The Kyiv Independent

2022-12-22 14:12:41 Russian attacks across 8 Ukrainian oblasts kill 1 person, injure 15 over past day.

Russian attacks on Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk oblasts killed one person and wounded 15 over the past day. Open / Comment

2022-12-22 13:37:27 These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Dec. 22, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Open / Comment

2022-12-22 12:57:33 UK Defense Ministry: Belarusian instructors likely training Russian conscripts due to ‘overstretch’ of Russian military system.

Belarus’ military has likely taken on a “significant, but more discreet” role in training Russian conscripts, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported on Dec. 22. Open / Comment

2022-12-22 12:19:18 NYT: Ukraine aid delayed in US Senate over immigration policy dispute.

U.S. lawmakers failed to vote on legislation containing nearly $50 billion in aid for Ukraine on Dec. 21 due to disagreements over prolonging pandemic-era border restrictions, New York Times reported. Open / Comment

2022-12-22 12:13:30 According to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Russia has lost 100,400 troops since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Open / Comment

2022-12-22 10:19:13 General Staff: Ukraine's army repels Russia's attacks near 16 settlements in Donetsk, Luhansk oblasts.

In their Dec. 21 update, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that Russia’s army launched six missiles, 15 airstrikes and 64 MLRS attacks against Ukraine over the past day. Open / Comment

2022-12-22 08:39:42 Defense News: US to scrutinize its control of funds allocation to Ukraine.

The U.S. Defense Criminal Investigation Service (DCIS) will strengthen oversight of contracts approved under an accelerated procedure to Ukraine's fight against Russia. The DCIS will also track the potential black market diversion of U.S. aid, according to James Ives, principal deputy director for DCIS, which falls under the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. No contracting fraud has become public so far. Open / Comment

2022-12-22 08:05:41 Russian forces attack Sumy Oblast 23 times on Dec. 21.

Seredyno-Budska and Hlukhivska communities were under Russian fire over the past 24 hours, Sumy Oblast Governor Dmytro Zhyvytskyi reported on Telegram. Russian troops hit the Seredyno-Budska community with mortars, the Hlukhiv community was targeted with multiple rocket launchers. According to the governor, there were no casualties. Open / Comment

2022-12-22 06:03:40 ISW: Putin demonstrates that Russia is not interested in reducing its war efforts, despite growing toll on society.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu presided over a Russian Ministry of Defense Collegium in Moscow on Dec. 21. They made several statements on the strategic direction of the Russian military, during which Putin reiterated that Russia "will ensure the safety of all Russian territories, including illegally-annexed territories in Ukraine." Open / Comment

2022-12-22 05:18:27 Zelensky to US Congress: 'Your money is not charity, it's investment in global security'

President Volodymyr Zelensky received a lasting standing ovation as he was about to deliver a historic address before U.S. Congress late on Dec. 21. “It is too much for me,” he said with a smile before proceeding with his remarks. Zelensky spoke in English for roughly 25 minutes and reminded the American lawmakers that mere hours before his U.S. trip — the first overseas one since the full-scale invasion began on Feb. 24 — he was at the front line in Donetsk Oblast's Bakhmut.

Photo: Nathan Howard/Bloomberg via Getty Images Open / Comment