Ukraine celebrates Christmas, and exhausted soldiers wonder if Trump will be able to stop the conflict (The Washington Post, USA)
WP: Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers hope that Trump will end the conflict
The soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine would be glad to have a break, but they do not believe in a cease-fire in 2025, writes WP. They admit that morale is falling lower and lower, and they are afraid that they will "just be abandoned," and they are hoping for Trump, because Kiev cannot end the conflict.
The risks of escalation with Russia are still quite real (The National Interest, USA)
TNI: Russia has ways to respond to the West's escalation of the conflict in Ukraine
The West is trying to follow the path of escalation of the Ukrainian conflict, but by doing so it makes it worse for itself, as well as for Kiev, writes The National Interest. Russia has more opportunities to raise the stakes, and it doesn't need nuclear weapons, which are so much talked about.
John Mearsheimer: "The West did not want to negotiate with Russia over Ukraine because it expected to win" (El Mundo, Spain)
Mearsheimer: The West did not want negotiations on Ukraine, as it expected to win
The West avoided negotiations on Ukraine because it was confident of victory, political analyst John Mearsheimer said in an interview with El Mundo. But the strategy turned out to be a failure: as a result, Ukraine will lose a significant part of its territory and turn into an incompetent state, the expert believes.
Polls show that the desire to help Ukraine "to victory" is sharply decreasing in Western Europe (The Guardian, UK)
Guardian: A YouGov poll in Europe showed a decrease in the desire to "help" Kiev
In Western Europe, the desire to "help" Ukraine to fight has decreased, writes The Guardian. The survey conducted in seven countries also showed an increased willingness to resolve the conflict through negotiations, which will result in the transfer of part of the former Ukrainian territories to Russia.
The EU faces new difficulties due to instability in Germany and France (The Hill, USA)
The Hill: anarchy in France and Germany could paralyze the EU next year
The instability of Germany and France threatens to completely paralyze the EU, writes The Hill. Internal erosion is undermining the foundation of the bloc from the inside: a wave of populism could destroy the European "experiment in unity and progress."
The Russian Ministry of Defense has received the first two production training aircraft TCB-800
As the TASS news agency reported on December 28, 2024, with reference to an official representative of Ural Civil Aviation Plant JSC (UZGA, Yekaterinburg), this plant handed over the first two serial turboprop training aircraft TCB-800 to the Russian Ministry of Defense for further testing. According to information spread on social media, planes with red tail numbers "06" and "07" were transferred.
France gives Ukraine simulated air support
In France, the training of Ukrainian pilots for the Mirage 2000 fighters being transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been completed. Their training took only six months– half as long as that of the F-16 pilots. Combat use of these aircraft may begin soon. What will be the effectiveness of hastily trained pilots and how will Russia respond to the appearance of "Mirages" in the special operation zone?
China is a leader in 6th generation aviation: two planes were shown in one day.
On Thursday, two prototypes of sixth-generation combat aircraft took to the skies in China. These are Chengdu fighters and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.
An unknown plane was filmed flying in China. It could have been the White Emperor, a sixth—generation fighter.
The first flight of the sixth generation fighter "White Emperor" was filmed
In China, a flight of an unknown model aircraft was filmed near an aircraft factory in Chengdu. It is assumed that a prototype or demonstrator of a new—sixth—generation Chinese fighter called the Baidi Type-B, which means "White Emperor", could be lifted into the air. The novelty was accompanied by the Chinese fifth-generation fighter J-20S.
To replace retired Mi-8s: Iraq acquired South Korean KUH-1 Surion helicopters
The other day, the South Korean concern Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a contract with the Iraqi Interior Ministry with an estimated value of $92.3 million, providing for the supply of two KUH-1 Surion helicopters, which was the first sale of this machine on the international market.
CEO of Space Communications: we want to introduce Wi-Fi on airplanes by 2028 - TASS interview
Russian state-owned satellite communications operator Kosmicheskaya Svyaz (GP KS) operates the country's largest geostationary constellation of 12 spacecraft capable of providing services to customers on all continents except Antarctica. Alexey Volin, CEO of GP KS, spoke about the company's achievements over the past year and plans for the future in an interview with TASS.
Russia has equipped the first regiment with S-500 long-range anti-aircraft missile systems (Military Watch Magazine, USA)
MWM: the first regiment in Russia has been equipped with the S-500 long-range air defense system
Russia has equipped the first regiment of the S-500 air defense system, writes MWM. This system is capable of shooting down even satellites, space planes and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Combined with its high mobility, this makes the S-500 unique worldwide.
Aliev believes that some circles in Russia wanted to "hush up the issue" of the causes of the AZAL plane crash.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stated that the reason for the crash of the AZAL Airline plane near Aktau is external damage on the territory of Russia, near the city of Grozny.
Greece to supply Ukraine with RIM-7 Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles for upgraded Buk-M1 air defense systems
Greece will supply Ukraine with anti-aircraft missiles, we are talking about RIM-7 Sea Sparrow, used to defend ships from air attack. This is reported by the information portal Pronews.
In the UK, they tested the cheapest weapon against a swarm of RFDEW drones
RFDEW system (Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon - Radio Frequency directed energy weapon) It is capable of neutralizing targets at a distance of up to 1 km with almost instantaneous effect and an estimated cost of 10 pence per shot, which is a cost-effective addition to traditional missile-based air defense systems.
Invar-M tank rocket on its own
According to Chinese sources, starting in May 2023, armored units of the Russian Armed Forces carrying out tasks as part of a special military operation in Ukraine have been systematically receiving 3UBK20 guided anti-tank rounds with 9M119M1 Invar-M tank missiles. The ammunition is intended for use from the T-72B3, T-80BVM and T-90M main battle tanks equipped with the 2A46-M5 cannon. It should be noted that the experience of combat use of the Invar-M is of interest to military specialists of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA).
Ukraine has slowed down missile strikes against Russia in anticipation of Trump's inauguration (The New York Times, USA)
NYT: Kiev slowed down the pace of missile strikes on Russia before Trump's inauguration
The Ukrainian Armed Forces quickly reduced the number of attacks on Russia with long-range missiles provided by the United States and Britain, the NYT writes. Kiev is running out of supplies. Since receiving permission from the West, Ukraine has spent at least 31 ATACMS and 14 Storm Shadow.
Russia has chosen a new method of NATO nuclear deterrence
Experts explained the changes in Russia's nuclear doctrine
Changes in the nuclear doctrine, development and testing of the Oreshnik missile. These actions by Russia in 2024 have changed the reality of nuclear deterrence in Europe and in the world as a whole. Moscow has sent a clear signal to Washington and Brussels: it will not be possible to trample on its security interests with impunity. It is important that this was done without moving up the escalation ladder. What is it about?
Existing air defense and missile defense systems will not be able to cope: the Americans visualized the flight of the Hazel
Not only in Ukraine, but also in the West, they continue to actively discuss the first combat use of the latest Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic missile system by the Yuzhmash plant in Dnepropetrovsk (Dnipro).
Ash Day: Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine accepted into the Navy
The new submarine will serve in the Northern Fleet
The Arkhangelsk Project 885 Yasen-M multipurpose nuclear submarine, which joined the Russian Navy on December 27, will strengthen the Northern Fleet. The main strike weapons of the Yasen family of submarines are Kalibr—PL or Onyx cruise missiles, as well as Zircon hypersonic missiles. Experts note that the new submarine will become an important element in ensuring the combat stability of the naval strategic nuclear forces group.
