On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, the war in Ukraine entered its 657th day with several significant developments. The Ukrainian military reported a new offensive by Russian forces in the eastern city of Avdiivka, with intense fighting and 610 artillery shellings in the area. This attack resulted in injuries and destruction, with about 1,500 people remaining in the city out of a pre-war population of 32,000.
In another attack, Russia launched eight long-range ballistic missiles at Kyiv, resulting in injuries from debris and shards of glass, as Ukrainian air defences successfully intercepted the missiles. Additionally, Ukrainian defences shot down 18 Shahed drones aimed at the south.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began his visit to Washington, DC, by highlighting the importance of maintaining support for Ukraine to counter Russian aggression. He had meetings scheduled with President Joe Biden, House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva. The IMF approved a new $900m disbursement for Ukraine, and Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the support.
Zelenskyy had a “frank” conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who opposes Ukraine’s membership in the European Union. Meanwhile, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the arrest of 18 individuals accused of being part of a network of assassins targeting pro-Russian figures in occupied Crimea and eastern Ukraine.
The EU imposed sanctions on individuals and entities allegedly supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including companies involved in drone manufacturing. Meanwhile, Russia’s central election commission announced plans for voting in four regions of Ukraine that it partly occupied and annexed, a move rejected by Ukraine and most members of the United Nations General Assembly.
The United Kingdom transferred two minehunters to Ukraine as part of a new Maritime Capability Coalition, while the US indicated it would provide additional military aid to Ukraine in anticipation of potential Russian targeting of energy facilities as winter approaches.