Over $32.4 billion for defense, dismantling of monument to Catherine II in Odesa: last night's highlights
In 2022, Ukraine has allocated more than 1.2 trillion hryvnias ($32.4 billion) for defense, and the dismantling of monuments to Catherine II and Alexander Suvorov has begun in Odesa. Here's what you may have missed from the previous night.
Over 1.2 trillion hryvnias for defense
During his annual address to the Verkhovna Rada, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine had allocated more than 1.2 trillion hryvnias for defense in 2022.
"Of course, financial assistance from partners and other borrowed funds played a significant role, it is true. But we must remember that the financing of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is primarily an internal resource from taxes of Ukrainians, from duties, bonds and other similar sources," Zelenskyy noted.
Dismantling of monument to Catherine II started in Odesa
In Odesa, the dismantling of the monument to the "Founders of Odesa" with a statue of Catherine II in the center began in the evening. In the morning, workers removed the wooden fence, and then began to remove the sculptures.
In addition, the monument to Alexander Suvorov was dismantled in the city.
The monuments will be transferred to the Odesa Art Museum for temporary storage.
Russians launch Shahed drones again
In the evening of December 28, in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, units of the East Air Command destroyed five enemy drones, probably of the Shahed type. It seems that the Russians also attacked Kharkiv with the same drones.
According to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, one of the city's infrastructure facilities was targeted. Russians attacked Kharkiv for the second time in a day, likely with Shahed drones.
However, despite the danger of shelling and the difficult winter, the population of Kharkiv is growing, the mayor said. According to Terekhov, about 1.1 million people currently live in the city.
France will continue defense support to Ukraine
French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu assured during a visit to Kyiv on December 28 that his country will continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine in 2023.
According to Lecornu, France has chosen several areas of assistance to Ukraine. The first is the transfer of equipment of the French Armed Forces for the Ukrainian army at the beginning of next year. The second area of assistance is the European Peace Facility, to which France contributes €500 million.
The third direction of assistance will be a newly created fund in France, through which Ukraine will be able to address orders to the French military-industrial complex.
US to provide Ukraine with 18 AFATDS for HIMARS
The United States will order 18 Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (AFATDS) for Ukraine. They are designed for HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems.
With the help of AFATDS, the military processes and exchanges information. Data is transmitted from the forward observer to the unit that provides fire support.
Germany to lead NATO's High Readiness Force
Germany will lead NATO's High Readiness Force from January 1, 2023.
The Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) was established in 2014 following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and the crises in the Middle East.
In 2023, the VJTF land forces will consist of about 11,500 service members, the core of which will be the 37th Panzergrenadier Brigade.
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