EU decision on Ukraine's accession and Russian massive air attacks - Friday brief

Russia's war against Ukraine: Latest news

• Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with 42 Shahed drones and 6 anti-aircraft guided missiles S-300 overnight on December 14. Ukrainian Air Defense Forces shot down 41 enemy UAVs, the majority in the Odesa region, where drone fragments damaged a dormitory, injuring more than a dozen people. Port infrastructure in the region was also targeted.
• The drone attack on Russia during the night of December 14 was a special operation carried out by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The targets of the drones were in the Moscow and Kaluga regions, according to sources in the security services. According to the sources, the targets included military facilities, particularly in the Moscow and Kaluga regions.
• Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar partisan operatives from the ATESH movement reportedly infiltrated the territory of a Russian Guard military unit in Moscow. The partisans captured footage of various materials during a nighttime raid and subsequently delivered the content to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to the movement's Telegram page.

HISTORIC DECISION: EU COUNCIL BACKS UKRAINE'S ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS START

On December 14, the European Council at the summit in Brussels supported the start of negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the EU, and granted candidate status to Georgia. The European Union will also initiate negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with membership criteria is reached.

European Council President Charles Michel says the EU may start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the bloc in March 2024.

EU summit: Orbán leaves room during Ukraine decision

At the EU summit in Brussels on December 14, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban left the room as the bloc's leaders made the decision to initiate negotiations regarding Ukraine's accession, writes The Guardian.

Later, Orban published a statement on his social media account reiterating his position that Ukraine is allegedly not ready to start negotiations on joining the bloc. He called the EU leaders' decision "bad."

According to Politico, Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, proposed to Viktor Orban to leave the room in the presence of other EU leaders. It is noted that this proposal was not spontaneous but was coordinated during previous discussions, as the Hungarian Prime Minister delayed the decision on the EU-Ukraine membership negotiation with his veto.

Kyiv's air defense shoots down Russia's Kinzhal missile, Air Force reports

Throughout December 14, multiple large-scale alerts were announced across Ukraine due to the launches of Russian MiG-31K aircraft carrying the Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles. Occupiers used these missiles to strike Ukraine, and during the alarms, explosions were reported in the Kyiv and Khmelnytskyi regions.

As reported by the Ukrainian Air Force, they successfully intercepted a Kinzhal missile in the Kyiv region, while in the Khmelnytskyi region, there were arrivals.

The military stated that on Thursday, around 14:15, launches of enemy missiles were detected, and the arrival near Starokostiantyniv occurred at 14:20. Overall, the adversary deployed three air-launched Kinzhal missiles from three MiG-31K aircraft from the airspace of the Tula region towards Kyiv and Starokostiantyniv, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Patriot missile system and more: Germany provides Ukraine with new package of military aid

Germany has delivered a new package of military aid to Ukraine, including the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, according to the German government.

In addition to the Patriot surface-to-air missile system itself, Ukraine received missiles for it. This marks the second Patriot air defense system transferred to Ukraine by Germany.

Germany also handed over:

• Nine tracked all-terrain Bandvagn 206 vehicles.
• 7,390 155mm artillery rounds.
• Three unmanned machines for mine clearance.
• 14 drone detection systems.
• Eight Mercedes-Benz Zetros trucks.
• Four trailers for 8x8 HX81 tractors.
• Eight Zetros tractors.
• Over 47,000 40mm grenade launcher rounds.

Pentagon's record budget with aid for Ukraine heads for Biden's signature

The House-approved bill on annual defense spending totaling a record $886 billion for the Pentagon was submitted for President Joe Biden's signature today, December 14. The document outlines hundreds of millions in aid for Ukraine, according to The Hill.

The bill on defense policy in the United States includes, among other things, $11.5 billion to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region and an additional $800 million to support Ukraine in combating Russia's widescale military aggression.

500,000 Russians ready for war against Ukraine by year's end - Putin

By the end of this year, half a million volunteers will be involved in the war against Ukraine. At the same time, Russia allegedly has no plans for a second wave of mobilization, according to the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

Thus, he said that as a result of a large-scale campaign, almost half a million volunteers were recruited and 486,000 people have signed a contract with the Defense Ministry.

Also he has revealed the number of the occupying forces in Ukraine, saying that there are 617,000 Russian soldiers along the contact line, according to Putin's statement during a Results of the Year press conference.

Ukraine to receive new 80 million euros aid package from Estonia

Estonia is extending a new military aid package to Ukraine worth 80 million euros. The package includes Javelin anti-tank missiles, ships, and other essential equipment, according to the Estonian Ministry of Defense.

Over the next four years, Estonia is prepared to allocate 0.25% of its GDP for military assistance to Ukraine and will use funds from the defense budget to finance the aid.

Sweden approves winter aid package of €124 million for Ukraine

The Swedish government has approved the transfer of 124 million euros to Ukraine as part of winter assistance, according to the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union.

"This is a crucial time for support to Ukraine. Today, the Swedish government has approved a Ukraine winter package of 124 million euros for civil infrastructure," the announcement says.

Bulgaria approves allocating to Ukraine €3.6 billion from Eurocommission

Bulgaria's National Assembly has ratified an agreement with the European Commission to provide Ukraine with micro-financial assistance in the amount of 3.6 billion euros, reports Novinite.

The agreement involves Bulgaria providing guarantees in the amount of 16,654,646 euros.

Australia to expand military training program for Ukrainian forces in 2024

Australia will expand its commitments to train recruits from the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of Operation Kudu in 2024, according to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Australia.

The latest rotation of 70 Australian Defense Force (ADF) instructors returned to Darwin this week. Over the next 12 months, the number of ADF personnel deployed in each rotation will increase to 90 individuals.