General Staff: Russia has lost 753,370 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,460 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day, Ukraine's General Staff reported.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
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Rebels enter Damascus, Assad reportedly flees capital
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad boarded a plane out of Damascus on Dec. 8 as rebel forces swept into the capital, two senior army officers told Reuters.
Syrian government forces withdraw from Homs, cutting Assad off from key Russian military base
Homs is located between Damascus, Syria's capital, and the Mediterranean coast — where Russia maintains its Khmeimim Air Base and Tartus Naval Base.
General Staff: Russia has lost 751,910 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,300 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
EU fails to approve 15th sanctions package against Russia, Reuters reports
The European Union has failed to approve its 15th sanctions package on Russia, which included an extension for Czechia to import Russian oil products through Slovakia, Reuters reported on Dec. 6, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.
Ukraine war latest: Zelensky unveils new Ukrainian new missile-drone 'Peklo'
Key developments on Dec. 6: * Zelensky unveils new Ukrainian new missile-drone — 'Peklo' * Crimean Bridge closed after reported Ukrainian drone strikes on Kerch * Ukrainian partisans sabotage railway line linking Moscow to Kursk Oblast, group claims * Estonian company to test AI-guided anti-drone missiles in Ukraine, CEO says * Putin replaces Kursk Oblast governor
Romanian constitutional court annuls results of presidential election's first round
The Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the results of the first round of the presidential election, which had been led by anti-NATO, pro-Russian independent candidate Calin Georgescu, Digi24 reported on Dec. 6.
General Staff: Russia has lost 750,610 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,660 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Putin changes Russian gas payment laws after US sanctions Gazprombank
According to Putin's new law, gas purchases are no longer tied to Gazprombank and can be settled by offsetting mutual debts. The U.S. sanctioned Gazprombank on Nov. 21.
Russia using more glide bombs as artillery advantage slips, Western officials say
Russia's artillery advantage against Ukraine has dropped to 1.5 rounds per Ukrainian shell, down from a previous ratio of five to one, officials told Sky News.
Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian forces regain control of Novyi Komar village in Donetsk Oblast
Key developments on Dec. 5: * Ukrainian forces regain control of Novyi Komar village in Donetsk Oblast * At least 6 Ukrainian mayors held captive by Russia, Zelensky says * Ukrainian forces to receive 30,000 DeepStrike drones in 2025 as part of Zelensky's resilience plan, minister says * 'There will be no Yalta-2
Ukrainian intelligence hackers disrupt Russia's Gazprombank, source says
The cyberattack, described as a powerful distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) assault, disrupted Gazprombank's online and mobile banking services.
'A more dangerous Russia' — UK armed forces chief issues stark 'third nuclear age' warning
The world faces the dawn of a "third nuclear age," the head of the U.K.'s armed forces Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said on Dec. 4.
Russia keeps North Korean soldiers away from direct combat, Ukraine's National Resistance Center claims
North Korean soldiers have been stationed at observation posts and checkpoints in Russia's Kursk Oblast as a "second echelon" not involved in direct combat, the Ukrainian military-run National Resistance Center reported on Dec. 4.
General Staff: Russia has lost 748,950 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,580 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past da
Georgian police detain opposition leader amid protests
Georgian police detained Nika Gvaramia, the leader of the Coalition for Change opposition party, on Dec. 4 amid government crackdowns as pro-EU protests in the country continue.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine's new Palianytsia missile-drone enters serial production, minister says
Key developments on Dec. 4: * Ukraine's new Palianytsia missile-drone enters serial production, minister says * German FM doesn't rule out deploying troops to Ukraine in case of ceasefire * Russia gathers 300 boats to cross Dnipro River amid attempted attacks in Kherson Oblast, military says * Abducted mayor tortured to death in Russian
Ukrainian businesses increasingly look beyond diesel for backup power as blackouts begin again
As Ukraine begins yet another winter with rolling blackouts and freezing temperatures, businesses are increasingly looking beyond diesel generators to fuel their operations during power cuts, business leaders said at the Energy Security Dialogue 2024 on Dec. 4.
Ukraine preparing sanctions against Georgian government amid crackdown on pro-EU protests
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Georgian authorities "are pushing the country into clear dependence on Russia."
House Speaker rejects Biden's request for additional $24 billion in Ukraine aid
"It is not the place of Joe Biden to make that decision now, we have a newly elected president, and we are going to wait and take the new commander in chief’s direction on all that, so I don’t expect any Ukraine funding to come up now," U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said.
Ukraine’s gas transit operator prepared for Russian attacks after transit deal expires, operator says
With a deal to transport Russian gas through Ukraine expiring at the end of 2024, Ukraine’s gas transit network could soon come under Russian attacks, warned Dmytro Lyppa, CEO of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine.
Controversial bill on state leaks fails to pass parliament
The legislation was lambasted by the media and activists as an attempt to hamper investigations into corruption and other illicit activities by officials.
As NATO ministers meet, some members continue to oppose membership invitation for Ukraine
An undisclosed NATO source told the Ukrainian Suspilne outlet that the U.S. and Germany continue to oppose inviting Ukraine at the moment.
General Staff: Russia has lost 747,370 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,670 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Yermak to visit US for talks with Trump's team, NV reports
Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak will lead a Ukrainian delegation in meetings with U.S. officials, particularly "people from the entourage of ... Donald Trump," sources said.
Ukraine war latest: Kyiv won't accept security guarantees substituting NATO membership
Key developments on Dec. 3: * Ukraine won't accept security guarantees substituting NATO membership * Ukraine prevents Russia from establishing bridgehead west of Oskil River, military says * France, UK discuss deploying troops to Ukraine for ceasefire monitoring, sources tell RFE/RL * Ukraine asking NATO for 20 air defense systems to prevent blackouts
Abkhaz council votes against ratification of controversial agreement with Russia
The council of Russian-occupied Abkhazia did not ratify a controversial investment agreement with Moscow, which sparked protests last month, Interfax reported on Dec. 3.
Western sanctions force Russian importers to smuggle their goods, media reports
The latest Western sanctions against 50 Russian banks forced Russian importers to use complex and underhand schemes to pay their Chinese sellers, the Moscow Times reported on Dec. 2, citing undisclosed business sources.
Ukrainian journalists meet G7 ambassadors to discuss country's media landscape
"Press freedom and pluralism are crucial for strengthening democracy, supporting political debate, and advancing Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic path," the G7's representation in Ukraine said on X.
We must focus on military aid — NATO chief sidesteps question on invitation for Ukraine
NATO's two-day ministerial meeting will focus on providing Ukraine with enough military aid to enable it to enter any possible negotiations from a position of strength, Secretary General Mark Rutte said ahead of the meeting in Brussels on Dec. 3.
Ukraine prevents Russia from establishing bridgehead west of Oskil River, military says
Ukrainian troops managed to fend off Russian forces attempting to establish a foothold on the western side of the Oskil River north of the Kharkiv Oblast town of Kupiansk, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Dec. 3.
Ukraine won't accept security guarantees substituting NATO membership
"Having the bitter experience of the Budapest Memorandum behind us, we will not settle for any alternatives, surrogates, or substitutes," the Foreign Ministry said.
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