UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2023-12-30
Slava Ukraini! For the past six months I have provided a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 40 sources daily much of which ends up in the Ukraine War Written Brief. While this is going through a period of transition I will make this Draft available here for those who wish to keep up with events on a daily basis.
INSIDE UKRAINE
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
Following recent losses Russian begins using SU-34 and SU-35 aircraft again
The russian occupying forces resumed the use of their Su-34 and Su-35 fighter-bombers for airstrikes on the front line
Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tavria Region, said in an interview. 18 airstrikes per day were recorded. This is not only in Avdiyivka, but along the entire line of combat. That is, 2-3 airstrikes were recorded in almost all directions," Oleksandr Shtupun informed.
According to the spokesman, the russian-fascist forces doubled (compared to the previous day) the use of kamikaze attack drones. More than 100 cases were recorded in one day.
At the same time, the russian army continues to lose a large amount of military equipment. During the past day, warriors of the Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated or severely damaged more than a hundred units of the enemy's equipment.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group is responsible for the Kup’yans’k, Lyman, and Bakhmut axes, in the northeastern part of Ukraine.
Nothing to report.
The Tavria operational-strategic group is responsible for the Avdiivka, Mar’inka, Shaktars’ke, and Zaporizhzhia axes, in the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy awards Medal of Honor to defenders in Avdiivka
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the 110th separate mechanized brigade named after General-Colonel Marko Bezruchko, located in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, the Presidential Office reported on Dec. 29
During his visit, Zelenskyy also awarded Ukrainian servicemen. In particular, he presented the title of Hero of Ukraine to Junior Sergeant Ihor Tymoshchuk.
“Today in Avdiivka, together with the team, we extended Christmas and New Year greetings to the military. All those who are on the front line. We remember what is at stake in this war. We are defending our country,”
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The Odesa operational-strategic group is responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea
Nothing to report.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Russia will continue strikes against Ukraine in an effort to degrade Ukrainian morale
The Institute for the Study of War in its Dec. 29 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment stated that Russia will continue to conduct strikes against Ukraine at scale in an effort to degrade Ukrainian morale and Ukraine’s ability to sustain its war effort against Russia.
Commander in Chief Zaluzhnyi stated that Russian forces targeted critical infrastructure and industrial and military facilities in Ukraine on December 29. Ukrainian officials indicated that Russian forces primarily struck residential buildings, transportation infrastructure, and industrial facilities, although this is not a comprehensive list of the Russian target set. Russian sources, including the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD), claimed that Ukrainian defense industrial base (DIB) facilities and Ukrainian military infrastructure were the primary targets.
Updated casualty figures announced for Russia Dec. 29 attack on Ukraine
Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko announced on Telegram that the current total number of casualties at 30 people killed and over 160 injured in Russia’s recent massive attack on Ukraine’s territory on Dec. 29 Ukrinform reports.
According to Klymenko, the Ukrainian State Emergency Service has managed to rescue 53 people today. Eight of them were pulled from the rubble
Klymenko thanked everyone who had been involved in the rescue efforts, provided assistance, and “was doing the impossible for the sake of saving others.”
THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION / OCCUPIED BELARUS
Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine was planned for months
The Institute for the Study of War in its Dec. 29 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment stated that The strike package that Russian forces launched on December 29 appears to be a culmination of several months of Russian experimentation with various drone and missile combinations and efforts to test Ukrainian air defenses.
Over the past several months, Russian forces have conducted a series of missile and drone strikes of varying sizes, using various combinations of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. In most of the more recent strikes, Russian forces notably used either exclusively Shahed-136/131 type drones or a majority of Shahed drones accompanied by a smaller number of missiles. In contrast, the December 29 strike package included 36 Shahed drones and 120 missiles of various sizes.
Ukrainian military officials, including Ukrainian Air Force Spokesperson Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, have long noted that Russian forces frequently use Shahed-type drones to probe Ukrainian air defense and determine what strike routes most effectively circumvent Ukrainian air defense clusters.
Current Russian missile and drone reserves and production rates likely do not allow Russian forces to conduct regular large-scale missile strikes, but likely do allow for more consistent drone strikes, which can explain the recent pattern of Russian strike packages.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Western leaders view Dec. 29 attack as evidence of Putin’s maximalist intentions
The Institute for the Study of War in its Dec. 29 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment stated that Western leaders largely viewed the massive Russian strike as evidence that Putin’s maximalist goals in Ukraine remain unchanged, in line with ISW’s long-standing assessment that Putin is not genuinely interested in a ceasefire or any sort of negotiated settlement in Ukraine.
President Joe Biden stated that the large-scale Russian strikes on Ukraine are a reminder that Putin’s objective – to “obliterate Ukraine” and “subjugate its people” – remains unchanged. Biden also stated that the stakes of the war in Ukraine affect the entirety of NATO and European security, as ISW has previously suggested.
United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that the Russian strikes demonstrate that Putin intends to achieve his maximalist war aims of “eradicating freedom and democracy” and destroying Ukraine.
Biden’s statement on Russia’s Dec. 29 attack on Ukraine
The White House released a statement by US President Joe Biden in response to the unprecedented Russian attack on Ukraine that took place on Dec. 29. Some excerpts follow.
Overnight, Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since this war began. This massive bombardment used drones and missiles, including missiles with hypersonic capability, to strike cities and civilian infrastructure all across Ukraine.
In the face of this brutal attack, Ukraine deployed the air defense systems that the United States and our Allies and partners have delivered to Ukraine over the past year to successfully intercept and destroy many of the missiles and drones.
The American people can be proud of the lives we have helped to save and the support we have given Ukraine as it defends its people, its freedom, and its independence. But unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must step up and act without any further delay.
The stakes of this fight extend far beyond Ukraine. They affect the entirety of the NATO Alliance, the security of Europe, and the future of the Transatlantic relationship. Putin has not just attempted to destroy Ukraine; he has threatened some of our NATO Allies as well. When dictators and autocrats are allowed to run roughshod in Europe, the risk rises that the United States gets pulled in directly. And the consequences reverberate around the world. That’s why the United States has rallied a coalition of more than 50 countries to support the defense of Ukraine. We cannot let our allies and partners down. We cannot let Ukraine down. History will judge harshly those who fail to answer freedom’s call.
Ukraine and 30 countries request emergency UN security council meeting following Russian assault
Ukraine, backed by 30 other nations, has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council in response to a massive Russian missile attack across Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian representative to the UN, Serhii Kyslytsia, informed Voice of America.
“We insist that the meeting takes place today,” Kyslytsia emphasized, noting that UN Secretary-General António Guterres, currently in Europe, is preparing a statement regarding the shelling.
Denise Brown, the UN Coordinator in Ukraine, published a statement condemning Russia’s continued violation of international humanitarian law, attacking civilian targets and the civilian population in Ukraine.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed his shock at Russia’s massive strikes in Ukraine and the resulting civilian casualties and injuries.
Milei calls off Argentina’s planned BRICS ascension
New Argentinian President Javier Milei officially notified BRICS leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China by letter that he was withdrawing his country’s bid to join the bloc, despite its planned entry on Jan. 1. Argentinian media TN reported on Dec. 29.
BRICS, created in 2009, consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa as major emerging economies seeking more significant influence globally. However, they have some competing interests among the group, according to BBC. China sees BRICS as a way to challenge Western dominance, while Russia views it as support against Western sanctions over Ukraine. India is a rival to China and partners with the US to balance China’s influence in Asia.
Milei said his foreign policy “differs in many ways from the previous government.” He added that although he did not consider it “appropriate” for Argentina to become a full BRICS member, he remained committed to strengthening bilateral ties, “particularly intending to increase trade and investment flows.”
MILITARY & TECH
Britain Sends Hundreds of Anti-Aircraft Missiles to Ukraine
After the extensive russian shelling of Ukraine on the night of Friday, December 29, British Defense Minister Grant Shapps announced the dispatch of 'hundreds of anti-aircraft missiles' to Kyiv for British air defense systems.
The head of the British Ministry of Defense called the recent wave of Russian strikes as "a desperate and futile attempt to regain momentum following the catastrophic loss of hundreds of thousands of conscripts." This comes on the eve of Putin's humiliation over the start of the third year of his "three-day war."
“Putin in testing Ukraine’s defences and the West’s resolve - now is the time for the world to come together and redouble our efforts to get Ukraine what they need to win.”
— Grant Shapps, UK Minister of Defence
Shapps full statement from Twitter is listed below.
Advanced surveillance system Vegvisir Core to be deployed in Ukraine
Ukraine is set to deploy the Vegvisir Core system to enhance the situational awareness of combat vehicles. The defense company Vegvisir announced on its LinkedIn account the first agreement to supply its Vegvisir Core system. In collaboration with Defsecintel, the system will be utilized to improve the situational awareness of vehicle crews in Ukraine.
Vegvisir Core is a technology that enables users to observe, navigate, make decisions, and act faster in battle and critical situations. According to the manufacturer, this system allows armored vehicle crews to “see through walls.” It employs cameras, sensors, and image processing algorithms to provide a 360-degree MR/VR image to the crew with a display on the military helmet.
Defensphere, in its statement, said the system enables crews inside armored vehicles to see not only their immediate surroundings but also enemy positions in real-time up to 10 km away. Key features of Vegvisir Core include a modular configuration for 95% of potential user tasks, four levels of backup sensors, and robust helmet displays with VR interface options. The system boasts a 360-degree commander’s sight with a range of up to 10 km and night driving optics for low light conditions, alongside multispectral probing.
Developed in accordance with NATO military standards, Vegvisir is also integrated with other battlefield platforms, including unmanned ground vehicles. The system has already received NATO STANAG accreditation.
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