Victorious news of 659th day of war: another Patriot system in Ukraine, Russia loses 10 tanks in Donetsk region, and explosion at oil depot in Russia

European Council begins negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU

On Thursday, December 14, the European Council decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and also granted candidate status to Georgia. This was reported by an Espreso TV correspondent from Brussels.

The European Council has decided to start negotiations on EU accession with Ukraine and Moldova, and granted candidate status to Georgia. With Bosnia and Herzegovina, the EU will open negotiations as soon as the required level of compliance with the membership criteria is reached, and invited the Commission to submit a report by March in order to make such a decision.

Paratroopers of the 79th Air Assault Brigade destroy 10 tanks in Donetsk region in two days

Paratroopers of the 79th separate airborne assault brigade destroyed and damaged over 20 units of Russian armored vehicles during two days of fighting.

"Paratroopers of the 79th separate Tavria Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces continue to hold back the enemy in one of the hottest areas of the Donetsk region. Over the past two days, the Maroon Berets destroyed and damaged 21 units of enemy armored vehicles, including 10 tanks. In addition, the unit's fighters destroyed about a hundred occupiers who tried to storm our positions," the brigade's press service said. 

13 types of new ammunition approved for use in the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Over the past two weeks, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has authorized 13 more munitions for use in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They were successfully tested in combat-like conditions

This was reported to ArmyInform by Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk.

"Among the ammunition approved for use by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine over the past two weeks are 9 types of ammunition for UAVs: multi-purpose, combined action, high-explosive, and cumulative fragmentation. In addition, 4 more types of ammunition for under-barrel grenade launchers have been approved. These are the developments of domestic enterprises that have confirmed their tactical and technical characteristics in conditions close to combat," he said.

Germany supplies another Patriot system to Ukraine 

Germany has handed over a new military aid package to Ukraine. It includes the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, special equipment and ammunition. This was reported by the German government. It is noted that in addition to the air defense system itself, Ukraine received missiles for it. This is the second Patriot air defense system that Germany has handed over to Ukraine.

Photo: reuters

Germany also handed over:

- nine Bandvagn 206 all-terrain vehicles;

- 7,390 rounds of ammunition for 155 mm artillery

- three unmanned demining vehicles;

- 14 drone detection systems;

- eight Mercedes-Benz Zetros trucks;

- four trailers for 8x8 HX81 tractors;

- eight Zetros tractors;

- more than 47,000 40 mm grenade launcher ammunition.

"Funding for the security capacity building initiative amounts to 5.4 billion Euros for 2023 (after 2 billion Euros for 2022) and additional authorisations to enter commitments in the following years amounting to 10.5 billion Euros. These funds are to be used primarily for military assistance to Ukraine," the German government said in a statement.

In Voronezh, saboteurs blow up a tank at the Rosneft oil depot

Unknown opponents of the Putin regime blew up a fuel tank at the Rosneft oil depot in Voronezh, causing a fire to break out at the facility.

"In order to hide the fact of sabotage and their own inability to ensure security at critical facilities, local Voronezh leaders invented a 'training exercise of the Ministry of Emergency Situations' right next to the 'multi-ton' fuel tank. Even the investigators themselves do not know what kind of ‘training’ the local investigative bodies are disguising their work at the Voronezh oil depot as," the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine said.