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3:07 PM

UK Defense Ministry: Russia loses estimated 320,000 troops in Ukraine.

An estimated 320,000 Russian troops have been killed or injured since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported in an intelligence update on Dec. 4.

2:13 PM

Bulgarian president vetoes agreement on armored vehicles for Ukraine.

Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov believes that the parliament will overcome Radev's veto. Bulgaria's legislature has the right to override the veto and send it further without any changes by a simple majority vote.

2:06 PM

White House: US to run out of money for Ukraine by end of year.

The U.S. is set to run out of funds to support Ukraine in the coming weeks if congress does not take action, White House Budget Office Director Shalanda Young informed congressional leaders in a letter on Dec. 4.

1:05 PM

Russian attack on Kherson injures 1, damages kindergarten.

Russian forces carried out the attack at 11 a.m., damaging the walls and windows of the building, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

1:00 PM

Military confirms death of Russian troops who killed Ukrainian POWs.

The group of Russian soldiers who were recorded executing two Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) in Donetsk Oblast has been killed, Oleksandr Shtupun, the spokesman for the Tavria group of forces said on air on Dec. 4.

12:33 PM

Kyiv resident who allegedly aided Russian New Year's Eve missile attack detained.

The 40-year-old suspect left for Russia via a third country at the end of 2022 and offered to work with Russian intelligence services in exchange for promised Russian citizenship, according to the Security Service of Ukraine.

12:23 PM

Media: Zelensky 'bypassing' Zaluzhnyi in communication with some commanders.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is allegedly "bypassing" Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi in communication with some military commanders, complicating the latter's ability to fully command Ukraine's Armed Forces, Ukrainska Pravda reported on Dec. 4, citing anonymous sources.

11:12 AM

Opinion

Opinion: Europe knows that climate action is vital to global security

10:48 AM

Processing of empty trucks begins at Poland-Ukraine border checkpoint.

Customs services began processing empty trucks departing from Ukraine to Poland at the Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv checkpoint in accordance with an agreement between Kyiv and Warsaw, the State Border Guard service announced on Dec. 4.

10:06 AM

Russian attacks kill 3, injure 11 in Donetsk, Kherson oblasts over past day.

In Donetsk Oblast, one person was killed and another injured in Russian attacks against Kostiantynivka, the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration said on Dec. 4.

9:41 AM

Finland seeks Poland's experience in border protection.

Finland plans to use Poland's experience with border security amid the growing migrant crisis on the Finnish-Russian border, the Polish Radio reported on Dec. 3.

9:12 AM

Ambassador: Some compromises found with Polish side on border blockade.

Ukraine continues negotiations with the Polish government, and some points of contact have been found, Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Zvarych commented. "And we really hope that these proposals, which we worked out together with the Polish government, will be enough for the protesters to stop the protest."

8:11 AM

Russia has lost 332,810 troops in Ukraine.

Russia has lost 332,810 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Dec. 4. This number includes 770 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:44 AM

Russia launches drone attack from occupied Crimea.

Russian forces launched 23 Shahed drones into Ukraine from occupied Crimea during the early hours of Dec. 4, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram.

5:21 AM

ISW: Russia censoring relatives of mobilized personnel on social media.

The Russian state is censoring relatives of mobilized Russian personnel on social media for fear of their protests' possible negative effects on Vladimir Putin's still unannounced 2024 presidential campaign, the Institute for the Study of War reported in their daily assessment on Dec. 3.

1:58 AM

Russia shells 4 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces attacked four settlements in Sumy Oblast on Dec. 3, the local military administration reported on Telegram.

11:39 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russian infantry activity rising in southeast, general says

10:17 PM

Air Force: Russia launches drone attack against southern Ukraine.

Russia launched a group of Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones against Ukraine on the evening of Dec. 3, leading to a risk of drone strikes in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts, Ukraine's Air Force reported.

9:49 PM

Russian attacks in Donetsk Oblast kill 1, injure 2.

Russian attacks in Avdiivka and Kostiantynivka killed one person and injured two others, the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported on Dec. 3.

8:09 PM

Lukashenko arrives in China to meet with Xi.

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko arrived in China for negotiations on economic and trade investments with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Lukashenko's press office reported on Dec. 3.

6:47 PM

Update: Russian attack on Kherson kills 2, injures 7.

The death toll of the Russian artillery strike on Kherson rose to two people as of 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 3, according to Roman Mrochko, the head of the city’s military administration.

5:39 PM

Russian attack on residential, medical buildings in Kherson kills 1, injures 4.

Russian troops launched a heavy artillery attack on Kherson, hitting a residential building and two medical institutions, local authorities reported on Dec. 3.

5:10 PM

Crossing point for empty trucks at Ukraine-Poland border to open on Dec 4.

The Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv border crossing between Ukraine and Poland will be opened on Dec. 4 for empty trucks, the State Border Guard reported on Dec. 3.

4:06 PM

Official: Russia has lost over 7,200 troops, 530 units of military equipment over past week.

Starting from Nov. 27, Russia has lost 62 tanks, 117 armored personnel carriers, 75 artillery systems, six multiple-launch rockets systems (MLRS), five air-defense systems, 144 vehicles, and 27 units of some special equipment, according to First Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Pavliuk.

2:46 PM

Commander: Russian infantry activity rising in southeastern front line.

Russian forces have reduced the number of airstrikes against Ukraine but intensified infantry activity on the southeastern front line, General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the commander of the Tavria Group, reported on Dec. 3.

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NATO members nearing deal on joint Black Sea mine-clearing force

by Nate Ostiller and The Kyiv Independent news desk November 20, 2023 7:35 PM 2 min read

Barrier nets installed on a beach to block access to the Black Sea due to the danger of mines in Odesa, Ukraine, on July 4, 2022. (Nina Liashonok/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

This audio is created with AI assistance

NATO members Bulgaria, Turkey, and Romania are close to reaching an agreement on the creation of a joint mine-clearing force to address the issue of mines drifting into their respective territorial waters, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 20, citing unnamed officials familiar with the plan.

According to Bloomberg, the countries' defense ministries did not comment, but sources noted that their respective deputy defense ministers were set to meet on Nov. 22.

The supposed meeting comes after Turkey’s Navy Chief Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu said that the presence of navy ships from other NATO members, including the U.S., in the Black Sea would possibly increase tensions.

The proposed plan would be peaceful in nature and focused on reducing the danger that errant mines pose to shipping routes through the Black Sea. It would not be consided a NATO effort.

It would, however, be the first joint action of Black Sea allies since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Hundreds of sea mines, deployed by both Russia and Ukraine, are spread throughout the Black Sea. On several occasions, civilian ships or navy ships belonging to countries not party to the war have struck sea mines since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

A Liberian-flagged oil tanker hit a mine in the Black Sea off the Romanian coast on Oct. 15, and a Turkish cargo ship suffered minor damage from a mine 20 kilometers from the Romanian port of Sulina on Oct. 5.

On Oct. 4, British intelligence issued a report cautioning that Russia may use sea mines to target civilian cargo ships in the Black Sea, and then blame Ukraine after the fact.

The State Border Guard of Ukraine warned that the Black Sea had become unsafe in the aftermath of Russia's destruction of the Nova Khakovka dam in June 2023.

In addition to the garbage, debris, and dead animals resulting from the dam explosion, floating mines and ammunition also littered the water.

Authors: Nate Ostiller, The Kyiv Independent news desk

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