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Ukraine Invasion Day 650: Western partners continue supporting military and economic efforts [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-12-04

Russian forces are increasing their "strategic stockpile" of missiles in preparation for the coming yearโ€™s offensives as well as the winter attacks on Ukraine infrastructure and grid.

Is Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer setting the Senate on course for a failed vote this week on President Bidenโ€™s $106 billion request for Ukraine, Israel and border funding?

Russian forces launched a series of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of December 3 to 4. Ukrainian military sources reported that Russian forces launched 23 Shahed-131/136 from Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea and one Kh-59 cruise missile from occupied Kherson Oblast and stated that Ukrainian forces shot down 18 Shaheds and the Kh-59 missile.[5] Ukrainian Air Force Spokesperson Colonel Yuriy Ihnat stated that the Russian military has increased its production of Shahed drones, which are likely to be the main systems that Russian forces will use to target Ukrainian energy infrastructure throughout winter 2023-2024.[6] Ihnat also reported that Russian forces are increasing their "strategic stockpile" of missiles.[7] www.understandingwar.org/...

x #Ukraine: Today's latest info from #UkraineWar: 1. Geo-location reports indicate UA forces advanced W of #Dibrova, 6km SW of #Kreminna, & made a 2nd advance today in Serebryanky Forest. (Maps: @Global_Wars)

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆTHREAD๐Ÿงต๐ŸŽฏ๐Ÿ’ฃ pic.twitter.com/x5eAG7R1CX โ€” Peter Clifford Online (@PeterClifford1) December 4, 2023

x British intelligence says Russia's losses over the past six weeks are the highest since the full-scale invasion began.



But WSJ says this will be a difficult defensive winter for Ukraine and its position could weaken



NATO Secretary Stolenberg reconciles these views. 1/ โ€” Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) November 27, 2023 Austin acknowledges some in Congress have "reasonable questions" about supporting Ukraine that the US will answer. He argues that what's happening in Ukraine matters not only for Ukraine but the whole world, as it concerns the rules-based international order 21/ Politico reports Senate Majority Leader Schumer plans to hold a vote the week of December 4 on Biden's request for billions in assistance to Ukraine and Israel. This aims to create urgency for lawmakers to reach a border security deal that can pair with aid for allies Schumer blames the border demand as the "biggest holdup" to delivering new Ukraine defense funds. He says the decades-old partisan issue has been injected into the bipartisan Ukraine priorities 23/ A bipartisan Senate group hopes to marry Biden's $100 billion+ request for Ukraine and others with changes to asylum and parole policies. The asylum issue was the main sticking point in talks before Thanksgiving 24/ Republicans warn they won't approve more Ukraine aid without border provisions, believing the House won't pass a bill lacking such language. The December Senate vote deadline adds pressure for a deal. 25/ Schumer argues faltering US support for Ukraine would make autocrats like Putin happier and embolden Russia. This concerns not just European security but American security 26/ So, in summary, Ukraine appears to be ok, but any progress depends on the Western funding, which is victim to domestic politics. I hope it gets resolved soon. These are historical events in the East of Europe. If Russia is stopped and the EU enlarged, the world will be better X

x National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan: "I believe that any member of Congress who does not support funding for Ukraine is voting for an outcome that will make it easier for Putin to prevail...a vote against supporting Ukraine is a vote to improve Putin's strategic position." pic.twitter.com/lbq68FkJYg โ€” CSPAN (@cspan) December 4, 2023

Ukraine's Western partners continue efforts to provide Ukraine with military and economic support. German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall announced on December 3 that it won a contract to provide Ukraine with โ‚ฌ142 million worth of 155mm artillery rounds, which Germany will deliver to Ukraine in 2025.[8] Rheinmetall stated that it will deliver around 40,000 rounds to Ukraine from a separate order in 2024. British outlet The Times highlighted Ukraine's use of British-provided Martlet lightweight missiles to deter a large-scale Russian Shahed drone strike on Kyiv City in late November 2023.[9] The Times noted that the British Army trained Ukrainian operators on Martlet systems in the UK earlier this year. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov additionally met with his Belgian counterpart, Ludivine Dedonder, on December 4 to further develop the bilateral Ukrainian-Belgian relationship, particularly in regard to building out Ukraine's defense industrial base with Belgian support.[10] Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak spoke with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the upcoming Ukrainian-American conference on arms production that will take place on December 6 and 7 in Washington, DC.[11] Key Takeaways: Russia continues to reckon with the economic ramifications of labor shortages partially resulting from the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine's Western partners continue efforts to provide Ukraine with military and economic support.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko discussed deepening Belarusian-Chinese relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China on December 4.

Kremlin-backed United Russia State Duma deputies and Federation Council senators proposed a bill to introduce criminal punishments for leaking personal data, likely as part of ongoing efforts to control the Russian information space ahead of the March 2024 Russian presidential elections.

The Kremlin likely continues efforts to insert itself into power vacuums in several African countries as Wagner Group elements continue to operate in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Voronezh Oblast Governor Alexander Gusev confirmed on December 4 the death of Russian 14th Army Corps Deputy Commander Major General Vladimir Zavadsky in Ukraine.

Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and advanced in some areas on December 4.

Select Russian Duma deputies appear to be at odds over the issue of extending Russian conscript service.

Russian Presidential Administration Head for Domestic Policy Andrei Yarin reportedly visited occupied Ukraine as part of ongoing efforts to legitimize Russian authority over occupied Ukraine ahead of the March 2024 Russian presidential election. www.understandingwar.org/...

x โšก๏ธ WAR IN #UKRAINE - DEC 4



โ–  Strikes slightly below 7-day average, fewer engagements but more settlements under fire

โ–  Troop & equipment losses below average

โ–  Oryx: 20 ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ 15 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ added to records (16:15 after removal of duplicates/corrections)



๐Ÿ“ˆ https://t.co/2iWk7SRLcK pic.twitter.com/KQ0yFPiS8F โ€” Ragnar Gudmundsson ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ (@ragnarbjartur) December 4, 2023

www.understandingwar.org/... Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 โ€“ Luhansk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast) Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line but did not make any confirmed gains on December 4. Russian sources claimed on December 3 and 4 that Russian forces advanced near Synkivka (8km northeast of Kupyansk) and controlled about half of the settlement.[33] ISW has not observed visual confirmation of significant Russian advances in Synkivka, however. Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupaynsk-Svatove-Kreminna line but did not make any claimed or confirmed advances on December 4. The Russian MoD claimed that Ukrainian forces unsuccessfully attacked near Synkivka in the Kupyansk direction and near Torske, Yampolivka (17km west of Kreminna), and Dibrova (7km southwest of Kreminna) in the Lyman direction.[37] Russian sources claimed on December 3 and 4 that Ukrainian forces unsuccessfully attacked in the Serebryanske forest area.[38] www.understandingwar.org/... www.understandingwar.org/... Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 โ€“ Donetsk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast, the claimed territory of Russiaโ€™s proxies in Donbas) Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Bakhmut direction on December 4 and reportedly advanced on Bakhmut's northwestern flank. Several Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces captured a plant nursery north of Bakhmut, likely referring to the tree nursery area near Bohdanivka (about 6km northwest of Bakhmut).[39] ... Russian sources amplified footage of various Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), Luhansk People's Republic (LNR), and airborne (VDV) elements fighting on the outskirts of Bakhmut.[41] The Ukrainian General Staff reported unsuccessful Russian attacks near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka.[42] The Ukrainian General Staff also reiterated that Ukrainian forces continued assault actions on the southern flank of Bakhmut.[43] www.understandingwar.org/... www.understandingwar.org/... Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Avdiivka direction on December 4 and made confirmed advances. Geolocated footage published on December 4 shows that Russian forces advanced near the reservoir area directly north of Avdiivka.[44] Additional geolocated footage published on December 4 shows that Russian forces have advanced within Stepove (5km northwest of Avdiivka).[45]... Russian sources amplified footage reportedly showing elements of the "Kozma Minin" Nizhny Novgorod-based volunteer tank battalion operating in the Avdiivka industrial zone.[48] The Ukrainian General Staff reported unsuccessful Russian offensive operations east of Novokalynove (10km northwest of Avdiivka) and Novobakhmutivka (10km northeast of Avdiivka) and near Avdiivka itself, Stepove, Sieverne (5km west of Avdiivka), and Pervomaiske (10km southwest of Avdiivka).[49] Ukrainian forces recently counterattacked near Avdiivka and have regained lost positions as of December 1. Geolocated footage posted on December 4 shows Ukrainian forces assaulting Russian positions in a tree line south of Stepove on or around December 1.[50]

x Gifts for the frontline in #Ukraine arrived from #Sweden.



Wait... aren't they supposed to be allies?

(if you've never heard about fermented herring, this vid tells you everything about the 'delicacy'!)



Thx to @europe_northern for the video. pic.twitter.com/kkaJimFYNY โ€” Tim White (@TWMCLtd) November 29, 2023 x "A peace process should link Ukraine to Nato, however expressedโ€ฆ. The alternative of neutrality is no longer meaningful, especially after Finland and Sweden joined Nato." from https://t.co/Vnzi9WT829 2/ END โ€” Michael McFaul (@McFaul) November 30, 2023

x Over 70 Ukrainian Soldiers ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ have completed training on the Patriot Air Defense System in Germany ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช



It will be the 3rd Patriot System sent to Ukraine and will possibly be placed in either the city of Dnipro or Lviv (DW) pic.twitter.com/JSxsgNfHqB โ€” Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) December 2, 2023

Share of top 15 global arm imports between 2018 - 2022: *according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). India - 11%. Saudi Arabia - 10%. Qatar - 6% Australia - 5% China - 5% Egypt - 5% South Korea - 4% Pakistan - 4% Japan - 4% USA - 3% UAE - 3% Kuwait - 2% UK - 2% Ukraine - 2% Norway - 2% Rest of World: 34% x Share of top 15 global arm imports between 2018 - 2022:



1. ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ India - 11%

2. ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Saudi Arabia - 10%

3. ๐Ÿ‡ถ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Qatar - 6%

4. ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Australia - 5%

5. ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China - 5%

6. ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ฌ Egypt - 5%

7. ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea - 4%

8. ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ Pakistan - 4%

9. ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต Japan - 4%

10. ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฒ USA - 3%

11. ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช UAE - 3%

12. ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ Kuwait -โ€ฆ โ€” Global Index (@TheGlobal_Index) December 3, 2023

[END]
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