Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 23:10 The head of the OP Andrey Ermak, during a visit to Washington, said that without US help, Ukraine risks losing the war. He called on Congress to quickly approve additional funding for Ukraine.
22:18 Ukraine is recognized as the most militarized country in the world - it took first place in the Global Militarization Index (GMI) 2023, published by the Bonn International Center for Conflict Research. Since 2007, Israel has occupied first place in the ranking.
21:29 In Russia there is a collapse in the civil aviation industry. So, in the last week alone, six Russian planes encountered breakdowns during flight. Malfunctions of civilian ships have become more frequent after Western sanctions cut off the Russian Federation from certified repairs of aircraft and the supply of original spare parts. Read more in the article How civil aviation lives in the Russian Federation .
21:24 Zelensky at the last moment canceled his planned speech before American senators today, said the head of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer.
21:17 A bill is being prepared in Ukraine that provides for the delivery of subpoenas by e-mail and registered mail. Read more in the material New rules of mobilization .
21:08 A two-day joint US-Ukrainian defense conference will be held in Washington on December 6-7, the Presidential Office reported. The main goal is to strengthen cooperation between defense industries to significantly increase weapons production in Ukraine, the USA, as well as in other NATO member countries. Ukraine’s priority is the acquisition of equipment and ammunition.
20:29 The US Treasury announced new sanctions against Belarus for participation in the deportation of Ukrainian children. Restrictions were introduced against eight individuals and 11 organizations. In particular, the list included the Secretary General of the Belarusian Red Cross Dmitry Shevtsov.
19:54 Zelensky said that he had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Hanke Brains Slot. We discussed the situation at the front, the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the training of F-16 pilots, as well as the functioning of an alternative humanitarian corridor, the Peace Formula and the European integration of Ukraine.
19:13 The Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed a Russian Su-24M bomber in the area of Snake Island, which, under the cover of a Su-30SM fighter, tried to strike the south of the Odessa region, said Air Force Commander Nikolai Oleshchuk.
18:32 Zelensky announced the beginning of the implementation of an initiative aimed at implementing the principle: Ukraine protects those who protect Ukraine. “In accordance with this initiative, everyone who has received the title of Hero of Ukraine since the beginning of the war receives their own housing. Everyone who, defending the state, became a holder of the Order of the Golden Star. All without exception. At least since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, this is 360 people. 210 of them, unfortunately, were awarded posthumously. The state will take care of each of them - both those who are with us, and the families of all who gave their lives for the country," the president emphasized.
18:03 In Ukraine, they plan at the legislative level to oblige citizens to carry a military ID, said member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence Fyodor Venislavsky: “In order to avoid questions related to whether a citizen is liable for military service, not liable for military service, he can whether to receive a summons, or cannot receive a summons, we assume that those liable for military service during martial law must have with them both an identity document and a document certifying their presence in the military register."
18:00 Russian troops shelled a village in the Belozersk community of the Kherson region - one person was killed, information about other victims is being clarified, the prosecutor's office reported.
17:28 This morning, drones of the SBU and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense also hit the Marine Oil Terminal in Feodosia, Ukrainian media reported, citing sources. According to them, the drones hit the target, the consequences for the Russians are significant.
17:04 The speaker of the Defense Forces of the Tauride direction, Alexander Shtupun, denied the information of Russian propagandists about the alleged capture of Marinka, Donetsk region. According to him, there are “cruel and bloody battles” in the city. At the same time, Shtupun added that Russia has set itself the goal of taking Marinka and Avdeevka by the end of 2023. The speaker is convinced that the enemy will not be able to do this.
16:33 The Russians fired from Grady at the city of Chasov Yar, Donetsk region - one person was killed, five were wounded, the prosecutor's office reported. At the time of the attack, people received water and bread from volunteers.
16:27 This morning in Crimea, SBU drones hit the Nebo-M radar system in the area of the village of Bagerovo, a helicopter parking lot, the P-18 Terek radar system and the control system of the Baikal-1M anti-aircraft missile units near the village. Strelkovoe, Ukrainian media report citing sources in the Security Service.
15:45 The “court” in the “DPR” issued another verdict against a Ukrainian serviceman for allegedly “shooting a civilian in Mariupol.” Senior intelligence officer of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Alexei Voloshenyuk, was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
15:26 The Prosecutor General's Office transferred 171 million hryvnia to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense - these are funds seized as part of a pre-trial investigation into the illegal activities of a group of Ukrainian companies affiliated with a Russian state investment bank.
15:01 On International Volunteer Day in the center of Kherson, a volunteer of the Spravzhni organization was killed by a Russian shell, said the head of the OVA, Alexander Prokudin.
14:57 South Korea transferred more artillery shells to Ukraine than all European countries combined, writes The Washington Post. According to the publication, 155-mm shells began arriving at the beginning of the year. These ammunition were once transferred to Seoul by the United States. The exact number of shells supplied is not known, but the United States estimated the possibility of supplying 330 thousand shells.
14:52 Qatar's Minister of State for International Cooperation Lolwa al-Khater said that Russia has agreed to return six more deported children to Ukraine. The release of Ukrainian children is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 5. A group of six children aged eight to 15 are to leave Moscow and travel through Belarus to Ukraine.
14:24 Macron invited Orban to a meeting in Paris at the end of this week to find a compromise on starting negotiations with Ukraine on its accession to the EU, Politico writes, citing sources. The French president believes that the Hungarian leader can still be persuaded to support Ukraine's accession to the EU. Orban has raised the stakes to get more money from the EU, according to an anonymous official in Paris.
14:17 Finland is investigating the supply of about 3,500 drones to Russia worth more than 3 million euros in violation of sanctions, Finnish customs reported. To circumvent the sanctions, a network of companies was created, which was controlled from Russia. Two Finnish companies processed paperwork to export drones and electronics that could be used for military purposes to Kazakhstan, when in fact the goods were being transported to Russia. There is also an episode in the case related to the supply of equipment designed to combat drones. One person was detained in both episodes and taken into custody. Five more people are considered suspects.
14:08 Peskov said that Moscow remains ready for negotiations on Ukraine and “would prefer political and diplomatic means.”
13:51 The Russian army has increased the number of attacks on Western Ukraine. Thus, since November, almost every night, the Khmelnitsky region has been under the gun of Shahed drones, and since the beginning of December, the occupiers have expanded the map of attacks. About where the invaders are aiming and how the “martyrs” get there - in the material Russian Strikes on Western Ukraine .
13:27 Ukraine received 31 M1 Abrams tanks out of 6,000 available in the United States, 2,600 of which are in combat readiness, Bild journalist Julian Roepke reported.
13:03 As a result of Russian shelling of residential buildings in the center of Kherson, one person was wounded, OVA reported. In addition, the Russians fired at a medical facility, injuring three doctors.
13:00 President of the European Council Charles Michel will shorten his visit to Beijing amid risks that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban could disrupt the summit of EU leaders at the end of December due to Ukrainian issues, writes Politico.
12:42 According to British intelligence, in recent weeks Russian forces have been “gradually advancing through the ruins of Marinka” in the Donetsk region. They probably now control most of the built-up area, analysts say. At the same time, Ukrainian forces still control swathes of territory on the western outskirts of the city.
12:35 Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolaku, during a meeting with Blinken, said that his country can play a key role in the restoration of Ukraine after the war. According to him, in this context, Romania's strengths are security, geographic proximity, sea, river, rail and road connections - these opportunities may be of interest to American companies that want to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
11:58 Russia has transferred military personnel from Yakutia to Dzhankoy, reports the Atesh partisan movement. According to the partisans, the military personnel “are unkemptly dressed, use foul language, are rude to passers-by, and leave behind a constant pile of garbage scattered on the street.” An hour after the meeting, the mobilized were taken away by Rosgvadia. This is not the first time that personnel have been transferred to war in Ukraine in small batches.
11:26 Belgium confirmed its intentions to transfer F-16 aircraft to Ukraine in 2025, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said following a meeting with his Belgian counterpart Ludivine Dedonder. According to Umerov, it is now necessary to begin the process of debugging the supply chains of ammunition, spare parts and technical equipment for the F-16. During the meeting, the parties also discussed the possibility of hosting representatives of the Belgian military-industrial complex in Ukraine early next year. The total volume of technical assistance from Belgium to the Ukrainian Defense Forces exceeded 320 million euros.
11:19 The head of the Avdeevka State Military Administration, Vitaly Barabash, said that Russian troops continue to storm the Avdeevka coke plant, but they have never been able to enter the plant itself. According to him, fierce battles are taking place near Stepnoye - the Russian army wants to capture it in order to cut off the logistics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, the settlement remains under the control of the Ukrainian military. The other day there were “very serious stabilization actions on our part,” Barabash added.
10:52 The Nepalese Foreign Ministry demanded that the Russian Federation not recruit its citizens into the Russian army and immediately return all Nepalese after it became known about the death of six soldiers. The Nepalese government also requests the immediate return of the bodies of Nepalese killed in the war and compensation to their families. Another Nepali citizen was captured in Ukraine, and negotiations are underway for his return.
Earlier, the Ambassador of Nepal to the Russian Federation Milan Raj Tuladhar reported that about 150-200 Nepalese were mercenaries in the Russian army.
10:40 Finland will begin producing ammunition for Ukraine, Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said. According to him, the final decision is planned to be made before Christmas. The minister clarified that ammunition production will be increased “by tens of millions of euros.”
10:21 The Russians struck Kherson in the morning - two people were killed, one was wounded, said the head of the OVA Alexander Prokudin. Over the past 24 hours in the region, one person was killed and five were injured as a result of Russian shelling.
09:54 Slovenia will provide Ukraine with 1.5 million euros for humanitarian demining, the Ministry of Economy reports. The funds will be provided this year on a non-refundable basis.
09:32 According to the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces are attacking Russians near Avdiivka - fighting is taking place south of Stepnoye, near the coke plant and in the industrial zone.
09:28 At night, Russian troops attacked civilian infrastructure in the Donetsk, Kherson and Kharkov regions, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reports. In the Donetsk region, the Russians carried out an airstrike on the village of Pivnichnoe, damaging five apartment buildings. In the city of Selidovo, a five-story building of an educational institution, two private enterprises, and an apartment building were destroyed.
On the evening of December 4, the Russians launched missile attacks on Kherson, the cinema building was damaged, and rescuers localized the fire. In the Kharkov region, in the village of Borovaya, a cultural center, a village council building and a private house were damaged as a result of a drone strike. In Chuguev, the drone also hit residential buildings and outbuildings, injuring one person.
In the city of Novogrodovka, Donetsk region, search and rescue work continues at the site of a house destroyed by a rocket on November 29. The fate of the two people remains unknown.
09:21 At night, the Russians attacked an infrastructure facility in the Lviv region with three drones, said the head of the OVA, Maxim Kozitsky. As a result of the impact, a fire broke out, which was quickly extinguished by workers. There was minor damage, there were no casualties or injuries. The area's life support systems are intact.
08:58 Some Ukrainian drones attacked an oil depot near Feodosia at night, Russian public pages write. According to them, the drones were shot down by air defense, but the debris of one of them fell on the territory of the base, its tanks were damaged.
08:35 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of December 5:
- personnel - about 333,840 (+1030) people,
- tanks - 5587 (+7),
- armored combat vehicles - 10,416 (+15),
- artillery systems - 7987 (+26),
- MLRS - 913 (+0),
- air defense systems - 605 (+3),
- aircraft - 323 (+0),
- helicopters - 324 (+0),
- UAV of operational-tactical level - 6032 (+15),
- cruise missiles - 1570 (+1),
- ships/boats - 22 (+0),
- submarines - 1 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tank trucks - 10,483 (+32),
- special equipment - 1148 (+7).
08:17 At night, air defense destroyed 10 of 17 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs, which the Russian Federation attacked from two directions - Kursk region and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, the Air Force command reported. In addition, the enemy attacked civilian targets in the Donetsk and Kherson regions with six S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles.
07:46 Over the past 24 hours, 73 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report . In particular, the Defense Forces repelled 18 enemy attacks in the Avdeevsky direction (in areas east of Novobakhmutovka, Stepnoy, Avdeevka, Northern Donetsk region) and the same number in Maryinsky (in the Marinka and Novomikhailovka areas of the Donetsk region). Another 11 attacks were repelled in the Bakhmutsky direction (in the Bogdanovka, Kleshcheevka and Andreevka districts of the Donetsk region) and in the Limansky direction (in the Serebryansky forest district, Belogorivka of the Luhansk region and Ternov of the Donetsk region).
In addition, in the Kupyansk direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled enemy attacks in the Sinkovka and Petropavlovka areas of the Kharkov region; in Zaporozhye - in areas south of Rabotino, Zaporozhye region. The enemy did not conduct offensive actions in the Shakhtarsky direction. At the same time, the Defense Forces continue assault operations south of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, and in the Kherson direction they hold their positions on the left bank of the Dnieper.
07:39 The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that at night the air defense allegedly destroyed 22 “Ukrainian UAVs” and intercepted 13 more over the Sea of Azov and the territory of Crimea. Russian media write that the Crimean Bridge was blocked at night for more than four hours. According to unconfirmed data from the Crimean Wind telegram channel, the strike could have been carried out on the Zaliv shipyard in Kerch, where on November 4 a Ukrainian missile destroyed the new Russian ship Askold.
07:11 The Ukrainian Armed Forces received from the UK the latest multi-purpose Martlet guided missiles with a range of up to 8 km, designed to destroy drones, The Times writes. According to the newspaper, these missiles are very effective in the fight against various combat UAVs, including Iranian suicide bombers.
04:55 On Tuesday, December 5, Zelensky will speak to American senators at a secret briefing via a secure video link, said Democratic Majority Leader in the US Senate Chuck Schumer. According to him, Zelensky should inform senators about the state of war in Ukraine, as well as the need for additional military assistance. The secret briefing comes a day before the Senate is scheduled to vote on a $61 billion package for Ukraine.