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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.2022 to 15.12.2023 Ukraine MOD 15 Dec 2023
• Kyiv's Antiaircraft Units Engage As Late Night Drone Attack Launched On Capital RFE/RL 15 Dec 2023 -- Ukrainian air defense units fired at Russian drones over Kyiv late on December 15, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said, advising residents of the Ukrainian capital to stay in shelters.
• Ukrainian Air Force Says Drone Attacks Continue Into Evening After Widespread Daytime Alerts RFE/RL 15 Dec 2023 -- Russian troops launched attack drones over Ukraine on the evening of December 14, the Ukrainian Air Force said, prompting further air alerts in Odesa, Mykolayiv, Kherson, and several other regions.
• Ukraine Loses Over 1,580 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction in Past Week - MoD Sputnik 15 Dec 2023 -- Ukraine has lost more than 1,580 soldiers both killed and wounded in the Donetsk direction over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Russia Develops Strategic Deterrence Forces - Putin Sputnik 15 Dec 2023 -- Russia is developing its strategic deterrence forces, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
• Putin says Moscow can 'move forward' despite West sanctions, isolation Global Times 15 Dec 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's year-end press conference and Q&A session were held in Moscow, Russia on Thursday, in which Putin said that the goal of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine has not changed, and that Moscow can "move forward" despite Western sanctions, isolation and ruining of relations.
• Russia Builds Test Facilities for Next-Gen PAK-DA Bomber: What's Next? Sputnik 15 Dec 2023 -- Russia's Tupolev Design Bureau has been working on its prospective next generation long-range stealth bomber since the late 2000s. When fielded, the new aircraft are expected to gradually begin replacing the workhorse Tu-95 Bear, Tu-160 White Swan and Tu-22M maritime strike bombers currently in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces.
• Chinese, Russian militaries hold 7th joint aerial strategic patrol Global Times 15 Dec 2023 -- The Chinese and Russian militaries on Thursday held their second joint aerial strategic patrol of the year, the seventh in total since 2019, reportedly adding electronic warfare and reconnaissance aircraft to a group of bombers and fighters, in a move experts said was aimed at safeguarding peace and stability in the region.
• Meeting with State Duma party leaders President of Russia 15 Dec 2023 -- Vladimir Putin held a meeting at the Kremlin with leaders of the political parties represented in the State Duma.

Foreign Policy

• Putin to Work With Any US President Who Takes Russia's Concerns Seriously - Kremlin Sputnik 15 Dec 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to work with any US president who understands that they have to take into account Moscow's concerns, Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov told NBC News.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at a meeting of the Collegiums of the Foreign Ministries of Russia and Belarus, Moscow, December 15, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Dec 2023
• Statement by Konstantin Vorontsov, Head of the Delegation of the Russian Federation, Deputy Director of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, at the Meeting of the States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, Geneva, 13 December 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Dec 2023
• Joint Statement In Support of the Efforts to Strengthen the United Nations Secretary-General's Mechanism for Investigation of the Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons, Geneva, 13 December, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Dec 2023
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at a meeting of the Collegiums of the Foreign Ministries of Russia and Belarus, Moscow, December 15, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Dec 2023
• Sergey Lavrov's statement and answers to media questions at a joint news conference with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus Sergey Aleinik following a meeting of the Foreign Ministry Boards of Russia and Belarus, Moscow, December 15, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Dec 2023
• Russia to Further Increase Energy Supplies to China, Attract Investments to Russia - Novak Sputnik 15 Dec 2023 -- Russia plans to further increase energy supplies to China and attract Chinese investments and technological innovations to the Russian energy complex, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.

News Reports

• 'A Spectacle, A Farce, A Rigged Clown Show': Russia Watches As Putin Cruises Toward A Fifth Term RFE/RL 15 Dec 2023 -- Many Kremlin-watchers expected President Vladimir Putin's December 14 question-and-answer marathon to be the launching point for a drive to secure a fifth term in office in a poll set for March 15-17. Instead, he made the announcement in a seemingly offhanded way on December 8.
• The Week In Russia: 'An Enforced Disappearance' RFE/RL 15 Dec 2023 -- As a confident President Vladimir Putin spoke at a four-hour event that marked a step toward a new six-year Kremlin term, there was no mention of his most prominent foe, imprisoned Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, whose whereabouts have been unknown for 10 days.
• Navalny's Allies Say Authorities Continue To Refuse To Reveal Where He Is RFE/RL 15 Dec 2023 -- A lawyer for imprisoned Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, who was last in contact with his associates 10 days ago, says prison officials told a court in Vladimir, some 200 kilometers east of Moscow, on December 15 that the outspoken Kremlin critic had been transferred on December 11 from the IK-6 facility located in Vladimir region to a correctional facility located outside the region.