Kyiv [Ukraine], December 7: The Kyiv Independent news site reported that the Kerch Bridge connecting the Crimean peninsula with mainland Russia was closed on the morning of December 6 amid reports of an attack by Ukrainian drone boats.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that on December 6, its air defense system shot down a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over Crimea and that the Black Sea Fleet's air force destroyed two Ukrainian unmanned boats heading toward Crimea.
Construction of the 19-km bridge began after Russia's unilateral annexation of Crimea in 2014, and was completed in 2019.
After becoming a key supply route for Russian forces, the bridge was repeatedly attacked by Ukrainian forces and suffered heavy damage in Ukrainian airstrikes in October 2022 and July 2023.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on December 6 that it had shot down a total of 33 Ukrainian UAVs, including 14 in the Voronezh region, 11 in the Kursk region, 7 in the Belgorod region and 1 in Crimea.
How much damage did Russia suffer?
According to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW-USA) on December 6, the Russian army suffered about 53 casualties per square kilometer when advancing in Ukrainian territory this fall.
Accordingly, from September to November, Russian forces gained control of an additional 2,356 km2 , including areas in Ukraine and Russia's Kursk province, with losses of about 125,800 soldiers.
Russian news site Meduza reported on December 4 that Russia's military recruitment slowed down in the third quarter of this year. An estimated 500-600 contracts are signed every day.
TASS news agency on December 6 quoted information from the Russian Defense Ministry saying that Russian soldiers had just gained control of two more villages, Pustynka and Sukhi Yaly, in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine and Russia have not commented on the above information.
Belarus to equip Oreshnik missiles
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 6 that his country could deploy Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missiles in Belarus by 2025.
Accordingly, the Russian leader responded to the proposal of his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko during the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, taking place in Minsk (Belarus).
President Putin said Belarus will decide on the targets of the Oreshnik missiles deployed on its territory.
According to Reuters, the two leaders of Russia and Belarus also signed a joint agreement on security assurance. Mr. Putin said this treaty "will help to reliably protect the security of Russia and Belarus, thereby creating conditions for further peaceful and sustainable development of the two countries."
The meeting coincides with the 25th anniversary of the treaty on the creation of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Alexander Rogozhnik said earlier that the meeting would be important, with the results of the past 25 years being summarized and the areas of development for the coming year being determined.
Russia stronger through conflict?
Speaking on Kossuth Radio on November 6, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Russia had become stronger after experiencing the conflict with Ukraine, while Kyiv had become weaker due to Europe's lack of support resources.He expressed hope that the conflict in Ukraine would eventually end. Prime Minister Orban believes that when the crisis is over, the parties will need to discuss creating a new security system in Europe.
"When this war is over, one way or another, we will have to deal with the European security environment," TASS quoted the leader as adding.
"It will be a series of difficult and lengthy negotiations, but for now the focus should be on achieving a ceasefire" in Ukraine , Mr Orban said .
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper