Attack on Shukhevych Museum in Lviv and assistance from Canada - Monday brief

Russia's war against Ukraine

• Tavria front update: Equipment and nearly 300 Russians eliminated;

• Shelling of Belgorod on December 30: Russian Investigative Committee officer eliminated;

• Ukrainian special forces destroy Russian Buk system with HIMARS;

Casualties in Odesa, destroyed Shukhevych museum: Night attack aftermath

Russian troops attacked Ukraine with drones. Odesa, Dnipro, and Lviv came under attack. There are reports of casualties, deaths, and infrastructure damage.

According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on New Year's Eve 2024, the enemy used a record number of Shahed-type attack UAVs. The attack was carried out in waves from four directions: Cape Chauda, Balaklava - Crimea, as well as Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russia.

In total, 90 enemy Shahed drones were launched. The enemy also fired four S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles at the Kharkiv region, three Kh-31P anti-radar missiles, and one Kh-59 from the occupied territories of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

During a massive kamikaze drone attack on January 1, the Museum of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army General-Rear Admiral Roman Shukhevych, located on the outskirts of Lviv, was hit and completely destroyed.

Zelenskyy and Trudeau discuss strengthening Ukrainian air defense

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held his first international conversation in 2024. He discussed the reinforcement of protection for Ukrainian airspace with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to the head of state's post on Telegram.

"First and foremost, we discussed security matters. I informed Justin about Russian strikes on our cities and villages: constant rocket terror and Shahed strikes. Just on the evening before New Year's and on New Year's night, our air defense forces managed to destroy over 80 attack drones, but unfortunately, there were hits in the Sumy, Odesa, Lviv, Poltava, Kyiv, Donetsk, and Kherson regions, leading to damage to civilian objects," he said.

Zelenskyy added that he thanked Trudeau for his readiness to assist in strengthening the protection of Ukrainian skies, especially for the supply of additional NASAMS systems and missiles for them.

"We discussed work on security guarantees and agreed that our teams will soon activate bilateral dialogue for a respective agreement," the president added.

Moreover, the leaders discussed the preparation for the fourth meeting of advisors working on implementing the Peace Formula. The meeting will take place in mid-January in Davos.

"I am grateful both personally to Justin and to Canada for the corresponding support on the global level of our efforts. Grateful also for the assurance that next year, Canada's assistance to Ukraine will remain as necessary for our strength on the battlefield as in the financial sphere," emphasized Zelenskyy.

Norway allows direct sale of weapons to Ukraine

The Norwegian government has permitted direct sales of weapons and defense products from the Norwegian defense industry to Ukrainian defense authorities. This policy change came into effect on January 1, 2024, according to the press service of the country's government.

"In the extraordinary security situation resulting from Russia's war of aggression, it is crucial that we continue to support Ukraine. Support for Ukraine is important for Norwegian and European security. We must plan for the possibility that the illegal war of aggression may be prolonged. The Government has therefore decided to permit direct sales of weapons and defense-related products from the Norwegian defense industry to Ukraine," stated Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

Subject to compliance with requirements for end-user verification and control, the government has decided to permit direct sales of weapons and defense products from the Norwegian defense industry to Ukrainian defense agencies.

Sea Baby carries more than explosives: Unveiling Ukrainian naval drones' secret

Security Service of Ukraine naval drones called Sea Baby can not only carry explosives. They are also capable of firing missiles, according to SSU head Vasyl Maliuk's statements in Ukrainska Pravda and an exclusive video obtained from RBC-Ukraine's sources.

According to Maliuk, SSU naval drones drove Russian ships into their home ports and restored the grain corridor.

"We want to knock out all missile carriers from the Ukrainian Black Sea. And then we will turn our attention to submarines," says the SSU head, adding that the Russian occupiers are in for some very unpleasant surprises.

"President Zelenskyy set a task: to make sure that Ukraine dominates the Black Sea. For the SSU, this area is one of the priorities," Maliuk emphasizes.

The SSU head notes that the Russians have already withdrawn all serious ships from Crimea, but this will not help them.

Zelenskyy outlines top priority in current stage of war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared that his top priority at this stage of the war with Russia is to protect the eastern part of the country, writes The Economist.

The top priority in ground warfare, according to the Ukrainian leader, is "to defend the east, to save these very important cities of Ukraine, east and south, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv," and to protect his country's critical infrastructure.

Zelenskyy emphasized that the speed of achieving success will depend on the military aid he receives from Western partners. He requested that Ukraine be provided with Taurus, a long-range German-manufactured cruise missile capable of penetrating deep into the target. This could enable Ukraine to destroy the $4 billion Kerch Bridge, effectively isolating the Crimean Peninsula from Russia.

Zelenskyy, as before, openly discusses his goals in the East and South. His stated strategic objective of returning Ukraine to its original borders has not changed, but he no longer sets temporary limits and does not promise how much territory Ukraine will be able to de-occupy in 2024.