General Staff: Russia has lost 789,550 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,610 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day
The Kyiv Independent news desk
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Ukraine war latest: Kyiv brings back 189 Ukrainians from Russian captivity; US unveils $2.5 billion in aid
Key developments on Dec. 30: * Ukraine brings back 189 people from Russian captivity in prisoner swap * Biden announces $2.5 billion security assistance package for Ukraine * Russian military suffers 427,000 casualties in 2024, Syrskyi claims * Russia launched over 1,300 drone strikes, 250 missiles at Kyiv in 2024 Ukraine
Governors of Kyiv and Poltava oblasts dismissed amid position reshuffles
Ruslan Kravchenko, the governor of Kyiv Oblast, and Filip Pronin, the governor of Poltava Oblast, were dismissed on Dec. 30 and are expected to be appointed to new positions soon.
Ukraine quadruples domestic gas transit fees as Russian gas pipeline deal expires
Ukraine will quadruple gas transit tariffs for its domestic customers starting Jan. 1 when a deal to transport Russian gas through Ukrainian pipes expires, the National Energy Regulatory Commission said during a meeting on Dec. 30.
Ukraine's police name Russian commander suspected of murder of woman who became symbol of Bucha massacre
Ukrainian National Police named the Russian commander responsible for the murder of Iryna Filkina, the Ukrainian woman who came to symbolize the mass murder of civilians in Bucha in the early stages of Russia's full-scale invasion when a photo of her hand with a red manicure went viral around the world.
Ukraine’s exports grew 13% in 2024 amid stabilized port activity, Economy Ministry says
Preliminary data shows that Ukraine’s exports grew by more than 13% over the past year, primarily due to stabilizing the functioning of Ukrainian seaports, Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on Dec. 30.
Zelensky appoints human rights activist Olha Reshetylova as first military ombudsman
President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed human rights activist Olha Reshetylova to the newly-created position of military ombudsman on Dec. 30.
Kyiv, Damascus hold 'similar view' on Russian military presence in Syria, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed Kyiv's position on Russia's military presence in Syria to leaders of the new Syrian administration during a diplomatic visit to Damascus on Dec. 30, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said at an online meeting attended by the Kyiv Independent.
Partisans allegedly set ablaze two trains near Moscow destined for occupied Ukrainian territories
Ukrainian partisans in Russia set fire to two locomotive trains on Dec. 30 destined for occupied regions of Ukraine, according to a Telegram post from Petro Andryushchenko, an advisor to the mayor of the Russian-occupied Mariupol.
Ukraine's leading phone operator Kyivstar announces new agreement with Starlink
Ukraine's largest telecommunications operator, Kyivstar, signed an agreement to become one of the first countries with access to Starlink's direct-to-cell service, the telecom operator announced on Dec. 30.
US sends $3.4 billion in financial aid to Ukraine
The United States made a $3.4 billion payment in direct budget support to Ukraine, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced on Dec. 30.
Biden announces $2.5 billion security assistance package for Ukraine
U.S. President Joe Biden announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine worth nearly $2.5 billion on Dec. 30.
US to send $15 billion to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, PM says
The United States will provide Ukraine with $15 billion, backed by future revenues from frozen Russian assets, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Dec. 30.
Ukraine's foreign minister meets with Syrian leadership in Damascus
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Damascus on Dec. 30, marking the first official Ukrainian delegation to Syria in years. During the trip, he held talks with Syria’s de-facto leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa.
Ukraine received over $41 billion in international aid in 2024, finance minister says
The Ukrainian Finance Ministry received $41.7 billion in international aid in 2024, Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said in a televized statement on Dec. 30.
Ukraine shot down 21 Russian drones overnight, Air Force reports
Russia used 43 drones against Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Dec. 30.
Ukrainian FM urges EU to ban, replace Russian LNG imports
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the European Union must be banned and replaced with supplies from the United States and other partners.
General Staff: Russia has lost 787,940 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 2,010 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine prioritizing security guarantees over immediate NATO membership, senior diplomat says
Key developments on Dec. 28 - 29: * Ukraine prioritizing security guarantees over immediate NATO membership, senior diplomat says * Russia must admit guilt over downing Azerbaijani airliner, pay compensation, Azerbaijan's president says * Ukraine secures over $156 million for defense industry from European allies, defense minister says * Russia rejects Trump team's reported
General Staff: Russia has lost 785,930 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,730 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Ukraine war latest: Russia's new Oreshnik missile relies on Western manufacturing technology, FT reports
Key developments on Dec. 27: * Russia's new Oreshnik missile relies on Western manufacturing technology, FT reports * 3 senior Russian officers killed in HIMARS, drone attack, Ukraine's military intelligence says * Ukraine working to extend basic training to 2 months, Syrskyi says * Russia ramps up production of Shahed drones, decoys at Tatarstan
NATO to 'enhance military presence' in Baltic Sea following damage to undersea power cable, Rutte says
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Dec. 27 that "NATO will enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea" following the recent damage to the Estlink 2 power cable in the Gulf of Finland likely caused by Russia.
China’s Xi Jinping to visit Russia next year, Kremlin’s Beijing ambassador says
Speaking to Russian media, Ambassador Igor Morgulov said plans for several bilateral events were being "drawn up" but that Xi’s trip was a priority.
Loud bang heard before Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed, passengers tell Reuters
The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) on Dec. 27 said the aircraft had been hit by “a Russian Pantsir S1 air defense system on Russian terrain.”
Ukraine considers 60,000 citizens as missing persons, official says
As of late 2024, 60,000 individuals in Ukraine are considered missing under special circumstances, Ukrinform reported on Dec. 26, citing Dmytro Bohatyuk, head of the Interior Ministry’s Department for Missing Persons.
Seoul confirms Ukrainian capture of wounded North Korean soldier in Kursk Oblast
The confirmation followed a report from Ukraine's military-focused news outlet Militarnyi on Dec. 26, which first revealed the capture without specifying the date of the incident.
General Staff: Russia has lost 782,510 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,650 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine hits ballistic missile propellant plant in Rostov Oblast; North Korean troops endure heavy losses
Key developments on Dec. 26: * Ukraine hits ballistic missile propellant plant in Rostov Oblast, Stratcom reports * North Korean troops in Kursk Oblast endure heavy losses, logistical struggles, Ukrainian military intelligence says * 18 Russian soldiers allegedly killed in Ukraine's Dec. 25 attack in Kursk Oblast, military says * 'Increase in enemy activity'
Russian air defense missile caused plane crash over Kazakhstan, Azerbaijani government sources claim
A Russian surface-to-air missile caused the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight near Aktau, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijani government sources reportedly confirmed on Dec. 26. The missile was fired from a Pantsir-S air defense system.
Ukraine war latest: Russian air defense may have downed Azerbaijani plane, media say
Key developments on Dec. 25: * Russian air defense missile may have downed Azerbaijani plane, media say * Russia terrorizes Ukraine with mass missile, drone attack against energy grid on Christmas morning * Ukrainian drones destroy Russian ammunition depot in Rostov Oblast, SBU source claims * Ukraine approves homemade Shchedryk aerial vehicle for military
Kellogg condemns Russia's mass attack against Ukraine on Christmas Day
President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Ukraine peace envoy, Keith Kellogg, denounced Russia's mass attack on early Christmas morning, emphasizing that "Christmas should be a time of peace."
Russian air defense missile may have downed Azerbaijani plane, media say
Footage of the plane shows traces of a large surface-to-air missile impact on the tail section of the plane, according to Russian independent media outlet Meduza.
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