Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation  (14 December 2023)

▫️ In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by artillery and heavy flamethrower systems repelled five attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 60th, 115th mechanised brigades, as well as 57th Motorised Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 45 servicemen, one tank, and two armoured fighting vehicles.
 
▫️ In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 44th Separate Rifle Battalion close to Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
 
The AFU losses amounted to up to 180 servicemen, three motor vehicles, as well as one French-made CAEZAR self-propelled artillery system during the day.

▫️ In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled six attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 24th mechanised, 5th assault, and 112th territorial defence brigades close to Kleshcheyevka and Kirovo (Donetsk People's Republic).
 
In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the AFU 30th mechanised, 79th and 95th air assault brigades close to Kurdyumovka, Maryinka, Krasnoye, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 265 servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.

In the course of the counterbattery warfare, two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, three Msta-B howitzers, one D-30 howitzer were eliminated.

▫️ In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by artillery and heavy flamethrower systems inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 90 servicemen killed and wounded, as well as two pickup trucks.

▫️ In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 33rd and 65th mechanised brigades close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU lost up to 45 servicemen and two motor vehicles during the day.

▫️ In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation, the AFU lost up to 40 servicemen and four motor vehicles.
 
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces wiped out missile artillery ammunition depots of the AFU 37th Marines Brigade and 65th Mechanised Brigade near Daryevka (Kherson region) and Volnyansk (Zaporozhye region), as well as engaged manpower and hardware in 128 areas during the day.

Air defence units intercepted three HIMARS projectiles over the past 24 hours.

In addition, 26 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Belogorovka, Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Gorlovka, Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic), Novaya Kakhovka and Tavriysk (Kherson region).
 
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North of Avdeevka.
The Russian Armed Forces expanded control along the railway towards Ocheretino.

🇷🇺 Sofa General Staff

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Ukraina RU:

⚡️ Zelensky wanted to personally take part in the European Council summit, but he was refused,

The American publication Politico writes about this.

— On the eve of the meeting in Brussels, rumors spread that Zelensky would personally take part in the EU summit today. But that plan was thwarted on Wednesday as the outcome of the meeting, especially on Ukraine's future accession to the EU, remains unclear, the newspaper writes.

There is also a version that EU leaders decided not to invite the Ukrainian president because it could anger Hungarian Prime Minister Orban.

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⚡️European leaders decided to begin negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on accession to the European Union, Georgia was granted EU candidate status

This was announced by the head of the European Council, Charles Michel.

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Austria blocked the 12th package of EU sanctions against Russia, demanding the lifting of Ukrainian sanctions against Raiffeisen Bank by Kiev.

Reuters reports this.

Earlier, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg openly criticized this blacklist as arbitrary at a meeting of European ministers in Kyiv, the agency writes, citing a source.

Raiffeisen is the only Austrian company on the list.

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Ukrainian channel Strana:

In Kyiv today, air defense shot down one Kinzhal missile.

This was announced by Air Force Speaker Ignat.

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Iran has joined the Russian PIK nuclear reactor project

This is the world's largest beam-type research reactor with a thermal capacity of 100 MW.

The reactor is designed to be the main source of neutrons for nuclear weapons and other nuclear technologies.

The PIK reactor is an important asset to the Russian nuclear research community and is expected to play a significant role in the development of new technologies for many years to come.

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NGP RaZVedka:

⚠️ Based on the situation in the Avdeevsky direction.

On the northern flank, our troops attacked the enemy in the area of ​​the settlement. Stepovoye (Petrovskoye) and also in the forest belts to the north and south of the settlement, the enemy was unable to repel the attack, was knocked out of a number of positions and was forced to retreat.
At the moment, our forces have occupied a forest belt in the north of Stepovoy, the northern part of the settlement, the southwestern outskirts in the gray zone, a forest belt on the southeastern outskirts of Stepovoy has also been occupied, the tigers are gaining a foothold in new positions and are preparing for further work, there is reason to expect positive news.
The enemy continues to use significant reserves, trying to plug the holes and prevent the collapse of the front on the flanks of Avdievka, in the areas of the settlement. Berdychi, Novokalinovo was transferred to a battalion of manpower in order to maintain the combat effectiveness of the garrisons.

On the southern flank, after prolonged freezing rain and sleet, on the southern outskirts of Avdeevka and in the SNT Vinogradniki area, severe ice has established itself, which significantly complicates movement on both sides, and poor visibility also remains.

In these circumstances, our tigers focused on consolidating the enemy’s materiel and manpower, in particular: massive attacks were carried out on Ukrainian targets in the DFS area from TOS-1A, the enemy’s position in this area is extremely unpromising, since supplies were disrupted after our tigers entered the southern On the outskirts of Avdeevka, the TOS-1 battery also struck enemy positions in the area of ​​the Khimik microdistrict.
The enemy groups trying to push our army back from their occupied positions were attacked by rocket artillery; by the end of the day, the crest had no success and was unable to regain any of the lost positions.

Bad weather is a temporary phenomenon, but our army will always be victorious, believe in our soldiers and they will not let you down.
Everything will be as Russia needs!

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Orban says Hungary Will Not Budge but then...
The Guardian reports, It is not clear whether the momentous decision to start negotiations with Ukraine on EU membership was taken with the approval or even blessing of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán.

A spokeswoman said: “There was a decision taken on enlargement that was not blocked by anyone.”

This news comes despite the fact that Ukraine meets none of the criteria necessary for joining the EU.

It seems the EU's bribe of Hungary was successful. Yesterday we announced Hungary was to receive the first 10 billion of a 30 billion aid package. Moldova was also approved to begin negotiations.

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⚡️Republican legislators are leaving for the New Year holidays without coordinating the request for new assistance to Kiev.

This was reported in the White House.

Happy Holidays!

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➡️ It is reported that while the Darkest One was communicating with the people, the farmers lost their entire Patroit air defense system. $1.2 billion was destroyed by three Kinzhal missiles.

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Artyomovskoe direction.
The Russian Armed Forces continue to advance along the railway west of the Valyanovsky nursery.

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Hungary believes that the EU made a bad decision to start accession negotiations with Ukraine, and does not want to participate in it - Prime Minister Orban

Budapest abstained from voting on the EU decision. Prime Minister Orban left the hall during the decision of EU leaders on Ukraine's accession, The Guardian reports.

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⚡️ The RF entered the eastern outskirts of the village. Novomikhailovka!

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Russian Federation Sanctions
Authorized Under the National Emergency Act
Manufacturing Date: 20 June, 2000
Expiration Date: __________


The first page might have seemed like a long, winding road. The reason for this unusual route is the importance of understanding how US presidential declarations of national emergency work and the bleak revelation that the US has been under perpetual “national emergenc[ies]” since sometime early in the 20th century and that isn’t likely to change…ever.

So what does this have to do with Russian sanctions?

The first sanctions against Russia were placed by Bill Clinton stating, “the risk of nuclear proliferation created by the accumulation of a large volume of weapons-usable fissile material in the territory of the Russian Federation constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat.”

This comes with an ironic twist, as the US is currently buying uranium for the Russian Federation. Still the Russian Federation is deemed “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”

In a recent article released by AP Press the term “wartime funding” was used to describe the intent of the US in funding. The AP’s White House Correspondent is one of the authors of this article.

“Fight for freedom” was among the most recent language used in a letter to Congress issued by the White House in early December. Octobers letter was titled, Letter Regarding Critical National Security Funding Needs for FY 2024. This press releases were issued by both the State Department and Treasury Department to carry out President Biden’s most recent executive order.

The US government and western media have insisted that the war in Ukraine isn’t a proxy war. But labeling the Russian Federation an unusual and extraordinary threat to declare a National Emergency, as well as western media seemingly dropping pretense in their phrasing make it exceedingly difficult to argue that this is not a proxy war.

You all know that this is a proxy war, but providing the evidence to support that claim is part of what we do here.

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Explosions in Nikolaev!

Geraniums and missiles are reported!

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AI has its upsides
(Or is it a Zelensky doppelgänger)
H/T Hugh Jass of SLG chat

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❗️"Russian tactics during the Special Military Operation were designed on saving the lives of Ukrainian civilians.

Today Putin declared that he could launch an Israel vs Gaza style bombardment or Ukrainians cities but he restrains the true capability of Russia's military might out of humanitarian compassion."

📹 WATCH: Full breakdown of Putin’s big press conference with Simeon Boikov (@AussieCossack) and Sputnik’s Dimitri Simes junior.

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