Page 29 - UKRRptDec23

Russian Interior Ministry prepares draft law requiring foreign visitors to sign 'loyalty agreement.' The proposed law, which was seen by correspondents of the Russian state news agency TASS, would prohibit “hindering the activities of Russian public authorities” as well as “discrediting the external and internal state policies of Russia, public bodies, and their officials in any form.”
Lawmaker suspected of attempting to bribe top officials released on bail. Serhii Labaziuk, a lawmaker suspected of attempting to bribe a minister and another high-ranking official in exchange for reconstruction contracts, was released from pre-trial custody on $1.1 million bail, Suspilne reported on Nov. 29.
Effects of storm continue to impact Ukraine, likely 12 dead. The storm, which has been referred to as the "storm of the century," swept across the Black Sea region on Nov. 27, causing significant damage to Ukraine, as well as other countries in the area.
Ukrzaliznytsia’s rail procurement and Russian oligarch Usmanov — NV investigation
The Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol was the only producer of steel rails in Ukraine. However, the enterprise was destroyed after Russia captured the city. Where does Ukraine’s national rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia get its rails now? Spoiler alert — NV Business discovered some very strange bedfellows in the procurement process.
Zelenskyy is unsure about Ukraine's NATO membership and believes that reclaiming Crimea will be easier than the Donbas. “Since no one can guarantee that Ukraine will join NATO and that Russia will no longer attack our country, the state's priority is security,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He also suggested that it might be easier to de-occupy Crimea than the Donbas. After all, it is also about of the psychological reintegration of citizens to Ukraine. According to the president, territories can be returned faster than people, although there are some people who have been waiting for liberation. Zelenskyy also explained the difficulty of liberating the Donbas, noting that hostilities have been taking place in the region for ten years. There is also a lot of separatism in the region, and the territory is highly militarized. As for Crimea, according to Zelenskyy, the peninsula is "very much waiting for its return."
● War
Russian forces have destroyed the first Leopard 1A5 tank in the course of the special military operation in the Kupyansk area, the Russian defence ministry told TASS on November 30. According to Lugovoy, the tank was trying to break through the defences of Russian forces but was burnt down. The soldier who hit the tank were awarded with a certificate for 700,000 rubles (7,890 US dollars). Apart from that, they were awarded Orders of Courage and other state awards. In early November, the German government announced the supply of 25 Leopard 1A5 tanks to Ukraine. It also supplied reconnaissance drones and radars.
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg admitted on November 27 that little progress has been made on the battlefield in the Ukrainian war, but said that success should not only be measured in square kilometres. In its latest review, UK Defence Intelligence noted that Russian occupying forces' losses over the past six weeks have been the highest since the start of the full-scale war.
"We are impressed by the bravery, the competence of the Ukrainian forces,
29 UKRAINE Country Report December 2023 www.intellinews.com