Victorious news of 667th day of war: 3 Russian Su-34s shot down in south, Ukrainian film shortlisted for Oscar

Ukrainian film 20 Days in Mariupol shortlisted in two Oscar nominations

This was reported by the official Oscar website. 

"20 Days in Mariupol" is nominated for Best Documentary and Best International Film. It is the first time in history that a Ukrainian film has been shortlisted in the second category. 

"20 Days in Mariupol is a film by Ukrainian journalist and photographer Mstislav Chernov. He was joined by photographer Yevhen Malolietka and producer Vasylisa Stepanenko. The film tells the story of the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the bombing of the maternity hospital and the rescue of the author and his colleagues from the Associated Press from the city surrounded by Russian troops.

In 2023, the authors of the film won the Pulitzer Prize in the category of Public Service.

Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces have implemented 7 more NATO standards

This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

"Among them are standards for navigation and hydrographic support, warfare, quality of fuels and lubricants, and communications training for the Navy," the statement said.

The statement reminded that the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine have implemented 301 NATO standards:

181 - within the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Partnership Goals (priority standards of the Alliance);
116 - on an initiative basis, implemented by Ukraine outside the Partnership Goals.

In total, NATO has 1135 standards. The Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces have already implemented 26.5%.

The Netherlands readies to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

Zelenskyy informed about this on Telegram.

"I had a phone conversation with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, during which I thanked the Dutch government for the decision to start preparing the first 18 F-16 fighter jets for delivery to Ukraine," the statement said. 

Ukrainian Air Force downs 3 Russian Su-34 bombers in southern Ukraine

On December 22, the Ukrainian military destroyed three Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers in the southern direction.

This was reported by the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleshchuk.

"Today, at noon, there are minus three Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers in the southern direction!" he said in a statement.

Kherson regional council deputy Serhiy Khlan told Espreso TV that the wreckage of the downed aircraft fell near Kalanchak and Chaplynka. 

"I assume that the 'good Russians' who were on board and who were striking with UAVs on the right bank of Kherson region and Krynky, where our Armed Forces are located, are dead. Russian forces are massively bombarding with guided bombs, which are launched from Su at Krynky and settlements along the Dnipro River," Khlan said. 

Russia is hiding its fleet due to Ukrainian naval drones in Black Sea

Serhiy Zgurets, director of the media and consulting company Defense Express, described how Ukrainian robotic naval drones MAGURA V5 and SeaBaby are used for reconnaissance, mining and strikes against the Russian fleet.

He said this on the Espreso TV channel.

Russian enemy moved its fleet from Sevastopol to protect it from Ukrainian naval drones.

"We are actually talking about the fact that we have a technological solution that allows us to asymmetrically influence Russia. We have several lines of these robotic maritime drones (the first was MAGURA V5), but we thought they were only strike drones, meaning they could operate at a distance of 600-800 kilometres with a warhead of 320 kg. But The New York Times, talking to our military developers, reported that there are already drones suitable for mining, for bringing mines to areas where Russian warships can move, and for reconnaissance," the expert said.

In addition to the MAGURA V5, Ukraine has a more powerful SeaBaby maritime drone equipped with an 850kg warhead, which was used to strike the Crimean bridge.

"This whole line of drones has influenced the Russian enemy to relocate all its most important ships to Novorossiysk for fear of an attack by our drones. Therefore, asymmetric approaches work, and we see quite effective results at sea, where we already have our own corridor for transporting our grain and metal cargo to European countries or other consumers," Zgurets concluded.

The military intelligence noted that the fact remains that in 2023, thanks to the use of maritime strike drones, Ukraine was able to clear a sea strip of up to 200 miles from the coast from Russians, creating a safe shipping corridor.

Ukrainian military aviation strike at 12 sectors of Russian deployment

This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

During the day, Ukrainian aviation struck 12 areas where Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated.

Missile troops hit 4 areas where personnel, weapons and military equipment were accumulated, as well as an ammunition depot and 2 enemy control points.