The Ukraine war continues to be fought on the ground and in the air. This morning, Russian air defenses destroyed 84 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory, 36 of them in the Rostov region. Despite the winter cold, there is significant activity on the front, and Russia is utilizing troops provided by North Korea, with 100 soldiers already lost in combat.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported that "part of the 11,000 North Korean soldiers deployed in the Kursk region began engaging in combat in December" and that "at least 100 soldiers have died since then, with an estimated 1,000 or more wounded."
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that overnight, air defenses shot down a total of 84 Ukrainian drones across seven regions of the country. In addition to the 36 in Rostov, interceptions also occurred in the regions of Bryansk (21), Belgorod (14), Voronezh (6), Kursk (3), Tambov (3), and Krasnodar (1).
Sweden Rules Out Sending Troops to Ukraine Before Peace Negotiations Begin
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson ruled out on Thursday the deployment of Swedish troops to Ukraine to participate in a potential peace mission until negotiations between Kiev and Moscow to end the war commence, reports Efe.
"We do not rule out sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, but this is a matter that will come much later, after we have started peace negotiations on Ukraine's terms," Kristersson stated upon arriving at the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels.
The Swedish leader mentioned that all European countries and the United States want peace based on Ukraine's conditions, requiring a "peace through strength" where Kiev's military strength forces Russia to sign a ceasefire to ensure its own survival. "Our current goal is to maximize Ukraine's military strength and economic resilience so that it can engage in peace negotiations from a position of strength," he noted.
Putin Vows to Retake Kursk Region, Boasts Unstoppable Missiles, and Acknowledges Economic Overheating
The Russian region of Kursk will be "liberated," the new Russian missile Oreshnik is "unstoppable," and the Russian economy will have a soft landing despite inflation overheating: Vladimir Putin began his annual address optimistically, with the country on the brink of the third year of the Ukraine invasion and the ruble at record lows. The course of the war --referred to as a 'special military operation' in Russia-- is the main topic of the annual direct line event where the Russian president communicates with his citizens through television.
Basque and Navarrese Families to Host 47 Ukrainian Children This Christmas
The 47 Ukrainian children who will spend Christmas away from the war through the Chernobyl Association in families from the Basque Country and Navarre, where they will stay until January 18, arrive on Thursday in Bilbao, Vitoria, San Sebastián, and Pamplona, reports Efe.
This one-month stay will allow these children, six of whom are traveling for the first time, to "take a break from the war environment and the harsh Ukrainian winter," as reported by the Chernobyl Association in a statement. Of the total, 17 children will be in Gipuzkoa families, 15 in Bizkaia, four in Álava, and 11 in Navarra.
Russia Captures Two Towns Near Ukrainian Strongholds of Kurayove and Velika Novosilka
The Russian Army claimed on Thursday to have taken two towns near the Ukrainian strongholds of Kurayove and Velika Novosilka, continuing its unstoppable advance towards the border between the Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions, reports Efe.
"Thanks to their successful offensive, units of the Vostok (East) military group liberated the towns of Zelenivka and Novii Komar in the Donetsk People's Republic," the Russian Ministry of Defense reported in its daily war update.
The town of Novii Komar is less than four kilometers north of Velika Novosilka, the next target for Russian forces, whose capture would pave the way towards Zaporizhia, partially occupied by Russia and annexed in 2022.
Zelensky Calls for EU-US Unity: Supporting Ukraine Without US Aid Is "Very Difficult"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated upon arriving at the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday that he relies on "unity between the United States and Europe" to continue resisting the Russian invasion, reports Efe.
Regarding a potential withdrawal of Washington's support, he explained that it would be "very difficult" to maintain support for Kiev without the contribution of Ukraine's main military partner. "We need to rely again on the unity between the United States and Europe. It is very difficult to support Ukraine without American assistance, and that is what we will discuss with President Trump when he is in the White House," Zelensky told reporters alongside European Council President António Costa.
London to Supply £225 Million in Military Equipment to Kiev
The United Kingdom will release £225 million (¤273 million) in military equipment to Ukraine, including drones, air defense systems, and ammunition, announced the British Ministry of Defense in a press release on Thursday, reports Afp.
This announcement comes a day after British Defense Minister John Healey's visit to Kiev, where he met with his counterpart, Rustam Umerov, and committed to "intensifying" UK support to Ukraine in 2025.
Arms Purchases and Defensive Training Increase in Finland Amid Russian Threat
Disturbed by Russian expansionism and emboldened by its recent NATO membership, Finland is mobilizing to strengthen its national self-defense beyond its traditional military capabilities, reports Ap.
The popularity of firearms training in the Nordic country has surged in recent months. Few places better reflect the Finns' enthusiasm for personal defense than shooting ranges, which are experiencing a peak in interest.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's order for a large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine --another major Russian neighbor-- in February 2022 continues to resonate in many Finnish minds and partially explains the ballistic surge.
The Vantaa Reservists Association, which operates a shooting range in a warehouse formerly used to manufacture sex toys in Kerava, north of Helsinki, has more than doubled its membership in the past two years and now has over 2,100 members.
Ukraine Develops Laser to Shoot Down Aircraft Over Two Kilometers Away
Ukraine has developed a laser capable of shooting down enemy targets over two kilometers away, announced Colonel Vadim Sujarevski, commander of the Ukrainian Army's drone forces, reports Efe.
"We can say that today Ukraine is, if I am not mistaken, the fifth country to have a laser weapon," stated Sujarevski, as cited by Ukrainian media.
The military added that this technology, named Trizub, or trident, in honor of the Ukrainian state emblem, can already bring down enemy aircraft over two kilometers away, and efforts are ongoing to enhance the laser's capabilities.
Ukrainian Air Force Claims to Have Shot Down 45 Russian Drones Launched Overnight
The Ukrainian Air Force stated on Thursday that Russia launched 85 drones to attack Ukraine overnight, of which 40 "decoy drones" did not reach their targets, and 45 drones were shot down, reports Reuters. Russia also launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and a Kh-59/69 guided missile during the attack, according to the air force.
The missile strike damaged apartment buildings and municipal properties in the Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as per the statement.
EU Leaders Seek to Define Bloc's Strategies for Ukraine and Syria
EU leaders are holding a summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the security situation in Ukraine and how to engage with the new leaders in Syria following Bashar al-Assad's fall, reports Afp. This is the final summit the EU leaders will hold before Donald Trump returns to the White House on January 20.