Gabriel B
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Ukraine - December 09, 2023

Ukraine - December 09, 2023

Dec 14, 2023

Today was a pretty slow day, as the weather in Ukraine increasing turns cold.  Even with temperatures dipping below freezing for a time in places like Avdiivka, it's not enough to freeze the ground solid.  However, it is enough to make combat even more miserable as ice has begun to case over equipment while infantry still has to trudge through the mud.


Russia's heavy armored offensive on Krynky continued, and met with the same results as yesterday.  Russia is confirmed to have lost several additional armored vehicles against the Ukrainian garrison at Krynky which, at most, has an incredibly minimal supply of armored vehicles themselves.  Ukrainian drone and artillery support combined with portable anti-tank weaponry have been put to quite fgective use here to keep the attacking Russian units at bay.  They have come close to re-entering the center of Krynky (which is no wider than just a couple of streets), but Ukraine has held firm.  Russia's tactics are pretty clearly failing, and will need a rethink.


By far the more notable events today were abroad, as Zelenskyy departed for his trip to Argentina.  Awkwardly, it was announced that Hungary's Orbán will be there, as well as Bolsonaro and some other prominent right wing politicians.  Given his own political views, Zelenskyy will certainly be a bit out of place.  However, it is a key opportunity to encourage the South American heavyweight to fully break with Russia, as Milei has expressed anti-Russian sentiments in the past.  If Zelenskyy can win diplomatic support from Argentina, it will be a strong voice in the continent in support of Ukraine.  And particularly as Ukraine is increasingly needing to look outside of Europe and North America for support, this will be crucial.  His stay in Argentina may also give him a last minute opportunity for some face to face conversations with Orbán, to try to get him to drop his veto on Ukrainian accession talks with the EU starting days before a formal EU announcement is anticipated.


Zelenskyy also met with the leadership of Cabo Verde.  It wasn't specified (likely due to security reasons) but he likely landed in Cabo Verde before continuing on to Argentina.  While there, he won additional diplomatic support from Cabo Verde.

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