Shipments from Ukraine. Day 1028.
Kherson region. On December 14, Russian bombing of several municipalities in the Kherson oblast or region in southern Ukraine killed two more people and injured six.
Donetsk region. A Russian artillery attack killed a child in the eastern frontline village of Shevchenko on Dec. 11. Tragically, the child’s family heeded the mandatory evacuation imposed two months ago, but then returned and were in hiding in their home village at the time of the attack. Advancing Russian forces have since captured Shevchenko and are now within two miles of the strategic city of Pokrovsk, a logistics hub for Ukraine’s military.
On Dec. 13, the Kremlin launched one of its largest aerial moves against Ukraine’s military infrastructure, firing 94 missiles and some 200 drones. Ukraine intercepted 81 missiles, added 11 cruise missiles shot down by F-16 jets and neutralized 80 drones. while more than a hundred others were probably neutralized by electronic warfare. The movements were basically aimed at western Ukraine, where more than 50 missiles were shot down; However, the attack led to widespread power outages and exacerbated recurring power outages. Russia’s usual large-scale missile attacks, which occur every two to three weeks, are aimed at further paralyzing Ukraine’s already broken energy grid during the winter months.
Casualties in the Russo-Ukrainian war have surpassed one million since the full-scale invasion of Russia began in February 2022, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a speech in Brussels on December 12. According to Rutte, Moscow lost around 700,000 people. troops, and Ukraine suffered 43,000 infantry soldiers killed and 370,000 wounded. He said the war continues to cause devastating losses, with more than 10,000 casualties a week, and warned that allies have been slow to respond to Putin’s aggression. He also warned that NATO was unprepared for long-term threats from Russia and called for increased defense spending and a “change in wartime mentality. ” He highlighted that Ukraine spent 25% of its GDP on defense in 2025, 10 times the average of European allies.
Norway announced a $240 million program to bolster Ukraine’s maritime defense, adding demining, military education and equipment to counter Russian naval threats in the Black Sea. The funds, which are part of Norway’s $3. 1 billion aid commitment through 2025, will bolster Ukraine’s naval capabilities, adding small boats and mine detection systems. The country also plans to contribute to the training of Ukrainian pilots on U. S. F-16 jets in Portugal.
The U.S. has announced a $500 million military aid package for Ukraine, including HIMARS long-range rocket launchers and artillery ammunition, anti-drone systems, and anti-tank missiles. Additionally, the U.S. has announced $440 million in economic aid to Ukraine, focused on the agricultural sector and port infrastructure. The package includes $75 million to support export-oriented farming along with $220 million to rebuild transport systems and modernize Black Sea ports. The aid aligns with President Biden’s push to accelerate support, with $7.1 billion remaining to be allocated before his term ends in January, as Ukraine faces a critical need for air defense capabilities, particularly in light of intensified Russian offensives.
A recent survey indicates a significant decrease in the share of Ukrainians who have a favorable view of Poland, dropping from 83% in 2022 to just 41% in 2024. The poll, conducted by a Polish government think-tank, highlights that 53% of Ukrainians now hold a neutral stance toward Poles, with only 4% expressing strong positive feelings. This shift is mainly attributed to protests by Polish farmers against Ukrainian agricultural exports, growing wartime tensions, and Russian propaganda aiming to exploit historical tensions between the two nations.
The European Union has approved its 15th sanctions package against Russia, targeting 54 individuals and 30 entities, including top energy executives and officials linked to child deportations, as well as top North Korean officials. The package sanctions 52 ships used to bypass previous restrictions, as well as the Russian chemical industry and a domestic commercial airline aiding military operations. For the first time, sanctions were also imposed on Chinese companies supplying components for drones and microelectronics for Russia’s war effort, alongside Indian, Iranian, Serbian, and United Arab Emirates firms involved in sanctions evasion. However, many Ukrainian politicians deem these measures insufficient, urging sanctions on Russian LNG (liquified natural gas), imports of which have recently risen in Europe, despite efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy with the ongoing war.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in the Bundestag on Dec. 16, triggering early elections on February 23, 2025. The motion passed the German parliament with 394 votes against Scholz and only 207 in favor following the collapse of his coalition in November after a partner, the Free Democratic Party, withdrew. One issue fueling political tensions is Scholz’s refusal to provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles, advanced long-range precision weapons capable of striking targets up to 300 miles away. In comparison, U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles have a range of only 180 miles. Longer-range missiles are crucial for Ukraine to hit military targets deep within Russian territory. In contrast, one of Scholz’s main political rivals, Friedrich Merz, has taken a stronger stance on supporting Ukraine, including backing the delivery of Taurus missiles.
By Danylo Nosov, Karina L. Tahiliani
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