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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• Russian officials report oil refinery fire after Ukraine targets border regions with dozens of drones VOA 19 Dec 2024 -- Officials in Russia's Rostov region reported a fire Thursday at an oil refinery after a wave of attacks from several dozen Ukrainian aerial drones.
• Russians see North Koreans as a 'burden' over ignorance of drones: South says Radio Free Asia 19 Dec 2024 -- North Korean soldiers are being "consumed" in attacks in Russia's Kursk region because they lack experience of drone warfare, South Korea's spy agency said, adding that Russian forces complained that the North Koreans were a "burden" because of their "ignorance."
• Putin Sends Signals To The West On Ukraine Ahead Of Trump's New Term RFE/RL 19 Dec 2024 -- Vladimir Putin's end-of-year Q&A session with reporters and the public is billed as a chance for Russian citizens to ask the president about the issues that matter to them most. But while much of the televised marathon focuses on domestic affairs, Putin always uses it to send signals to the West and the rest of the world, too.
• Russian Defence Ministry reports on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (19 December 2024) Russia MoD 19 Dec 2024 -- The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region.
• Air Defense Shot Down 84 Ukrainian Drones Over Russian Regions Last Night - MoD Sputnik 19 Dec 2024 -- Russian air defense systems destroyed 84 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions last night, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin President of Russia 19 Dec 2024 -- Vladimir Putin summed up the results of the year and answered questions from journalists and the people of Russia in a live broadcast.
• Putin, In Annual Televised Show Of Control, Says Russia Nearing 'Primary Goal' In Ukraine War RFE/RL 19 Dec 2024 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is nearing its primary goal in the war against Ukraine and challenged the United States to a missile "duel" involving Russia's new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile.

Foreign Policy

• Russia-China ties at 'unprecedented level,' says Putin, predicting trade volume set to reach between $220 billion to $240 billion Global Times 19 Dec 2024 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday at the annual press conference that relations between Russia and China have reached "an unprecedented level" as a result of the high level of mutual trust between both countries, Xinhua News Agency reported.
• Putin says Assad ouster not a defeat for Russia VOA 19 Dec 2024 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday rejected the notion that the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad represented a defeat for Russia.
• Telephone conversation with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev President of Russia 19 Dec 2024 -- Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the initiative of the Uzbekistani side.
• Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with Head of the Federal Department (Minister) of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 19 Dec 2024
• Government introduces a sanction to defend against hostile influence activities by Russia and Belarus Estonia MFA 19 Dec 2024 -- The Foreign Minister today submitted a proposal to the government on imposing a sanction to defend Estonia against hostile influence activities by Russia and Belarus.
• Polish defense chief: Poland ready to face Russia's threats VOA 19 Dec 2024 -- Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz laid out his country's plans to deal with feared Russian aggression, such as possible missile infiltrations and conflict on its borders, in an interview with VOA Eastern Europe Bureau Chief Myroslava Gongadze.

News Reports

• Uzbek Man Charged With Terrorism In High-Profile Assassination Of Russian General RFE/RL 19 Dec 2024 -- A court in Moscow charged Uzbek citizen Ahmat Qurbanov on December 19 with terrorism and other charges in the high-profile killing of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who headed Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Forces.