Russia’s decision to publicly admit that a staggering 80% of its defense budget is being consumed by the war in Ukraine is, well, something. It’s a rare glimpse behind the curtain, a moment of startling transparency in a situation that has been, to put it mildly, opaque. This admission, however, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all sunshine and roses for Russia; far from it, in fact. It just confirms what many have suspected: this war is a massive, expensive undertaking, and it’s taking a huge bite out of Russia’s resources.
The numbers themselves are pretty eye-popping. With military spending reportedly at 7.3% of GDP, the true cost is probably much higher than officially stated.… Continue reading
By the end of 2025, Russia’s irrecoverable losses in the war are projected to reach 1.2 million, a figure unseen since World War II, despite starting the war with approximately 1 million active-duty troops. This represents the effective destruction and rebuilding of the Russian army, now expanded to 1.5 million active personnel. The casualty rate includes those killed and severely wounded, with the proportion of killed soldiers rising annually. Despite these staggering losses and minimal territorial gains, the Kremlin shows no sign of relenting, continuing its strategy of relentless infantry assaults. This echoes the brutal tactics of the Soviet Union during World War II, prioritizing relentless attacks over the value of human life.
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According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Russia is uninterested in a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine, including a proposed Christmas truce. Moscow’s position is that a pause would allow Kyiv to regroup and prepare for further conflict, instead of achieving Russia’s goals and securing its interests. Peskov stated Russia seeks peace on its own terms and is not prepared to substitute broader peace settlement negotiations with short-term measures. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had not yet received an official response from the United States regarding Ukraine’s peace plan proposals, though discussions were planned.
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Ukrainian forces are steadily pushing Russian troops out of Kupiansk, with reports indicating a significant number of Russian soldiers are surrounded within the city. The operation’s slow pace is due to the presence of civilian hostages, including children, used as human shields by the Russians. Although the battle is ongoing, Ukrainian forces have managed to push Russians out of the city’s northwestern part. Limited supplies are being delivered to the surrounded Russian troops via drone.
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On the evening of December 14th, unidentified drones targeted the Moscow region, prompting reports of explosions and social media footage capturing both the drones and the blasts. While Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin remained silent, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have intercepted 56 drones across multiple regions, including two over the Moscow region. This incident follows similar drone activity on December 11th and November 30th, leading to temporary airport closures and heightened security measures. No official comments regarding the impact on Moscow have been made.
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In recent remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed Ukraine is pursuing legally binding security guarantees, including an “Article 5-like” commitment from the United States backed by Congress, as a compromise to deter further Russian aggression. The move away from NATO membership, previously sought after, comes as some partners, including the United States, did not support this course of action. Zelenskyy is now focused on bilateral guarantees with Washington, along with guarantees from European partners, Canada, and Japan, while also discussing a 20-point framework plan with US and European officials in Berlin that would conclude with a ceasefire. He emphasized that these guarantees must be binding and clearly define how the US would respond to any future Russian aggression.
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As of December 13, 2023, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Russia has suffered approximately 1,187,780 troop losses since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, including 1,300 casualties in the last day. The report also detailed significant equipment losses, citing the destruction of thousands of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, and other military assets. These figures underscore the considerable human and material costs Russia has incurred during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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Russia says UK should disclose what British soldier killed in Ukraine was doing, and frankly, the immediate reaction is, “Why do they even get to ask?” It’s almost comical, the audacity of it. The Russian Foreign Ministry, in its infinite wisdom, wants to know the specifics of a British soldier’s presence in Ukraine. While simultaneously, one must ask, will Russia disclose what *all* of the Russians, including Chechnyans, Siberians, and those forcibly enlisted, are doing there? It seems like a blatant deflection, a way to shift the spotlight away from the actual aggressor.
Instead of answering, what’s wrong with saying “He was admiring the cathedrals?”… Continue reading
Russia attacks two Ukrainian ports, damaging three Turkish-owned vessels, and it seems like the situation is getting even more complicated than it already was. You know, you can’t help but feel a certain sense of inevitability about these kinds of events, almost as if they were pre-ordained. The fact that the strikes happened after a phone call between Putin and Erdoğan just a few hours earlier definitely raises eyebrows. It feels like a calculated move, a statement being made, but the exact message is still a little fuzzy, isn’t it?
Turkey’s reaction, or perhaps lack thereof, is something that’s drawing a lot of speculation.… Continue reading
Ukrainian forces have successfully pushed Russian troops out of the northwestern part of Kupiansk, trapping approximately 200 remaining Russian soldiers in the city center. This counteroffensive, planned and commanded by the 2nd Corps “Khartia,” involved blocking and cutting off the Russian garrison from their main forces, resulting in the recapture of several villages and the targeting of Holubivka. The offensive intensified after Russia initiated an assault in the summer of 2025 with the goal of occupying the city and seizing a key logistics hub, but since then, Ukrainian forces have reportedly killed over 1,000 Russian troops. The operation in central Kupiansk is still ongoing.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker