TOP HEADLINES

· Kyiv's air defense systems shot down at least 10 Russian drones on Wednesday, according to the Ukrainian capital's mayor, but two administrative buildings were damaged in the drone attacks. No injuries were reported, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praising the defense systems in a brief video address, saying, "Well done, I am proud." 

· The U.S. is close to finalizing plans to send its Patriot air defense system to Ukraine in a potentially critical strategic shift in the war, with sources saying the decision could be taken as soon as this week. The Kremlin has responded to the news by saying the systems would be a legitimate target for Russia.

· Ukrainians leaving the Donetsk city of Bakhmut this week have described almost constant Russian shelling that has forced residents to seek shelter in basements amid freezing temperatures.

· Russia's ally Belarus has announced a snap military inspection, including increased combat readiness, in the country's south, the latest in an uptick of army exercises that has triggered concern from neighboring Ukraine.

· Moscow has pushed back against demands from President Zelenskyy that would involve Russian troops pulling out entirely from its occupied territories, saying Kyiv needed to accept new territorial "realities."

· About 70 countries and institutions have pledged just over 1 billion euros ($1.05 billion) to help maintain Ukraine's water, food, energy, health and transportation, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has announced.

· President Zelenskyy has said the environmental harm from the conflict would continue to affect millions of people for years.

· Arms supplies from Italy to Ukraine will stop as soon as peace talks on ending the war begin, according to Italy's defense minister, as lawmakers backed a government plan to extend military assistance to Kyiv throughout 2023.

· Pope Francis has urged people to spend less on Christmas celebrations this year and send the difference to Ukrainians to help them through the cold of winter.

IN DETAIL

Patriot defense systems

Washington is considered sending its advanced Patriot air defense system to Ukraine, Washington officials have told Reuters, with an announcement on a decision expected as soon as Thursday. 

Ukraine has already received air defense systems from the West, including from the U.S., but the Patriot is considered one of the world's most advanced systems and is usually in short supply.

If delivered, it would give Ukraine a significant strategic advantage in the war, allowing it to defend against waves of Russian missile and drone attacks that have pounded the country's energy infrastructure.

Gaining the Patriot system would be "very, very significant" for the Kyiv government, said Alexander Vindman, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and erstwhile leader of Ukraine policy at the White House.

"These are going to be quite capable of dealing with a lot of different challenges the Ukrainians have, especially if the Russians bring in short-range ballistic missiles" from Iran, he said.

The Pentagon has declined to comment on any potential decision, while there was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials. However, Kyiv said it had held high-level military talks on Tuesday with Washington.

Former Russian President and close Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev has warned NATO against equipping Kyiv with the Patriot, saying it was likely the Kremlin would view such a move as a significant escalation.

In response to the latest rumors, the Kremlin said that if Washington sent the systems, it would "definitely" be a legitimate target for Russian strikes against Ukraine, but added that it could not comment on unconfirmed media reports.

The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces morning report honed in the need for air defense systems throughout the country, saying in the past 24 hours in Kharkiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions "the enemy launched 1 air and 11 missile strikes, 3 of them on the civilian infrastructure."

The Patriot reports come as Ukrainian forces shot down as many as 13 Russian drones over the capital Kyiv on Wednesday, with two administrative buildings incurring damages. 

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said it was Iranian-made Shahed drones that were brought down and that there were explosions in the central Shevchenkivskyi district.

The white tail of a drone was found in the wreckage of one of the failed strikes. It had M529 Geran-2 written on it and a handwritten message "For Ryazan!!!", an apparent reference to a Ukrainian attack on a military air base deep inside Russia earlier this month.

"The air defenses worked well," said Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat, despite the attacks coming under the cover of darkness. 

"Well done, I am proud," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a brief video message, praising the air defense systems which he said appeared to have shot down all the drones.