Victorious news of 665th day of  war: Russia's heavy losses near Avdiivka and explosions in Crimea

The German Prosecutor's Office plans to confiscate €720 million of frozen Russian assets

Spiegel writes about this.

It is noted that Peter Frank, the federal prosecutor, filed a petition with the Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt am Main to confiscate €720 million, which were previously frozen as Russian assets, in favor of the state budget.

If the application of the Federal Prosecutor's Office is granted, more than €700 million will go to the federal budget. In particular, this is money from the National Settlement Depository of the Moscow Stock Exchange, which was sanctioned by the EU in June 2022.

Lithuania supplies Ukrainian forces with field equipment and dry rations

On 20 December, another package of support from Lithuania arrived. Ukrainian soldiers received the necessary combat equipment and several tens of thousands of dry rations.

This was reported by the press service of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence.

"We continue doing everything we can to ease the hard fight of Ukraine against the brutality of the aggressor. The different field equipment is critical during the cold season. Each package of our assistance is a step towards victory," said Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anušauskas.

Ukraine's Parliament supports law on VAT and duty exemption for import of radar systems for the Armed Forces

This was announced by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak. 

He stated that the Parliament supported Law No. 10341 as a basis and as a whole. 323 MPs voted for it.

The law stipulates that radar systems and electronic warfare equipment will be exempt from VAT for the period of wartime. In addition, taxation will not be applied to goods received by the Defence Forces, the Ministry of Defence and law enforcement agencies.

Russia's space communications center hit in Crimea

On the morning of 20 December, explosions were heard in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Allegedly, it hit the long-range space communications center of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

This was reported by Crimean Wind.

According to the source, the first attack took place in Alushta around 04:00. At least 3 hits were recorded on the territory of the FSB's military unit 28735, which, according to open data, is located in the village of Solnechnohirske.

"Preliminary, it was an UAV attack. One FSB officer was wounded, and a satellite communication antenna was damaged," the post reads.

The second attack was carried out at about 05:00 on the 40th separate command and measurement complex as part of the Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Centre in the village of Vitino, Saky district.

At least 2 hits were recorded on the territory of the center. One unit of military equipment was damaged. 

Russia lost almost 25 thousand people in the Avdiivka sector

Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the Tavria Defence Forces, said this during a telethon.

"Starting from 10 October, when the enemy became more active, they advanced by one and a half to two kilometers in some places. But it cost him a lot. In a little over two months, in the Donetsk region alone, the enemy lost almost 25,000 people dead and wounded in the Tavria operational area," he said.

He also added that about 200 tanks and more than 400 other armored vehicles were destroyed. "80% of these figures are from the Avdiivka sector," the spokesman said.

Ukraine receives €150 million from the EU for reconstruction

This was reported by the Finance Ministry of Ukraine.

The funds are part of an agreement between Ukraine and the EU to finance the Support for Ukraine's Early Recovery program.

"The grant funding will help to ensure priority measures to restore critical facilities affected by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, including transport infrastructure, utilities and services, social infrastructure and residential premises," said Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhii Marchenko. 

The Ministry added that the second tranche of €100 million is expected in the first quarter of 2024. The funds will be used to support recovery efforts and to support small farms and other agricultural businesses.

Ukrainian aviation carried out 16 strikes against Russia

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

During the day, the aircraft of the Defence Forces struck 16 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment and the enemy's anti-aircraft missile system. Air defense destroyed one Kh-59 guided missile during the day.

Missile troops struck 2 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment and 6 Russian artillery pieces.