Moldova announces state of emergency over expected halt of Russian gas
Moldova's parliament on Dec. 13 voted to introduce a 60-day-long state of emergency starting Dec. 16 over the expected halt of Russian gas transit via Ukraine.
Martin Fornusek
Articles
Russia deals 'massive blow' to Ukraine's thermal power plants, energy company says
"DTEK thermal power plants were attacked. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties," the company said. The plants' equipment was "seriously damaged," with energy sector employees already working on repairs.
Russia launches one of the largest aerial attacks on Ukraine's energy grid
Russia launched a large-scale aerial attack against Ukraine early on Dec. 13, firing missiles across multiple regions.
EBRD co-launches $116 million guarantee for Ukraine war-risk insurance
The EBRD's new Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction Guarantee Facility will initially help reinsurance companies cover risks connected to land-based transport, focusing on small and medium businesses.
Trump hints he won't 'abandon' Kyiv but opposes Ukraine launching US missiles inside Russia
"I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that?" Donald Trump told Time.
Ukraine's intelligence kills senior Russian missile scientist near Moscow, source claims
Mikhail Shatsky, a Russian expert involved in modernizing missiles launched against Ukraine, was shot dead near Moscow, a Defense Forces source told the Kyiv Independent on Dec. 12.
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.
Macron, Tusk to discuss deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine after ceasefire, Bloomberg reports
French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Warsaw on Dec. 12 to brief the Polish prime minister on his meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump last week and to discuss Europe's support for Ukraine and ways to end Russia's war.
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 1, injure 11 over past day
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least one civilian and injured at least 11 over the past day, regional authorities reported early on Dec. 12.
US House passes 2025 defense spending bill without Ukraine lend-lease extension
The $895 billion U.S. defense budget passed by the House of Representatives did not include a provision to extend the lend-lease act for Ukraine despite the efforts of Ukrainian diplomats, Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, said on Dec. 12.
Russian proxies sentence 9 Azovstal defenders to 24 years, life in prison
Russian occupation authorities in Donetsk jailed nine Ukrainian soldiers captured after defending Mariupol to between 24 years and a life sentence, the city's exiled authorities reported on Dec. 11.
Russian-occupied Abkhazia left without electricity due to hydroelectric station shutdown
The region has recently faced energy restrictions aggravated by a growing spat with its Russian patrons. Moscow has cut almost all funding, including money crucial for the energy sector, after Abkhazia's local council voted against a controversial investment agreement with Russia.
Russia continues to suffer record losses in December, Zelensky says
"As in November, the Russian military is using a record number of its men in December in battles and assaults," President Zelensky said.
Ukraine has arms to resist at least until mid-2025 if US cuts aid, finance minister says
"I believe that we have enough funds, enough weapons, missiles, and artillery shells to resist at least during the first half of 2025," Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said.
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 8, injure 57 over past day
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least eight civilians and injured at least 57 over the past day, regional authorities reported early on Dec. 11.
Explosions heard in occupied Donetsk Oblast city, Russian proxies announce evacuation
Russian occupation authorities in the Donetsk Oblast city of Yenakiieve announced evacuations from parts of the city on Dec. 10 amid reports of explosions.
44% of Ukrainians trust Trump, more than elsewhere in Europe, survey suggests
Some 44.6% of Ukrainians trust U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, roughly 10 points less than incumbent President Joe Biden, a survey by New Europe Center published on Dec. 10 showed.
Chinese exports to Russia decrease for first time in 4 months, Reuters reports
The decrease of 10.5% compared to November 2023 marks the first drop since July, Reuters writes.
70% of Ukrainians support 'West German' model for NATO accession, survey shows
A key difference is that the invitation would encompass the entire Ukraine, but the alliance's defensive "umbrella" would extend to the occupied territories only after their future liberation.
Russian attacks against Donetsk, Kherson oblasts kill 3, injure 14 over past day
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least three civilians and injured at least 14 over the past day, regional authorities reported on the morning of Dec. 10.
Russian missile attack against Kharkiv Oblast town injures 11
A Russian missile attack against the town of Zlatopil in Kharkiv Oblast on Dec. 10 injured at least 11 people, officials reported.
Zelensky tells Trump 'Putin fears only him and, perhaps, China'
"And that’s the truth — only decisiveness can bring this war to a just end and ensure lasting peace," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.
Pope Francis calls for Christmas ceasefire 'on all war fronts'
"Let us continue to pray for peace, in tormented Ukraine, in the Middle East — Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, and now Syria — in Myanmar, in Sudan, and wherever people suffer from war and violence," Pope Francis said on Dec. 8.
Zelensky 'may consider' deployment of foreign peacekeepers in Ukraine to ensure ceasefire
Ukraine "may consider" French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to deploy European peacekeepers on its territory but only after getting a clear understanding of the NATO membership timeline, President Volodymyr Zelensky said after meeting German opposition leader Friedrich Merz on Dec. 9.
Trump 'formulating a concept' to end Russia-Ukraine war
Russian President Vladimir Putin should seek an end to the war as he lost 700,000 people to hostilities, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said in comments for the New York Post published on Dec. 8.
Ex-chief of Russian-run Olenivka prison allegedly killed in car bombing in occupied Donetsk
Serhii Yevsiukov, the former head of Russia's Olenivka prisoner of war (POW) camp in the occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, was allegedly killed in a car bombing in occupied Donetsk, the Russian media reported on Dec. 9.
SBU releases video of Sea Baby naval drones repelling Russian helicopter attack
The skirmish took place overnight on Dec. 6 in Kerch Bay, east of the occupied peninsula, when Russian helicopters, planes, and Raptor-class patrol boats attempted to intercept the drones, the SBU said in a statement.
German opposition leader Merz arrives in Kyiv
"The purpose of my visit is to learn about the current state of defense in the country," Friedrich Merz said upon arrival. "I am looking forward to a meeting with President (Volodymyr Zelensky) again."
Russian losses in Ukraine prevented Moscow from saving Assad regime in Syria, Biden says
"Additionally, Russia's support for Assad also failed. And that's because Ukraine, backed by our American allies, has put up a wall of resistance against invading Russian forces, inflicting massive damage on the Russian forces," U.S. President Joe Biden said.
Tucker Carlson interviewed Russian FM Lavrov — here’s what he said and why it’s not true
Tucker Carlson, a far-right political commentator close to the incoming U.S. administration, released an interview with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Dec. 5. During the 80-minute interview, Lavrov peddled a variety of Russian propaganda talking points with little to no challenge from the interviewer. Carlson has been among
Discussions about German peacekeepers in Ukraine 'irresponsible,' opposition leader says
Germany's conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz said on Dec. 4 that any speculations about deploying German troops to ensure a ceasefire are irresponsible at this time.
Russia's losses may begin to outpace enlistment rates, media's analysis says
Basing the conclusions on expenditures on sign-on bonuses and earlier research, Meduza estimates that the Russian military signed between 500-600 new contracts per day. This would be less or barely enough to cover Russia's irreversible battlefield losses, estimated by Meduza at 600-750 per day.
Editors' Picks
'Don't come, there's nothing good here' — Chinese soldiers warn against following Russian propaganda to fight in Ukraine
4 things you need to know about Victoria Spartz, the Ukrainian-born US lawmaker
'Putin is pure evil' — Trump's spiritual advisor on Russia's war against Ukraine
