These images show Ukrainian border guards shooting down a Russian drone over the Odesa region.
The footage, filmed at night, shows the Ukrainian air defence firing into the night sky.
The images were obtained from the State Border Service of Ukraine on Thursday, 14th December, along with a statement saying: “Border guards of the Belgorod-Dniester detachment shot down an enemy ‘shahed’ over Odeshchyna.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 660th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 15th December 2023, Russia had lost about 343,890 personnel, 5,706 tanks, 10,654 armoured combat vehicles, 8,099 artillery units, 920 multiple launch rocket systems, 605 air defence systems, 324 warplanes, 324 helicopters, 6,226 drones, 1,608 cruise missiles, 22 warships, 1 submarine, 10,699 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 1,189 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The European Union has decided to open membership negotiations with Ukraine.
The announcement was made on Thursday after hours of intense negotiations in Brussels.
The move comes despite opposition from Hungary, whose Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, had said he would veto any accession talks.
After hours of negotiations, Orban reportedly left the room as leaders decided to open accession talks, thus making the decision unanimous.
Orban said: “Hungary does not want to share in this bad decision, and for this reason Hungary did not participate in the decision today.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “This is a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires, and strengthens.”
But European Union leaders later failed to agree to a EUR 50 billion aid package for Ukraine after a veto from Hungary.
The European Union has also decided to open membership negotiations with Moldova, with the country’s President, Maia Sandu, saying her country “turns a new page today.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has held his annual end-of-year press conference, saying: “There will only be peace in Ukraine when we achieve our aims.”
Putin added that he was open to repairing relations with European countries and the United States but claimed that Russia had done nothing wrong regarding its invasion of Ukraine and blamed the West for “spoiling relations” with Russia.
Ukraine said on Thursday that it has downed dozens of drones launched by Russian forces at Odesa.
Finland will reportedly sign a defence agreement with the United States, according to the Finnish government, which will give the US military widespread access to Finland’s long border with Russia.
