**Russia’s Heavy Losses in Ukraine**
Since February 24, 2022, Russia has lost a huge number of troops and equipment in Ukraine. According to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Russia has suffered 754,590 troop casualties.
This includes 1,220 Russian soldiers killed or wounded just over the past day. In addition, Russia has lost:
* 9,519 tanks
* 19,589 armored fighting vehicles
* 30,989 vehicles and fuel tanks
* 21,061 artillery systems
* 1,253 multiple launch rocket systems
* 1,023 air defense systems
* 369 airplanes
* 329 helicopters
* 20,093 drones
* 28 ships and boats
* One submarine
**Syria’s Assad Fled the Country**
On December 8, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad left Damascus as rebel forces took control of the city. Russia reported that Assad had arrived in the country, where he has been granted asylum on humanitarian grounds.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that Assad’s backers, including Iran and Russia, have been weakened by their involvement in Ukraine. The US will continue to support Ukraine with aid packages, using funding from the Pentagon-led Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
**Global Reactions**
Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina was posthumously honored with a Special Prix Voltaire Award at an international publishers congress in Mexico.
European Union Commissioner Andrius Kubilius proposed allocating 100 billion euros for defense in the next EU budget. US President-elect Donald Trump called on Russia to negotiate a truce, saying that it’s “Vladimir’s time to act.”
**Other News**
A 73-year-old man was killed when explosives were dropped from a drone in Ukraine.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced plans to introduce a law banning people from covering their faces during rallies and counter-rallies.