Photo : 2023 Maxar Technologies/
Photo : 2023 Maxar Technologies/
War in Ukraine: Day 673
By Padmashree Anandhan
War on the Ground
On 28 December, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President welcomed the US for its latest military aid package worth EUR 225 million. He stated how the support was critical for Ukraine in countering the aggression. He said: “Additional air defense missiles and components, anti-tank weapons, ammunition, mine clearing, and other equipment will cover Ukraine's most pressing needs.”
On 28 December, Ukraine’s military reported on a mine hit in the Black Sea. According to the report from Ukraine’s southern military command, “a Panama-flagged civilian vessel” was hit with an explosive. Following the hit, the vessel had reportedly lost control and the upper deck caught fire. Although the timing of the incident is unknown, two have been wounded.
On 28 December, Zelenskyy appointed Vadym Filashkin as the latest governor of Donetsk region. Filashkin will replace Pavlo Kyrylenko who was appointed as head of cartel office in Kyiv on September 2023.
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 28 December, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russian diplomat warned over consequence for Finland under conflict escalation. He said that considering Finland’s location, under a hypothetical conflict with NATO “Finland will be first to suffer,” Ulyanov added that Russia’s response to increase threat in the western border would mean reviving of its Moscow and Leningrad military districts. He added: “The US has been “the main beneficiary” of the Ukraine conflict so far, while EU nations, such as Germany, have suffered a lot from it.”
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 29 December, Deutsche Welle reported on Russia and the US decision to cooperate flights to the International Space Station (ISS) until at least 2025. The arrangement guarantees ongoing research on board the orbiting laboratory, advancing human knowledge in areas such as Earth observation and microgravity. The cross-flights which cosmonauts and astronauts take turns piloting each other's spacecraft to round the planet and create a physical tapestry of oneness that transcends geographical boundaries.
On 29 December, in its intelligence update, UK’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the complete destruction of Russia’s navy ship "Novocherkassk," after Ukraine’s attack on 25 December. The same was observed in the satellite images released by the US company Maxar Technologies, which showed extensive damage “beneath the ship.” Such docking of the ship is considered by the ministry as “Landing ship tank” which is predicted to be used by Russia to launch amphibious attacks.
References
Elsa Court, “Zelensky appoints new governors of Donetsk, Rivne oblasts,” The Kyiv Independent, 28 December 2023
“Cargo ship hits naval mine in Black Sea en route to Ukraine,” France24, 28 December 2023
“"Grateful to President Biden, American people": Ukraine welcomes US defence package,” aninews, 28 December 2023
“Ukraine updates: Russian ship 'destroyed' in Crimea — UK,” Deutsche Welle, 28 December 2023
“NATO’s newest member ‘first to suffer’ in a conflict – Moscow,” RT, 28 December 2023
“Russia, US extend joint ISS flights to 2025: Roscosmos," Deutsche Welle, 29 December 2023