Summary of the Day:
Russia faces a complex situation in Syria as it negotiates with opposition forces over control of its military bases while simultaneously preparing for potential evacuations. Reports indicate Russia is moving four ships – the Ivan Gren, Aleksandr Otrakovsky, Sparta, and Sparta II – to the Port of Tartus, while consolidating forces at Hmeimim Air Base, suggesting possible preparations for a strategic withdrawal.
On the battlefield in Ukraine, Russian forces achieved advances in multiple sectors, pushing forward in the Kursk Oblast salient and making gains near Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk, and Kurakhove. Ukrainian forces countered this momentum by regaining previously lost positions near Svatove. A significant development occurred with the reported assassination of Mikhail Shatsky, a key Russian defense official responsible for missile modernization, by Ukrainian military intelligence in Moscow Oblast.
Diplomatic tensions escalated as Ukraine denied Hungarian Prime Minister Orban’s claims about rejected peace talks, while China’s President Xi met with Russian officials, providing a platform for Moscow to demand significant Ukrainian territorial concessions. Meanwhile, India strengthened its economic ties with Russia through a major oil deal worth $13 billion annually, despite efforts to reduce military cooperation.
In domestic developments, Russia expanded its control over dissent by passing legislation that equates censorship violations with terrorism. The Kremlin also awarded the prestigious “Golden Star” Medal to a military correspondent for the first time since World War II, part of ongoing efforts to control the Russian information space through co-opting military bloggers.
Picture of the Day:
Firefighters are seen extinguishing a fire in a garage following Russian shelling in the city of Kostiantynivka, Ukraine. The attack caused significant damage to residential areas and facilities. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Beyond Ukraine – The March Towards World War
Russian military presence in Syria faces uncertainty as reports emerge of an informal agreement with Syrian opposition group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) regarding control of key Russian bases – Hmeimim Air Base and the Port of Tartus. While Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Bogdanov confirmed contacts with HTS, the long-term stability of this arrangement remains unclear, potentially threatening regional security. The situation is particularly concerning as reports suggest militants have surrounded Hmeimim Air Base and are conducting periodic attacks. This development could destabilize the delicate balance of power in Syria, where Russia has maintained a military presence since 2015 under the stated mission of fighting terrorism. The uncertainty surrounding Russia’s continued presence in Syria could create a power vacuum and lead to increased regional instability, potentially affecting broader Middle Eastern peace efforts.
Russia is making strategic moves in Syria that could signal a significant shift in regional power dynamics. According to Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, Russia is deploying four ships – the Ivan Gren, Aleksandr Otrakovsky, Sparta, and Sparta II – from various Russian ports to Syria’s Port of Tartus, potentially for evacuation purposes. Simultaneously, Russian forces across Syria are consolidating at Hmeimim Air Base and Port of Tartus, with daily military transport flights operating between Syria and Russia. This careful repositioning suggests Russia may be preparing for a possible withdrawal from its Syrian bases, though Moscow appears reluctant to completely abandon its military presence in the region. Such a withdrawal could significantly alter the balance of power in the Middle East, potentially creating a security vacuum that could destabilize the region and threaten international peace efforts.
India’s Reliance Industries has signed a major 10-year oil deal with Russia’s state-owned Rosneft, worth $13 billion annually for 500,000 barrels daily, making India the largest importer of Russian oil and challenging Middle Eastern producers’ market share. While India is working to reduce its military dependence on Russia and strengthen Western ties, this economic deal reinforces Russia’s position in global energy markets despite international sanctions, with India aiming to increase bilateral trade with Russia to $100 billion by 2030. The agreement highlights the complex balance between economic interests and global security concerns, as India’s continued economic engagement with Russia could undermine international efforts to isolate Russia over its actions in Ukraine, demonstrating how energy politics continues to complicate global peace efforts and international sanctions designed to discourage military aggression.
Belarus’s President Lukashenko has approved a new state defense plan for 2026-2030, shaped by the 2020 domestic unrest, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and changes to Belarus’s security policies. This development signals increasing military alignment with Russia and could potentially escalate tensions in Eastern Europe, affecting regional stability and global peace efforts.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a stark warning that the alliance is unprepared for future Russian threats, emphasizing the need for increased defense spending and a shift to a wartime mindset. Russia’s military spending is expected to reach 7-8% of GDP by 2025, while NATO members currently aim for only 2%. Rutte stressed that Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation with Ukraine and NATO, warning that Ukraine’s current situation could spread to other nations.
The Path to Peace
A diplomatic dispute has emerged after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed Ukraine rejected his proposal for a Christmas ceasefire and prisoner of war exchange with Russia, while Ukrainian presidential aide Dmytro Lytvyn countered that Hungary never discussed these proposals with Ukraine before Orban’s call with Russian President Putin, which was followed by Orban’s criticism of President Zelensky on social media. Ukrainian President Zelensky criticized Orban for bypassing Ukraine in these discussions, arguing that such actions weaken European unity, with tensions further heightened by a June 2023 incident where Hungary unilaterally transferred 11 Ukrainian POWs of Hungarian descent without consulting Kyiv. Ukraine maintains it has already been negotiating directly with Russia for two weeks regarding a large-scale prisoner exchange planned for late 2024, noting that Russia has historically been reluctant to participate in such exchanges, and Lytvyn confirmed Ukraine is working on this major prisoner swap by year’s end, but without Hungarian involvement.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev in Beijing, discussing Ukraine and Syria, where Xi promoted China’s “Friends of Peace” Initiative with Brazil and called for de-escalation while providing Medvedev a platform to restate Russia’s uncompromising position that negotiations are only possible if Ukraine accepts what Russia calls “realities on the ground” – referring to Putin’s June 2024 demand that Ukraine surrender control of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts, which would require Ukraine to give up nearly 20% of its territory and millions of its citizens. While Xi emphasized Beijing’s neutrality and called for preventing conflict expansion, China faces international scrutiny over alleged support to Russia’s war effort, including reports of dual-use goods and attack drones supplied to Moscow, and despite Ukraine inviting China to a peace summit in January, Beijing declined as its required terms were not met, while continuing to provide Russian officials opportunities to promote these territorial demands.
In a recent Time magazine interview, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump strongly opposed Ukraine’s use of U.S.-made missiles for long-range strikes into Russia, marking his first public statement on the issue. Trump, who was named Time’s Person of the Year, expressed concern about escalating the conflict and criticized the Biden administration’s level of support to Ukraine. While meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on December 7, Trump called for an immediate ceasefire. However, Zelensky responded that ending the war requires more than “a piece of paper and a few signatures,” emphasizing the need for security guarantees to prevent Putin from reigniting the conflict as he has done before.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced he’s willing to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin again, following their previous November conversation. The news comes amid mixed reactions from European leaders, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing concern that multiple conversations with Putin could lead to his legitimization.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw to discuss Ukraine’s security and future European support, following Macron’s recent Paris meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President-elect Donald Trump, where Trump expressed optimism about ending the war quickly after taking office in January 2025, while Zelensky maintained that Russian President Putin would need to be forced to end the conflict. During their press conference, Tusk clarified that Poland has no current plans for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, although some European nations, including the UK and France, are considering potential peacekeeping roles in the event of a ceasefire, with Zelensky indicating he would only consider such proposals after receiving a clear timeline for NATO membership. As Poland prepares to take over the EU Council presidency from Hungary in January 2025, with plans to focus on defense, energy, and economic security, Tusk suggested peace talks could begin this winter.
Situation On The Land, Sea, and Air in Ukraine
Russian military authorities are cracking down on soldiers’ use of civilian vehicles in Ukraine, causing friction with frontline forces. A recent raid in occupied Donetsk Oblast resulted in 17 vehicle confiscations. Military bloggers criticize the ban, saying it hampers logistics and medical evacuations, especially since soldiers rely on personal vehicles to compensate for the Ministry of Defense’s inadequate supply system. This follows earlier unpopular restrictions, including a ban on personal electronic devices at the front.
Russian forces have reportedly started using new “Storm” reconnaissance drones in Ukraine to conduct surveillance and guide artillery strikes.
Russian military bloggers reported ongoing combat along the international border in Sumy Oblast. They claimed there was fighting and Russian advances near Oleksandriya in northeastern Sumy Oblast over December 10-11, though these claims cannot be independently verified.
Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on occupied Crimea overnight. Russian officials claim they shot down five drones near Sevastopol, including some near Balaklava and Inkerman, and disabled two others through electronic warfare. Russian sources say they used fighter jets and air defense systems to counter the attack.
Ukrainian Operations in the Russian Federation – Initiative Russia
Russian forces made advances in Ukraine’s Kursk Oblast. They captured territory along the Psel River near Plekhovo and Kurilovka, south of Sudzha. The Russian Ministry of Defense claims their forces also retook Darino and Novoivanovka. While additional Russian advances were reported near Sverdilkovo, Malaya Loknya, Martynovka, and Guevo, these claims remain unconfirmed. Russian and Chechen forces continue operations in the area, though progress toward Sudzha is expected to be slow.
A drone attack struck police barracks in Grozny, Chechnya, marking the third such incident since October. According to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, the strike damaged the building’s roof and windows, causing minor injuries to four guards. The targeted building, named after Akhmat Kadyrov, was previously hit in a December 4 attack. While Kadyrov blamed Ukraine for the strike, Kyiv has not claimed responsibility. A Ukrainian intelligence source suggested the earlier October 29 attack likely originated from neighboring Dagestan or Ingushetia.
Kharkiv Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces attacked positions north of Kharkiv City near Hlyboke and Lyptsi, and northeast near Vovchansk and Starytsya but failed to make any territorial gains.
Luhansk Front – Initiative Russia
Ukrainian forces recaptured Kopanky west of Svatove, while fighting continues along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line. Near Kolisnykivka, Ukrainian forces successfully repelled a Russian mechanized assault, destroying multiple vehicles. Russian forces launched attacks across multiple locations including Zapadne, Synkivka, Pishchane, Zahryzove, Nadiya, Lozova, Hrekivka, Novoyehorivka, Tverdokhlibove, Druzhelyubivka, Makiivka, Terny, Torske, and Hryhorivka, as well as in the Serebryanske forest area. Poor weather has reportedly reduced combat intensity in the Lyman direction.
Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia
Siversk
Russian forces conducted limited attacks near Verkhnokamyanske, east of Siversk, but failed to make any confirmed territorial gains.
Chasiv Yar
Russian forces made small advances near Chasiv Yar capturing territory along Lisova Street in western Kalynivka. While some Russian sources claim control of the Chasiv Yar Refractory Plant, this remains unconfirmed. Fighting continues around Chasiv Yar and nearby settlements of Bila Hora and Stupochky.
Toretsk
Russian forces attacked Toretsk and surrounding areas but made no advances.
Pokrovsk
Russian forces advanced south of Pokrovsk capturing Novotroitske and making gains near Novyi Trud and Shevchenko. While Russian sources claim control of Pushkine and parts of southern Pokrovsk, these claims remain unverified. Ukrainian officials report Russian forces are now 6-10 kilometers from Pokrovsk, attempting to approach the town from both flanks. Fighting continues around Myrolyubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Pishchane, and other nearby settlements.
Kurakhove
Russian forces advanced in the Kurakhove area gaining ground along Nahorna and Urozhaina Streets in the town’s southern sections. While Russian sources claim to have captured Zorya and parts of Shevchenko, Stari Terny, and Sontsivka, only their control of about 70% of Sontsivka is confirmed. Fighting continues around Dachne and Dalne. Multiple Russian military units are reportedly involved in operations near Kurakhove.
Andriivka
Russian forces attacked near Vuhledar but made no confirmed advances. While Russian sources claim progress near Kostiantynopolske, this remains unverified. Fighting continues around multiple settlements including Antonivka, Katerynivka, Yelyzavetivka, Veselyi Hai, Trudove, Uspenivka, Hannivka, and Sukhi Yaly. Russian military units are reportedly attacking toward Uspenivka, Kostiantynopolske, and Sukhyi Yaly.
Velyka Novosilka
Russian forces attacked near Velyka Novosilka but made no confirmed advances. While Russian sources claim progress near Rivnopil, this remains unverified. Fighting continues around Rozdolne, Blahodatne, Neskuchne, and Novodarivka. Ukrainian forces reportedly launched counterattacks near Novyi Komar, Rozdolne, and Blahodatne. Russian forces reportedly withdrew from southern Velyka Novosilka due to difficult terrain. Multiple Russian military units are engaged in operations throughout the area.
The Russian Eastern Grouping of Forces operating near Velyka Novosilka and Hulyaipole has approximately 55,000 troops, mainly concentrated in the Velyka Novosilka area. Their equipment includes about 348 tanks, 820 armored fighting vehicles, 432 artillery systems, and 112 rocket launchers, plus reserve forces of two motorized rifle regiments and four battalions.
Zaporizhia Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces were reportedly inactive on the ground near Hulyaipole and Polohy in eastern Zaporizhia Oblast. According to Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets, several Russian brigades with drone operations are being conducted near Polohy.
Russian forces attacked near Novoandriivka and Novodanylivka in western Zaporizhia Oblast but made no confirmed gains.
Ukrainian partisan group Atesh reported a large Russian military column, including tanks and armored equipment, moving north through Crimea toward the Zaporizhzhia region, with Ukrainian partisans confirming increased Russian military equipment moving from Crimea to occupied Zaporizhia Oblast. Ukrainian officials believe Russia is planning to intensify operations in both Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions as a bargaining tool for future negotiations, following recent statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in an interview with Tucker Carlson, with Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation noting that Russia is using these potential offensives, along with threats involving their Oreshnik ballistic missile, to pressure negotiations.
Kherson (Dnipro River) Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces attacked along the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast but failed to make any confirmed advances.
Ukraine News
Russian guided aerial bomb attacks on Ukraine have decreased by more than 50% since mid-November, when Western allies allowed Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russian territory, according to Agentstvo, an independent Russian outlet. Before November 20, Russia was dropping over 100 guided bombs daily on Ukraine. Now the average has fallen to 40 or fewer per day, likely because Russia had to move its Su-34 aircraft beyond the 600-kilometer range of ATACMS missiles to protect them from Ukrainian strikes.
Ukraine’s largest steel producer, Metinvest, has suspended operations at its Pishchane coal plant near Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, due to intensified Russian shelling and advancing troops. The company has evacuated core personnel and their families from the site, which is Eastern Europe’s largest coking coal producer. The closure could significantly impact Ukraine’s steel industry, potentially reducing production from a projected 7.5 million metric tons to just 2-3 million by the end of 2024. This represents another major loss for Metinvest, which previously lost its Azovstal plant during Russia’s capture of Mariupol.
A Ukrainian court has sentenced Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of Russia’s State Duma, to 15 years in absentia. Volodin, a close Putin ally, was found guilty of his role in Russia’s invasion, particularly for orchestrating the Duma’s approval of recognizing the “independence” of occupied Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts in February 2022. This case is part of Ukraine’s broader effort to prosecute Russian officials, with 730 individuals charged and 137 convicted of war crimes as of November 2024.
Innocent Victims Of War
The casualty count of civilians in the past 24 hours: (Russian War Crimes)
DEATHS: 1 INJURIES: 11
Russian strikes in Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast injured six people and killed a 67-year-old man in a drone attack on Kherson city.
In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks wounded four civilians: three in the town of Pokrovsk and one in the village of Novotroitske.
Russian artillery and drone attacks in the Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast wounded a 44-year-old man.
Russian forces struck the village of Kutkivka in Kharkiv Oblast with a multiple-launch rocket system, damaging an educational facility but causing no casualties.
Ukraine Mobilization and Defense Industrial Base
Ukraine’s “Come Back Alive” Foundation has completed a $340,000 project called Hornet to upgrade Soviet-era Osa air defense systems. The modernization allows these systems to fire both their standard 9M33 missiles and R-73 air-to-air guided missiles, increasing their effectiveness against drones, helicopters, aircraft, and missiles. Unlike the US-funded FrankenSAM project, which uses Western missiles, Hornet relies on Ukraine’s existing missile systems. The upgraded Osas can now “shoot and scoot,” moving immediately after firing to avoid counterattacks, and their R-73 missiles can operate independently after launch.
Ukraine’s Allies
The U.S. has approved a new $500 million weapons package for Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced. The package, the 72nd under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, includes HIMARS ammunition, artillery rounds, air defenses, drones, and anti-armor systems. The Biden administration is accelerating aid delivery before President-elect Trump takes office in January. Trump told Time magazine he won’t abandon Ukraine but plans to use aid as leverage for negotiations with Russia.
The U.S. announced a $440 million aid package for Ukraine’s economic recovery, as detailed by U.S. Special Representative Richard Verma. The package includes $223 million for transportation and infrastructure, $105 million for job training, $74.7 million for agriculture, and $35 million for construction projects.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed an $895 billion defense bill without extending the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which expired in September 2023. Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, noted that while the bill excludes 2025 Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds, it bans recognition of Russian occupation in Ukraine and proposes establishing an AI weapons development center with Ukraine. The bill’s passage comes amid concerns about future U.S. support for Ukraine, as President-elect Trump has suggested reduced assistance after taking office in January, and Republican opposition has already delayed a $61 billion aid package.
U.S. lawmakers have requested intelligence agencies assess the risks of ending support for Ukraine and the potential impact of a Russian victory. The request to the director of national intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency, and CIA comes as President-elect Trump suggests reducing aid to Ukraine after taking office in January 2025. The assessment will examine scenarios including the impact of ending military and economic aid, Russian battlefield victory, and missile strike permissions, as well as how Ukraine’s defeat might embolden other nations like China, Iran, or North Korea.
French Ambassador to Ukraine Gael Veyssiere assured that France’s support for Ukraine will continue under the new prime minister following Michel Barnier’s resignation. Veyssiere emphasized that France might even increase its military assistance, citing broad political support in the National Assembly.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Aon risk management have launched a 110-million-euro guarantee program to help insurers cover war-related risks in Ukraine, focusing on land-based transport for small and medium businesses. The program, developed with Ukrainian insurance companies INGO, Colonnade, and Uniqua, along with international reinsurer MS Amlin, aims to enable insurance coverage for over 1 billion euros in vehicles and goods annually. This initiative is crucial as international reinsurers largely withdrew from Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion, making it difficult for local companies to offer war insurance services.
Life in Russian Occupied Ukraine
A Russian-controlled court in occupied Donetsk Oblast has sentenced Mariupol resident Mikhail Karimov, 20, to 11 years in prison for allegedly sharing Russian troop information with Ukrainian intelligence. In a similar case, a 33-year-old man in occupied Crimea received 15 years for supposed treason. These sentences are part of an intensified campaign by Russian occupation authorities to prosecute suspected spies and saboteurs in occupied Ukrainian territories.
According to the Crimean Human Rights Group, 301 Ukrainian civilian women are currently held in Russian captivity as of December 2024, with 276 detained since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. The head of CHRG, Olha Skrypnyk, noted these numbers are likely underrepresented as Russia refuses to provide information about civilian detainees. At least 177 Ukrainian prisoners have died in captivity, and Russia has abducted approximately 19,500 Ukrainian children, with fewer than 400 returned home.
Russia News
Russia has threatened to respond to a Ukrainian strike on Taganrog airfield in the Rostov region, where Ukraine reportedly launched six US-supplied ATACMS missiles. While Russia claims most missiles were intercepted or redirected, the Pentagon warns that Russia might retaliate using its experimental “Oreshnik” medium-range ballistic missile, like its November 21 strike on Dnipro.
Russia continues to bypass Western sanctions by importing Western-made sniper rifles and ammunition through third countries in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) customs union, including Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan, with Italian weapon exports to Kyrgyzstan jumping from zero in 2021 to 4,434 in 2023, while the Luxembourg-based Beretta holding has supplied thousands of weapons through a joint venture with Russian company Russian Eagle. Additionally, Ukraine’s Military Intelligence reports that Russia operates a “shadow fleet” of 238 oil tankers, which helped generate $188 billion in oil revenue in 2023 despite sanctions.
Russia’s aircraft industry has been severely impacted by Western sanctions, with the United Aircraft Corporation producing only seven passenger planes out of a planned 108 since 2022. The sanctions, imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have disrupted Russia’s access to essential foreign components. While Russia’s development program aimed to produce 1,032 passenger aircraft by 2030, production has nearly halted, and industry sources suggest the plan was unrealistic. The crisis extends to Russian airlines, with reports indicating that 30 carriers, representing 26% of domestic traffic, face potential bankruptcy by 2025.
Russian War Losses (Today/Total)
Troops +1390
760120 |
Tanks +5
9537 |
Artillery +6
21078 |
Arm. VEH +31
19675 |
Aircraft 
369 |
Heli
329 |
Ships
28 |
Russia Mobilization and Defense Industrial Base
Russian authorities announced plans to build a new military sniper training center in Primorsky Krai, while recruits have begun sniper training at the “Nevsky” Brigade center in occupied Ukraine. These developments are part of Russia’s ongoing efforts to increase military specialists and build long-term manpower reserves.
Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) sources have suggested their involvement in the assassination of Mikhail Shatsky, who served as Deputy General Designer at Rosatom’s “Mars” design bureau and was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in the Kuzminsky forest park near Kotelniki, Moscow Oblast. Shatsky was known for modernizing Kh-59 and Kh-69 cruise missiles, developing UAVs used against Ukraine, and was reportedly leading efforts to incorporate AI technology into Russian military equipment and aerospace systems. While the claims remain unconfirmed, Ukrainian intelligence sources describe this as a successful operation by Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), stating that those responsible for Ukrainian civilian deaths will face consequences, whether they personally killed or developed the weapons used, representing a potential escalation in Ukraine’s efforts to disrupt Russia’s military technology development.
Russia’s civilian aviation industry is struggling under Western sanctions. The BBC reports that Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation has produced only seven of 108 planned commercial aircraft since 2022, despite ambitious plans for domestic manufacturing to counter sanctions.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently inspected newly constructed buildings at the 48th Central Research Institute (formerly Sergiev Posad-6) in Moscow Oblast, which Idel Realii reports may be biological weapons laboratories. The Washington Post indicated that four of six new buildings at this site, which has developed biological weapons since 1948, could house such facilities.
Controlling the Narrative and Russian Propaganda
The Russian State Duma has taken significant steps to tighten control over dissent by passing legislation that classifies violations of censorship laws as acts of extremism and terrorism. The new bill will allow authorities to label individuals as terrorists and extremists for sharing “fake” information or criticizing the Russian military. This move effectively criminalizes opposition to the war in Ukraine, despite such state-imposed ideology being forbidden by Article 13 of the Russian Constitution. In a contrasting move, the Duma also passed a bill to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations. These actions represent a significant expansion of Russia’s legal framework for suppressing dissent.
In an unprecedented move since World War II, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the prestigious “Golden Star” Medal to military correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny. The award, which accompanies the Hero of Russia title, was given to Poddubny for injuries sustained while reporting from Kursk Oblast in August 2024. Putin also recently honored Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the Rybar Telegram channel, with the Order of Merit of the Fatherland Second Class. These awards appear to be part of a strategic Kremlin effort to gain control over Russia’s information space by co-opting military bloggers and journalists who cover the war in Ukraine, particularly those who were previously critical of Russia’s military performance.
Source Material
Institute for the Study of War – understandingwar.org
The Kyiv Independent – kyivindependent.com
Kyiv Post – kyivpost.com