Category: World

Ukraine and Germany have signed a collection of defence agreements price greater than €1.2 billion, together with a deal to collectively produce 200 Bohdana self-propelled artillery programs on Mercedes-Benz Zetros chassis.

Supply: Ukraine's Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal on social media

Particulars: The settlement to supply 200 self-propelled howitzers was valued at €750 million. Shmyhal mentioned that the challenge would assist Ukraine increase its artillery capabilities.

Ukraine and Germany have additionally agreed on the provision of spare components for Patriot air defence programs, the acquisition of Ukrainian drones price €200 million, joint manufacturing of Linza drones and a contract for the supply of the most recent digital warfare programs.

Zetros autos, on which the brand new Bohdana programs can be constructed, are all-wheel-drive vans made by German firm Mercedes-Benz. The truck has a bolstered chassis with water-protected items and a raised air consumption pipe, permitting it to drive by means of water as much as 80 centimetres deep.

It’s fitted with a 375-horsepower engine, a 16-speed guide gearbox with cable shift and gear-change help, a two-speed switch case and will be produced with brief or prolonged wheelbases in configurations from 4×4 to 8×8.

Background:

• It was reported in September that Ukraine's defence business has been increasing manufacturing of artillery programs, significantly the 155-mm Bohdana self-propelled howitzer, by creating new variants primarily based on overseas platforms.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has additionally mentioned earlier that manufacturing of the Bohdana self-propelled artillery system has reached 40 items per thirty days.

Help Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

Russia has put aside RUB 11.1 trillion (about US$137.8 billion) in its 2025 finances for what it calls a "particular navy operation" in Ukraine.

Supply: Russian journalists of Faridaily, an impartial information e-newsletter on Substack

Particulars: The Russian Defence Ministry has, for the primary time, disclosed finances spending "instantly linked to the particular navy operation".

They are saying the figures, included in a presentation by Russia's Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, present the prices reaching 5.1% of Russia's GDP in 2025.

Till now, solely total federal finances spending underneath the heading of Nationwide Defence has been accessible. That class can embody not solely day-to-day prices but in addition spending on growing new weapons, building, and so forth..

Newest information from Russia's Finance Ministry says RUB 13.5 trillion ($167.7 billion) has been spent on "Nationwide Defence" in 2025. This implies roughly 82% of that sum has been spent instantly on the struggle towards Ukraine.

Belousov put the Defence Ministry's whole finances this yr at 7.3% of GDP. He mentioned spending not linked to the struggle towards Ukraine has been reduce in 2025 from 2.7% to 2.2% of GDP.

Background: The Russian authorities expects the federal finances to stay in deficit over the following 20 years. This follows a forecast revealed by the Russian authorities operating to 2042.

Assist Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

Regardless of strained relations between Kyiv and Tbilisi, Georgia has unexpectedly signed a world settlement establishing a mechanism to distribute reparations obtained from Russian funds amongst Ukrainian residents and companies affected by Russian aggression.

Supply: an article by European Pravda

Particulars: Even the truth that Georgian Overseas Minister Maka Bochorishvili in individual attended the diplomatic convention on the signing of the related conference stood out to some extent, as most international locations had been represented primarily by ambassadors.

Bochorishvili delivered a "robust speech in help of the Ukrainian individuals", with out mentioning the strained relations between Kyiv and Tbilisi. Georgia in the end signed the so-called "anti-Russian" conference with none reservations or circumstances.

The article additionally famous that Georgia has despatched a bunch of journalists to The Hague to make sure the choice was broadly coated for a home viewers.

Quote from the article: "What motivated this transfer stays unclear. A lot will depend upon whether or not the Georgian parliament proceeds swiftly with ratification or limits itself to signing the settlement with the intention to keep away from additional stress with Moscow."

Particulars: Georgia was the one nation within the area to affix the conference. Azerbaijan and Armenia didn’t attend the assembly in The Hague in any respect, whereas Türkiye despatched an embassy official merely to look at and declined to signal the doc.

Background:

• European Pravda beforehand reported {that a} file variety of international locations signed the conference on reparations on the primary day.
• Dutch officers additionally mentioned that holding Russia accountable mustn’t depend upon the result of peace talks.
• Talking in The Hague, Lithuanian Overseas Minister Kęstutis Budrys mentioned that no reparations had been paid for the occupation of the Baltic states – a failure that later contributed to renewed aggression.

Assist Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

Thomas Röwekamp, Chair of the Bundestag Defence Committee, has mentioned he welcomes the proposal to determine European peacekeeping forces for Ukraine and helps German participation.

Supply: n-tv, as cited by European Pravda

Particulars: Röwekamp harassed that Germany's armed forces (the Bundeswehr) are able to making the required contribution.

"The Bundeswehr can get the job achieved. It has demonstrated this in different missions," he mentioned.

Quote from Röwekamp: "The joint dedication to safety ensures for Ukraine as soon as the conflict is over can also be in Europe's personal curiosity, as a result of it’s going to allow us to defend towards any renewed army escalation by Russia on our continent. It’s due to this fact additionally in Germany's curiosity, which ought to contribute personnel and gear to the worldwide drive with a view to safe peace."

Extra particulars: In line with a proposal put ahead by a number of European leaders and authorities representatives in addition to EU leaders, multinational forces would assist make sure the safety of Ukrainian airspace and maritime safety, together with by means of operations performed on Ukrainian soil.

Background:

• At a gathering of European leaders in Berlin on Monday 15 December, a proposal was made to kind safety forces to assist safe a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.
• A joint assertion mentioned that Europe-led forces, with US assist, would assist the Armed Forces of Ukraine and make sure the safety of airspace and maritime areas.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz mentioned that the Western peacekeepers envisaged beneath safety ensures from Europe and the US may, beneath sure circumstances, repel Russian forces.

Help Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

Ukrainian forces have managed to regain management over 16 sq km of land within the northern a part of the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.

Supply: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Particulars: Attending the thirty second assembly of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (the Ramstein format), Syrskyi mentioned the difficult scenario on the battlefield. He reported that regardless of important losses, Russian forces haven’t deserted offensive actions, though they haven’t achieved any substantial operational successes.

He recalled that the Ukrainian army has managed to push the Russians again from Kupiansk and to deliver nearly 90% of the town's territory again below management.

Quote: "I centered individually on the scenario on the Pokrovsk entrance. Right here, the aggressor has been trying to seize the town of Pokrovsk for greater than 17 months. Nonetheless, Ukrainian models are holding the road and seizing the initiative. On account of counteroffensive actions, they’ve regained management over 16 sq km within the northern a part of the town. They’ve additionally taken again 56 sq km of territory close to the settlements of Hryshyne, Kotlyne and Udachne, to the west of Pokrovsk."

Background: On 16 December, the seventh Corps of the Air Assault Forces reported that, as regards Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces are exhibiting the best exercise on the western outskirts of Pokrovsk and that also they are rising stress on the south-eastern districts of the city of Myrnohrad.

Assist Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

Rankings company Fitch has positioned the rankings of Euroclear Financial institution on "ranking watch unfavourable", citing potential development in authorized and liquidity dangers as a result of EU plans to make use of frozen Russian property for a reparations mortgage to Ukraine.

Supply: Reuters

Particulars: The EU plans to make use of as much as €165 billion in Russian central financial institution property which were frozen in Europe, with out formally confiscating them, as a technique to finance Ukraine's defence and price range wants in 2026-2027.

Euroclear, a Belgium-based central securities depository monetary establishment, was holding bonds for the Russian central financial institution on the time of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These bonds have matured, however the money is caught in Euroclear due to EU sanctions focusing on the Kremlin.

At current, this money is positioned with the European Central Financial institution on in a single day deposits.

Underneath the EU's plan, Euroclear is to speculate this cash in zero-coupon bonds to be issued by the European Fee. The EU would then use these funds to supply Ukraine with a reparations mortgage.

Ukraine would begin repaying this mortgage solely as soon as it receives reparations from Russia beneath a peace settlement, that means it might successfully be capable of spend the cash now with out ready for Moscow to pay.

Fitch has warned that an inadequate stage of authorized and liquidity safety beneath such a mechanism might create a maturity mismatch on Euroclear's steadiness sheet if the obligations to the Russian central financial institution all of a sudden grew to become payable.

The company stated it plans to determine on additional motion relating to the ranking as soon as it has enough readability in regards to the political resolution and the implementation of the reparations mortgage, which might be agreed upon on the EU summit on Thursday and Friday.

Background:

• The Central Financial institution of Russia claimed that EU plans to make use of its property are illegal and that it reserves the suitable to make use of all accessible means to defend its pursuits.
• In a separate assertion, the Financial institution stated it was submitting a lawsuit in a Moscow court docket towards Euroclear, which holds a big share of those property.

Help Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

Two males have been injured in a Russian drone strike on the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson on the night of 16 December.

Supply: Kherson Metropolis Army Administration

Quote: "Russian occupiers performed a drone assault on the Dniprovskyi district yesterday at round 21:30. Two males aged 37 and 38 have been injured. They have been taken to hospital."

Particulars: Each residents suffered blast accidents and shrapnel wounds.

"The 37-year-old additionally suffered an open fracture of his left leg. He’s in a vital situation," Kherson Metropolis Army Administration mentioned.

Assist Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

Paratroopers of the forty sixth Separate Airmobile Podillia Brigade of Ukraine's Air Assault Forces, along with neighbouring brigades, have reported that they smashed a mechanised convoy of Russian troops trying an assault on the Pokrovsk entrance.

Supply: an announcement by the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "Utilizing the fog as cowl, the enemy tried to assault our brigade's positions, utilizing as much as 10 armoured automobiles and several other dozen infantry. Nevertheless, the enemy's actions had been detected prematurely.

Due to coordinated work by our engineers, artillerymen and unmanned methods models along with adjoining models, the assault was repelled."

Particulars: The paratroopers reported that in the course of the battle they destroyed two Russian tanks, two infantry preventing automobiles, one multipurpose tracked car and two quad bikes. In addition they hit one armoured preventing car and one motorcar. They mentioned 49 Russian troops had been killed and 5 wounded.

Background: On 10 December, the seventh Speedy Response Corps of the Air Assault Forces reported that Ukrainian models had been repelling a Russian mechanised assault on the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.

Help Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

Kaja Kallas, EU Excessive Consultant for Overseas Affairs and Safety Coverage, has warned that if the worldwide group yields to Russian stress and fails to finish mechanisms to carry Russia accountable, additional acts of aggression will inevitably comply with.

Supply: Kaja Kallas in a speech earlier than signing a conference establishing a compensation fee for Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: The EU's prime diplomat stated the brand new fee is meant to find out the dimensions of the reparations to be paid to Ukrainian residents affected by Russia's aggression.

Quote: "The size of destruction and influence on residents is unimaginable. Property is only one class within the register of damages for Russia's battle in Ukraine and, if I’ll say so, the least pricey. As a result of what worth do you placed on the killing of relations, the deportation of youngsters, life-changing private accidents, sexual violence, torture? These are the questions that the claims fee will probably be coping with over the subsequent years."

Extra particulars: Kallas acknowledged that the continuing work faces main challenges, the largest being the dearth of readability concerning the funding mechanism. She talked about the potential for utilizing frozen Russian property, however stated they’d not be enough.

She additionally stated that historic precedents, reminiscent of Iraq voluntarily contributing funds for reparations after invading Kuwait, are irrelevant.

Quote: "Russia won’t ever voluntarily pay for the harm it has carried out."

Extra particulars: Kallas urged the world to maintain engaged on the reparations mechanism regardless of the stress that’s anticipated from Moscow.

Quote: "We already see the makes an attempt to exclude reparations, and actually any type of accountability, from a possible peace settlement. And this places an enormous duty on the worldwide group… Collectively, we should all arise for the victims of this brutal battle of aggression. If we don’t, extra will comply with."

Background:

• It was reported earlier that the Netherlands believes the necessity for Russia to face simply punishment doesn’t rely on peace agreements.
• Lithuanian Overseas Minister Kęstutis Budrys famous in his speech in The Hague that there have been no reparations for the occupation of the Baltic states by the Soviet Union, and that this led to additional aggression.

Help Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

Vadym Huttsait, Head of the Ukrainian Nationwide Olympic Committee, has mentioned that Ukrainian athletes will participate in worldwide competitions the place Russian and Belarusian rivals are current below their very own nationwide symbols.

Supply: Huttsait throughout the nationwide joint 24/7 newscast

Particulars: The choice is anticipated to be authorized shortly by the Ministry of Youth and Sports activities of Ukraine. Huttsait mentioned {that a} fee will likely be set as much as determine which occasions Ukrainian athletes will attend and the way they need to behave.

Quote: "I imagine we have to participate in all worldwide competitions. The battle has been occurring for nearly 4 years and we’ve got already misplaced an important deal in sport: greater than 600 sports activities amenities have been misplaced. Our athletes face hardships making ready for worldwide competitions. We see what number of youngsters we’ve got misplaced from youth sports activities colleges and what number of youngsters have left the nation with their dad and mom.

We have now to participate in these competitions. After all, we stick with the principles we set out earlier: we don’t shake palms, we don’t stand subsequent to them on the rostrum and we don’t even increase the problem of a joint photograph. That’s forbidden. All athletes perceive this, they’re already knowledgeable and know methods to behave at worldwide competitions."

Extra particulars: Ukraine presently has an order from the sports activities ministry requiring a boycott of worldwide tournaments the place representatives of Russia and or Belarus compete below their very own flags.

The primary model of the order, dated 13 April 2023, barred participation in all tournaments involving Belarusians and Russians, no matter their standing. Later, in July 2023, the ban was eased.

Background: Earlier, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) has advisable permitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in worldwide competitions on the youth stage. Quite a few worldwide federations have already adopted these suggestions.

Assist Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!