Here is the latest situation in the war as of Monday, December 18, 2023, which marks the 663rd day of the conflict.
Fighting
– Ukraine’s Air Force reported destroying 20 Russian drones and a missile, causing damage and casualties in the Odesa region.
– Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defence systems destroyed or intercepted 35 Ukraine-launched drones over its Lipetsk, Volgograd, and Rostov regions.
– The Freedom of Russia Legion, a Ukrainian-based paramilitary group, claimed responsibility for an attack in Russia’s Belgorod region, causing damage and casualties.
– A protest was held in Kyiv calling for the immediate exchange of prisoners of war with Russia.
Politics and diplomacy
– Ukraine’s security service launched a criminal investigation after a “technical device” was found in an office belonging to Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhnyi.
– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and the European Commission would assess Kyiv’s progress on aligning its legislation with EU standards.
– Russian President Putin dismissed remarks by US President Joe Biden and emphasized Russia’s lack of interest in fighting NATO.
– US congressional negotiators expressed optimism about crafting a deal for aid to Ukraine and Israel.
– Finnish authorities are seeking to imprison a Russian man accused of committing war crimes in eastern Ukraine.