Putin claims Russia wasn't 'defeated' in Syria
"Everything what is happening in Syria is not a defeat for Russia," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
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Ukraine's parliament passes bill dissolving medical commissions after corruption scandals
Starting Jan. 1, Ukraine will introduce new expert commissions in major hospitals for assessing people's medical status based on a new, "modern system," MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said.
US reimposes sanctions on entities involved in Nord Stream 2 construction
"We’re going to continue to work and ensure that Russia is never able to weaponize its energy resources and its energy positioning for political gain again," U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said.
Ukraine strikes 'only oil refinery operating' in Russia's Rostov Oblast, military says
Initially, SBU drones attacked the facility to distract Russian air defenses, providing a "window" for Ukrainian missiles to strike the facility, an SBU source said.
At least 100 North Korean soldiers killed, 1,000 wounded in Russia-Ukraine war, South Korean official says
At least 100 North Korean troops have been killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine, a South Korean lawmaker said after an intelligence briefing, the BBC reported on Dec. 19.
General Staff: Russia has lost 768,220 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,530 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Zelensky, Macron discuss possibility of peacekeeping force in Ukraine
"We continued to work on the initiative of President Macron regarding the presence in Ukraine of forces that can contribute to stabilization on the path to peace," Zelensky said after meeting with the French President on Dec. 18.
Ukraine war latest: 'Couple hundred' North Korean troops lost fighting for Russia against Ukraine, AP reports
Key developments on Dec. 18: * 'Couple hundred' North Korean troops lost fighting for Russia against Ukraine, AP reports * Sweden 'does not exclude' more direct physical presence in Ukraine to bolster defense * Russia detains two suspects over assassination of General Igor Kirillov, Kremlin media reports * Peace talks with Russia only possible
Intercepted Russian phone call suggests North Korean troops suffering trainloads of wounded
In the call, a nurse at a Moscow hospital tells her husband, a soldier fighting in Kursk Oblast, that wounded fighters are being brought in by the trainload.
'Couple hundred' North Korean troops lost fighting for Russia against Ukraine, AP reports
A senior U.S. military official did not give an exact figure but said the high casualty rate was in part due to the soldiers' lack of battle experience.
General Staff: Russia has lost 766,690 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,580 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine's SBU assassinates Russian general charged with chemical weapons crimes
Key developments on Dec. 17: * Ukraine's SBU assassinates Russian general charged with chemical weapons crimes, source claims * Ukraine's Special Forces claim to kill 50 North Korean soldiers in 3 days * Russia heavily attacking in Kursk Oblast for 3rd day, 'actively' using North Korean troops, Syrskyi says * Zelensky rejects Orban's mediation,
Slovak energy company, partners call for continued gas transit via Ukraine
Slovakia's state-owned energy company SPP and its partners in Hungary, Italy, and Austria called for continued gas transit through Ukraine in a declearation published on Dec. 17.
Ukraine's Special Forces claim to kill 50 North Korean soldiers in 3 days
Ukraine's Special Operations Forces killed 50 North Korean soldiers and injured 47 others in three days of fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast, the unit said on Dec. 17.
Ukraine's SBU assassinates Russian general charged with chemical weapons crimes, source claims
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and another Russian service member were reportedly killed in an explosion in Moscow on the morning of Dec. 17.
General Staff: Russia has lost 765,110 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,600 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Russian general charged with chemical weapons crimes reported dead in Moscow explosion
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian Armed Forces' radiation, chemical, and biological defense troops, was reportedly killed in an explosion at a residence in Moscow the morning of Dec. 17. The previous day, Ukraine's SBU sentenced Kirillov in absentia for the use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Russia to mass-produce Oreshnik ballistic missiles, Putin claims
Large-scale production of Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile is a goal for "the near future," Putin alleged at a defense ministry board meeting on Dec. 16.
Ukraine war latest: Russia sets goal to fully occupy 4 Ukrainian regions in 2025
Key developments on Dec. 16: * Russia sets 2025 goal to fully occupy 4 Ukrainian regions, Defense Minister says * 'It's a tough one,' Trump says following questions on how he plans to stop Russia's war against Ukraine * Ukraine possesses laser weapons, advanced drone technologies, commander says * North Korean troops suffer
Assad airlifted $250m in cash from Syria to Russia over two years, FT reports
The FT said Syria's central bank flew nearly two tonnes of $100 bills and €500 notes into the country, which were then deposited in sanctioned Russian banks.
General Staff: Russia has lost 763,510 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,070 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Ukraine war latest: North Korean troops joining Russian assaults in Kursk, Zelensky says
Key developments on Dec. 14-15: * North Korean troops joining Russian assaults in Kursk, Zelensky says * Ukraine destroys Russian train with 40 fuel tanks in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, source claims * 292 front-line clashes recorded over the past day, General Staff reports * Two Russian oil tankers reportedly sink in Kerch Strait * North Korean
Suspected terrorist attack in Dnipro kills 1, injures 4
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has classified the incident as a terrorist attack and detained a 37-year-old resident suspected of acting on instructions from Russian special services.
Ukraine war latest: Russia launches one of the largest aerial attacks on Ukraine's energy grid
Key developments on Dec. 13: * Russia launches one of the largest aerial attacks on Ukraine's energy grid * Ukraine resisting Russian encirclement attempts at 4 Donetsk Oblast villages, military says * Ukraine's new Ground Forces chief announces reforms focused on personnel, tech * Russia mulls attacking Ukraine with Oreshnik nuclear-capable missile this weekend,
Former prosecutor general reportedly appointed Ukraine's ambassador to Netherlands
Kostin submitted his resignation on Oct. 22 following a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) meeting headed by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine downs 161 of 287 Russian missiles, drones in mass aerial attack
Moscow deployed four Kinzhal air-launched missiles, two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, one Kh-23 North Korean ballistic missile, 55 Kh-101 and Kh-55SM cruise missiles launched from Tu-95MS bomber planes, 24 sea-launched Kalibr missiles, seven Iskander-K cruise missiles, and one Kh-59/69 missile, the Air Force said.
General Staff: Russia has lost 760,120 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,390 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Ukraine's largest steelmaker partially suspends operations at Pokrovsk coal mine
The closure comes amid an increasingly dangerous Russian advance towards Pokrovsk, where Ukraine has lost key positions in recent days.
Hungary did not discuss any Christmas truce, prisoner swap with Ukraine, Presidential Office says
The Hungarian side "did not discuss anything" with Ukraine and "did not warn about its contacts with Moscow," said Dmytro Lytvyn, the presidential communications adviser, referring to Viktor Orban’s recent phone call with Vladimir Putin.
Russia has built only 7 out of 108 planned airliners since 2022, BBC reports
Russia's Comprehensive Program for the Development of the Air Transport Industry until 2030 envisioned producing 1,032 passenger aircraft between 2022 and the end of the decade.
General Staff: Russia has lost 758,730 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,390 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Drones attack Chechnya, hitting police building, Kadyrov claims
The attack damaged the roof of the building, shattered windows, and lightly injured four men on guard duty, Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov claimed. This marks the third reported drone strike against Chechnya during Russia's war against Ukraine.
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