(English) Ukraine on Fire, December 19
- vvdavyd
- Dec 19, 2023
- 2 min read
Russian Army manpower losses as of December 19: 348, 300
Children killed (according to the Prosecutor General Office of Ukraine): 512
Zelenskyy: additional mobilization will cost Ukraine US$13 billion
During his press conference President Zelenskyy said that the military proposed to mobilize an additional 450-500,000 people, but this issue is currently being finalized. Zelenskyy stressed that he needed more arguments to support this decision, because “it is a matter of people, justice, defense capability and finances.” “Mobilization in this format will cost Ukraine an additional 500 billion hryvnias [approx. $13 billion]. Therefore, as the President of Ukraine and a person who gives a lot of his time to find financial support for Ukraine, I would like to hear from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance where we get the money from,” he concluded.
Zelenskyy has no plans to fire Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhnyi
"I have a working relationship with Zaluzhnyi. He has to be responsible for the results on the battlefield as the Commander-in-Chief, together with the General Staff. There are many issues there... The offensive is a complex issue: some things were there, some things were not, some things are missing... We need solid steps and results... every day at every position. I plan to work [with them]; I await their decisions [on mobilization, assistance at the front, and very specific things on the battlefield]. The strategy is clear; I want to see the details. I think that’s fair," Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy does not believe in "partial NATO membership" for Ukraine
He said that such a scenario would lead to a direct conflict between Russia and NATO, as the Russian leadership has made uncompromising statements about the continuation of Russia's goal of conquering Ukraine.
Zelenskyy: We'll produce 1 million drones next year
The president noted that the issue of drone production and supply had been discussed during a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff. Zelenskyy said he did not like the bureaucratic Soviet-style process. “Our brigades will get domestically produced drones. As regards output, we’ll produce one million drones next year. We will do everything we can to make it happen,” he said.
Putin claims he will continue his assault on Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he will not abandon the so-called goals of the war against Ukraine. Putin complained that the West was "giving the enemy real-time intelligence, weapons" and waging a hybrid war against Russia.
Britain to sign a 10-year security pact to ramp up Ukraine's navy
Great Britain and Ukraine can sign a 10-year agreement, within which Britain will provide support focused on strengthening the naval potential. The country can also undertake to help Ukraine financially and exchange intelligence data.
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