In its December 31st report, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces estimated total Russian troop losses since February 24, 2022, at 789,550, including 1,610 casualties in the preceding day. This staggering figure is accompanied by the destruction of significant military hardware, encompassing over 9,600 tanks, more than 20,000 armored vehicles, and thousands of artillery systems and aircraft. The losses also include substantial numbers of drones, vehicles, and naval vessels.
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In 2024, Russia suffered devastating losses in Ukraine, with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reporting 421,000 troops killed or wounded—the highest yearly toll since the invasion began. This contributed to a total of approximately 785,000 Russian casualties since February 2022. Ukraine’s successes included establishing a pioneering Unmanned Systems Forces and leveraging long-range strikes, significantly increasing the effectiveness of its military actions. To further enhance combat readiness, Ukraine extended basic military training for mobilized personnel to two months.
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Telegram has initiated a ban on several prominent Russian state media outlets within the European Union, including RIA Novosti, NTV, Rossiya 1, Izvestia, and RT, due to violations of local laws. These channels are inaccessible in various EU and associated countries, displaying messages citing legal infractions. This action follows a May EU ban on these outlets for war propaganda and mirrors similar restrictions imposed by other platforms like TikTok and Meta. The move is part of a broader effort to counter Russian disinformation campaigns related to the war in Ukraine.
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Ukrainian forces captured several seriously wounded North Korean soldiers, some of whom later died from their injuries; these are believed to be the first North Korean prisoners of war taken by Ukraine. Intelligence suggests thousands of North Korean troops have been deployed to the Kursk region, suffering significant casualties due to minimal protection provided by Russia. Russia’s alleged attempts to conceal these losses include falsifying identification documents and burning the bodies of deceased soldiers. Ukraine warns of the potential for further North Korean troop deployments to Russia.
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Ukraine confirms it destroyed a major Russian ammunition depot, a significant blow to Russia’s military capabilities. The reported destruction of the depot, located at the Kadamovsky training ground in Russia’s southern Rostov region, is being hailed as a major victory. The sheer scale of the operation, and its success, underscores Ukraine’s evolving tactical prowess and ability to strike deep within Russian territory.
Ukraine confirms it destroyed the depot in a large-scale operation conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) overnight on December 21-22. This targeted strike, executed with precision and efficiency, resulted in the complete destruction of the depot and a massive fire.… Continue reading
Russia’s inflation has surged to a near-year high of 9.7%, exceeding 2022’s rate, primarily due to war spending and soaring food prices. In response, the Central Bank drastically increased its key interest rate to 21%, the highest since the 2000s, a move criticized by some as potentially crippling businesses. This aggressive measure aims to combat inflation fueled by substantial increases in essential goods like potatoes and onions. The Central Bank will review the interest rate at its next meeting, weighing inflation control against economic stability.
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The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned Russia’s Christmas Eve missile attacks on Ukraine, sharing footage of the devastation. The ministry emphasized Russia’s continued aggression and reaffirmed unwavering Estonian support for Ukraine. This support aims to achieve a just and lasting peace through the withdrawal of Russian forces to their pre-invasion borders. The attack involved over 70 missiles and 100 drones, with Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepting a significant portion. A Russian missile also reportedly violated Moldovan airspace.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood