Ukraine Invasion: Part 46

[MagicFox]

With thanks to all keeping these threads going 🇺🇦

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And the same to you, and to all of you.

@MMBaranova and @Mb76 , thinking of you and yours especially this Christmas and New Year.

Merry Christmas to you all though merry doesn't really feel like the right word

Yes Merry Christmas. Ukraine has been moving towards 25th December for Christmas, but having Catholics on one side and Orthodox on the other I'm sticking to two Christmases.

Top plan, @MMBaranova .

Happy Christmas all. Let's hope for more positive news for Ukraine and a concerted western effort to support them to win this war in 2024 instead of this half arsed stalemate that most countries seem to be tolerating.

Agreed. Merry Christmas everyone and let’s hope for a concerted show of strength for Ukraine next year.

Happy Christmas all. Grateful for your continued expertise and company. Thinking of all impacted today as always 🇺🇦

Merry Christmas all. Thinking of everyone suffering instead of celebrating this 25th 😭

Happy Christmas from me as well..

Happy Christmas from me too. Peace to us, and may peace and security and healing come to Ukraine too.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Zelensky's Christmas Eve address https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-its-not-about-how-we-decorate-our-homes-but-rather-how-we-protect-them/ ‘For us, it's not about how we decorate our homes, but rather how we protect them.’
"We rejoice at seeing the first star in the evening sky and not seeing enemy missiles and drones in it,” said Zelensky.

⚡️A bill on the mobilization of conscripts will be registered in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, in the "coming days," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov told Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne in a Dec. 24 interview.
Umerov said the bill would change the approaches to mobilization in Ukraine to make sure that society does not see conscription as "punishment." https://kyivindependent.com/umerov-says-mobilization-bill-to-be-registered-in-ukrainian-parliament-in-coming-days/

⚡️ General Staff: Ukrainian forces repel 25 attacks near Avdiivka on Dec. 24. https://kyivindependent.com/general-staff-ukrainian-forces-repel-48-russian-attacks-near-avdiivka-in-dnipro-rivers-east-bank/

⚡️Russian emergency service: Fire reported (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-emergency-service-fire-reported-on-nuclear-powered-vessel-quickly-extinguished/) on nuclear-powered vessel, quickly extinguished.
A fire broke out on a Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker in the northern Russian port of Murmansk but was quickly extinguished by firefighters, the regional branch of Russia's emergency ministry said on Dec. 25.
The fire occurred in a cabin on the ship, named the Sevmorput, while docked at the port. The ministry initially reported that the fire spread to about 30 square meters, but firefighters managed to contain it before it spread further. https://kyivindependent.com/russian-emergency-service-fire-reported-on-nuclear-powered-vessel-quickly-extinguished/

⚡️ Air Force reports downing Russian Su-34 jet near occupied Mariupol. kyivindependent.com/air-force-reports-downing-russian-su-34-near-occupied-mariupol/

⚡️All residents evacuated https://kyivindependent.com/media-sumy-oblast-administration-evacuates-all-residents-from-19-villages-near-russias-border/ from 19 villages in northern Ukraine following Russian attacks. Earlier, authorities said they aimed to evacuate 115 settlements.

⚡️Defense Ministry: A new "artillery coalition" to strengthen the Ukrainian army will begin its operations in Paris in January 2024, Ukraine's deputy defense minister announced on Dec. 24. https://kyivindependent.com/defense-ministry-paris-to-host-artillery-coalition-to-strengthen-ukrainian-army/

⚡️Czech president extends temporary legal protections for refugees seeking to return to Ukraine. https://kyivindependent.com/czech-president-petr-pavel-extends-temporary-legal-protections-and-pledges-financial-support-for-refugees-seeking-to-return-to-ukraine/

⚡️NGO returns https://kyivindependent.com/ngo-save-ukraine-returns-3-children-from-occupied-territories/ 3 children from Russian-occupied territory.

⚡️Demonstrations against alleged electoral fraud in Serbia continue, 38 protesters arrested https://kyivindependent.com/demonstrations-against-alleged-electoral-fraud-in-serbia-continue-38-protesters-arrested/

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦

AT ragnarbjartur.bsky.social
⚡️ WAR IN #UKRAINE - DEC 25, 2023
■ Fewer engagements & settlements under artillery fire
■ Strikes on both sides below 7-day average
■ Great equipment losses including a Su-34 & Su-30 fighter/bombers
■ Casualties below average, 7-day average dips below 1,000

Ragnar has actually produced the full analysis that he always does. That's one dedicated man!

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Today, for the first time since 1917, Ukraine officially celebrates Christmas on December 25

Foreign Minister David Cameron stated that the British government aims to sustain or potentially increase its aid to Ukraine in 2024, maintaining or even expanding on the previous year’s level. In 2022, London extended military aid to Kyiv totaling £2.3 billion ($2.92 billion) and pledged an equivalent amount for 2023. However, commitments for 2024 have not yet been officially announced.

For special operations in the Black Sea, the Security Service of Ukraine uses not only the sea drone "Sea Baby", but also another—"Mamay", shown on the air of the national telethon.
As of today, Mamay is the fastest object in the Black Sea, it can accelerate up to 110 km/h

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 11 thousand Russian cars have been destroyed 🔥

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced that in January 2024, the Artillery Coalition to Enhance the Ukrainian Army will commence operations in Paris. The Armed Forces of Ukraine aim to acquire a greater number of French 155 mm Caesar self-propelled artillery systems, already in service with the Ukrainian army, and are prepared to make the purchase.

Christmas Eve on the frontline.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇲🇩🇪🇺 Moldova will hold a referendum on the country's accession to the European Union in the fall of 2024, President Maia Sandu said. She also asked Moldovan citizens to support her candidacy in the 2024 elections to "complete the mission of European integration."
On December 14, EU leaders decided to start negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova's accession to the European Union.

🇱🇻Latvia has already sent to Ukraine 271 cars confiscated from drunk drivers, the total value of the cars is almost one million euros - data from the State Revenue Service of Latvia

The Ukrainian Air Force ridiculed Russian propagandists' reports that the Russian army had allegedly spotted and shot down Western F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine.

Christmas Eve on the front line: Ukrainian soldiers near Kupyansk in a Reuters photo report

Happy Christmas everyone. Thank you all for the ongoing support, camaraderie and keeping this thread going 💙💛

Merry Christmas everyone. Let's hope 2024 is a better year for Ukraine.

Merry Christmas to all our friends in Ukraine. May this be the last one that any Ukrainian spends under occupation.

Amen to that @TrashedSofa . Sending best wishes and thanks to everyone here.

Amen to that.

Frankly let’s hope 2024 is a better year generally, what an absolute shit show 2023 has been….

May the giant pumpkin keep his mitts off the White House!

It seems Ukraine may have received a good Christmas present ... .

https://twitter.com/AlexBondODUA/status/1739198188882477566

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/dec/25/war-knows-no-holidays-in-search-of-christmas-in-donbas-photo-essay

Have people spotted this in today's Guardian? Brave Russian women beginning to stand, protest and mobilise against the war. I feel so moved to see this. I wish there was a way of showing support to them - if anyone knows of any route to support them please let me know. Bless them.
‘We’re tired of being good girls’: Russia’s military wives and mothers protest against Putin | Russia | The Guardian

Merry Christmas to our friends in Ukraine. May they find some peace today and my hopes and prayers for a better future soon. 🕯️💙💛