day visit to Moscow, India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress in bilateral relations, even amidst challenging times. Minister Jaishankar also held discussions with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, focusing on potential military-technical cooperation, including joint production of advanced weaponry.

• Russia has strongly criticized the United States’ decision to impose sanctions on the Arctic LNG 2 project, denouncing it as an “unacceptable” move that threatens global energy security. These sanctions are part of the US government’s effort to curtail Moscow’s financial resources to sustain its ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.
• The Russian embassy in Denmark has announced that six Danish nationals have been charged with participating in the Russia-Ukraine war as “foreign mercenaries” on the side of Ukraine. If found guilty, they could face up to 15 years in prison. The embassy further revealed that a total of 20 Danes have been identified as mercenaries, some of whom have already lost their lives in the conflict.

Weapons and Military Aid

• The United States has pledged a $250 million military aid package for Ukraine, which officials say may be the final assistance unless a $61 billion funding bill, currently stalled by Republican opposition in Congress, is passed. The aid includes air defense munitions, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, artillery ammunition, anti-armour munitions, and over 15 million rounds of ammunition.
• Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine’s Minister of Strategic Industries, announced a significant increase in the production of weapons and military equipment for the upcoming year. He highlighted that the output in 2023 was three times higher compared to the previous year, with Ukraine now manufacturing six Bohdana self-propelled artillery units per month. Notably, Bohdana is the only domestically-produced self-propelled gun in Ukraine that utilizes NATO-standard 155mm rounds instead of the 152mm rounds employed by artillery systems based on Soviet technology.
• Japan’s plan to provide Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine has drawn strong opposition from Russia, warning of “grave consequences” for Russia-Japan relations if the deal proceeds.
• Sergei Chemezov, the head of the Rostec state defense company, announced that Russia will soon deploy its newest howitzers against Ukrainian forces. The testing phase for the Coalition-SV self-propelled artillery units has been completed, and mass production is now underway.