This Week in the Russia-Ukraine War (December 20)

A snapshot of recent news from sources around the world on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Political Developments

Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to compromise on Ukraine and engage in talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to end the war, without setting conditions for discussions with Ukrainian authorities. Speaking during a televised Q&A, Putin said he was open to meeting Trump, emphasizing their lack of recent communication.

The Russian government has ordered its defense industry to start series production of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).  This work could begin soon.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has said he will pressure Ukraine to negotiate and end to the war. When asked if he would urge Ukraine to give up land occupied by Russia, Trump noted that the territory Ukraine and Russia are fighting over has been largely destroyed. Ukraine will also want security guarantees, including possible entry into NATO. Trump has been against Ukraine joining NATO, but he may be open to European countries sending peacekeepers.

Military Assistance to Ukraine

Rheinmetall has received an order to supply Ukraine with a further 20 Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles. Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2025. The order is worth a mid-range double-digit million euro amount. The delivery will be financed by Germany.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) of Germany continues to oppose the delivery of TAURUS missiles to Ukraine.  This position is part of the SPD’s platform for the upcoming elections.  New elections are to take place in February 2025.

Rheinmetall has been contracted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence to supply 155mm artillery propellant charge modules.  The order is worth around EUR9 million.  With extensive deliveries and support services for Ukraine, Rheinmetall is now the country’s most important defence industry partner in its defensive struggle against Russian aggression.

The U.S. is trying to use up $5.6 billion in drawdown authority remaining before next administration comes into the White House, but it’s possible not all of the funding will be spent in time. However, the U.S. does plan to exhaust the $1.2 billion in USAI funding remaining by the end of the calendar year.

Battlefield Updates

The Russian Army has experienced massive losses in armored vehicles since the start of the war with Ukraine.  British intelligence now believes that the Russian Army has lost more than 11,000 armored vehicles since the start of the war in February 2022.

Russia has launched another wave of drones at Ukraine.  Some 49 attack drones struck targets inside Ukraine during the night of December 16, 2024.  Ukraine’s air defense forces said it downed 27 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Ukrainian officials have said its energy-generating network has been hit by 1,100 cruise and ballistic missiles since the start of 2024.  Kyiv’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations made this announcement to the U.N. Security Council on December 16.

A senior Russian general was killed by an explosive device in an attack claimed by Ukraine. A bomb hidden in a scooter was left outside the door of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, Russia’s chief of the military’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces. His assistant was also killed.

At least 100 North Korean troops have been killed in combat in Russia’s Kursk region, according to officials from South Korea. Another 1,000 North Korean soldiers may have been injured in the fighting. A South Korean lawmaker suggested the casualties stem from inexperience with drone warfare and combat in open terrain.

Ukraine is reportedly operating a directed energy weapon capable of defeating airborne targets flying up to an altitude of 2 kilometers (1.2 miles). The laser is called Tryzub, or “Trident,” and may have been domestically produced.