Military

Ukraine destroys Russian Navy’s Novocherkassk landing craft in occupied Crimea. After reported explosions and fire in occupied Crimea’s Feodosia port, Ukraine’s Air Force commander says Ukrainian pilots destroyed Russia’s Novocherkassk large landing craft.

Photo shows submerged wreckage of Novocherkassk landing ship as Russia claims Ukrainian attack just damaged it. Russia’s defense ministry says Ukrainian missile attack “damaged” the Russian Navy’s Novocherkassk landing ship, but a photo from occupied Feodosia shows its submerged wreckage.

Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief addresses mobilization and frontline situation in briefing. During a briefing on 26 December, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi discussed Ukraine’s ongoing mobilization and strategic military planning, emphasized the importance of implementing new technologies, and provided updates on the frontline situation in the Mariinka direction.

Six Ukrainian war pilots finish, ten more continue F-16 basic training in UK. Six Ukrainian combat pilots have concluded their basic training in the UK and are now progressing to F-16 training in Denmark, according to the UK government.

As of 26 Dec 2023, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• • • Personnel: 354960 (+1010)
    • Tanks: 5899 (+22)
    • APV: 10956 (+37)
    • Artillery systems: 8366 (+19)
    • MLRS: 934
    • Anti-aircraft systems: 614 (+1)
    • Aircraft: 329
    • Helicopters: 324
    • UAV: 6458 (+22)
    • Cruise missiles : 1618 (+1)
    • Warships/boats: 23 (+1)
    • Submarines: 1
    • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 11109 (+34)

Intelligence and technology

“Army of Drones” UAVs hit 391 Russian strongpoints in one week. In addition, Ukrainian drone operators, using UAVs from the “Army of Drones” project, destroyed 58 Russian armored combat vehicles, 6 howitzers, 31 tanks, and 207 Russian personnel.

International

IStories: Russia imports Western-made rifle scopes. Russia has reportedly imported hunting rifle scopes worth $174 million from Western countries in 2022-2023, with some being used in the war against Ukraine.

France transfers second vessel to aid Ukraine’s grain exports. “The vessel will assist in exporting grains to help feed the world,” the French Minister of Transport said.

Media: Foreign companies exit major Russian LNG project due to sanctions. Foreign shareholders in Russian Arctic LNG-2 project, including TotalEnergies and Chinese firms, declare force majeure and suspend involvement, prompted by US sanctions on Russia’s Novatek, Russian media says.

Humanitarian and social impact

Russian shelling kills eight civilians in three Ukraine’s oblasts. Over the last 24 hours, Russian troops have shelled dozens of settlements in Donetsk, Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts.

Political and legal developments

Over 3,700 trucks stranded amid ongoing blockade of Poland-Ukraine border. Over 3,700 trucks stranded at Ukraine-Poland border as Polish truckers continue their blockade of key checkpoints, Ukraine’s Border Guard Service reports.

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