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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 19.12 Ukraine MOD 20 Dec 2022
• As Fighting Rages In The East, Zelenskiy Marks 300 Days Of War With Visit To Fiercely Disputed Frontline City RFE/RL 20 Dec 2022 -- Heavy fighting continued in Donetsk as Russian forces pressed their relentless attacks on eastern Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a daring visit to Bakhmut, one of the two frontline cities that together with Avdiyivka have been the focus of Moscow's months-long offensive.
• Putin: Situation 'Extremely Difficult' in Areas Russia Claimed to Annex from Ukraine VOA 20 Dec 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday the situation in four parts of Ukraine he claimed to have annexed earlier this year was "extremely difficult."
• Putin says situation 'extremely complicated' in Russia's new regions amid new threats Press TV 20 Dec 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says the situation in four former regions of Ukraine that recently voted to join the Russian union is "extremely complicated", urging the country's security agencies to remain vigilant in the wake of new threats and challenges.
• Moscow Condemns UN's 'Inadequate' Reaction to Execution of Russian POWs: Foreign Ministry Sputnik 20 Dec 2022 -- Moscow is extremely dissatisfied with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk's response to the shooting of Russian prisoners of war (POWs) in Donbas, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told Sputnik on Tuesday.
• Meeting with Acting Head of Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin President of Russia 20 Dec 2022 -- Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Acting Head of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin.
• Meeting with Acting Head of Lugansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik President of Russia 20 Dec 2022 -- Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Acting Head of the Lugansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik.

Defense Policy / Programs

• China, Russia to hold joint naval drill in East China Sea, displaying capability amid US, Japanese provocations Global Times 20 Dec 2022 -- China and Russia will hold a week-long joint naval drill in the East China Sea starting Wednesday, in a move which analysts said on Tuesday displays the two countries' capabilities in tackling maritime security threats and safeguarding peace and stability at a complicated time when the US keeps promoting its "Indo-Pacific Strategy" and Japan has broken away from its defense-only principle, instigating tensions in the Taiwan Straits.

Foreign Policy

• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the general meeting of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, Moscow, December 20, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 20 Dec 2022
• India Remains Steadfast in Partnership with Russia VOA 20 Dec 2022 -- Despite pressure from Western countries, India has remained steadfast in its partnership with Russia, refusing to condemn the war in Ukraine and not joining Western sanctions against Moscow. However, analysts say, this has not affected, nor is it likely to affect, India's growing ties with the United States.
• Russia seeking cooperation with Iran on gas turbines Press TV 20 Dec 2022 -- Russia wants to cooperate with Iran on manufacturing of gas turbines needed in its power plants, says the Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov as the two countries keep expanding joint efforts against foreign sanctions targeting their economies.
• Working group does not recommend total ban on Russian real estate ownership Finnish MoD 20 Dec 2022 -- The cross-administrative working group considered a total ban on Russian real estate ownership, but does not see it as an effective or appropriate restrictive measure.

News Reports

• Russia's Lower House Approves Bill Criminalizing Desecration Of St. George Ribbon RFE/RL 20 Dec 2022 -- Russian parliament's lower chamber, the State Duma, has approved the final reading of a bill criminalizing the desecration of the St. George ribbon, which was banned in Ukraine as a symbol of Russian aggression in 2017.
• Russia's State Duma Passes Law on Penalties for Desecration of St. George's Ribbons Sputnik 20 Dec 2022 -- The Russian State Duma at a plenary session on Tuesday adopted a law equating the Saint George ribbon, a symbol of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, to official symbols of military glory and providing for penalties of up to 5 million rubles ($72,448) or imprisonment for up to five years for public desecration of the symbol.