95 Ukrainian defenders returned from Russian captivity, EU approved €4.2 bln tranche to Ukraine - Wednesday brief

Russia's war against Ukraine: Latest

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Ukraine returns 95 defenders from Russian captivity

Ukraine has returned 95 defenders from Russian captivity. These are soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets says that 3,405 Ukrainians have been returned from Russian captivity since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.

All of those released this time are men: 88 privates and sergeants and 7 officers. Among the men who were released, 23 defended Mariupol (thirteen of them were Azovstal defenders), 41 fought in the Donetsk sector, nine in the Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia sectors, and three in the Kherson and Kharkiv sectors.

German government approves budget for 2025 with half less aid for Ukraine

The German government has approved the budget for the next year. According to the previously approved budget, half as much money was allocated to help Ukraine.

Germany's planned budget expenditures amount to €480.6 billion, with new borrowings of €43.8 billion in 2025.

The budget draft includes an increase in defense spending by €1.3 billion, bringing it to €53 billion. This is less than Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expected. The German parliament is anticipated to continue discussions on defense during the review process.

Russia may take on defensive next year - The Economist

In the first two years of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia lost about 3,000 tanks and 5,000 other armored vehicles. Next year, the Russians are likely to take on the defensive, according to The Economist.

Ultimately, much depends not only on Ukraine's ability to continue the fight but also on how long Russia can sustain its current operational tempo. Russia can replenish its army with 25,000 soldiers per month, maintaining a frontline strength of 470,000 soldiers.

Ukraine to receive F-16 fighter jets soon - Dutch Defense Minister

Ukraine will soon receive F-16 fighters from the Netherlands. However, details cannot be disclosed yet, according to the Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.

According to him, the information cannot be disclosed because the F-16 is a target of Russia. Therefore, any details could help Russia.

Brekelmans also emphasized that Ukrainian pilots are quickly learning to fly the F-16. But he cannot say the exact number, as this would be valuable information for Russia.

European Commission approves transfer of nearly 4.2 billion euros to Ukraine under Ukraine Facility

The European Commission has approved the transfer of the next tranche of the Ukraine Facility to Ukraine. It will amount to almost 4.2 billion euros, according to the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.

She clarified that after the tranche is approved by the EU Council, the total funding for Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility will reach €12 billion.

According to von der Leyen, the European Union continues to support Ukraine's struggle for freedom and on its way to membership in the bloc.

Ukraine and Belgium sign €150 mln recovery agreement

Kyiv and Brussels signed a cooperation agreement. According to the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium will invest about 150 million euros over four years to rebuild Ukraine.

The local agency Belga explains, the agreement:

• Provides for investments in the restoration of Ukraine amounting to €150 million ($164 million) over four years;
• Allows the Belgian cooperation agency Enabel to participate in the reconstruction of the affected regions of the country. The main activities are planned in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions;
• Includes cooperation in the restoration of critical infrastructure and the provision of comfortable shelters in schools.

The first tranche of €20 million ($21.88 million) will be directed towards decentralized energy installations in Kyiv and its suburbs