Media: Explosions reported in Kharkiv
Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov warned residents to take cover.
Nate Ostiller
Articles
NATO agrees on deal to buy 1,000 Patriot missiles for coalition members
The contract includes all the relevant components and spare parts and stems from a joint venture between NSPA and COMLOG, which is itself split between the arms manufacturer MDBA Germany and Raytheon, one of the largest U.S. defense contractors.
Polish farmers to resume blockade of Ukrainian border after temporary reprieve
The blockade was temporarily paused on Dec. 24, but will resume because organizers say that their demands have not been met.
Russian authorities: 4 injured after Russian plane 'accidentally drops munitions' on Russian town
Russia's Defense Ministry said previously on Jan. 2 that munitions had accidentally fallen on the town, but said there was damage to houses and no injuries.
EU sanctions Alrosa, Russia's largest diamond producer
An investigation by the Kyiv Independent in October found that Alrosa continued to sell diamonds to the West after the beginning of Russia's war in Ukraine, and even was able to increase its profits.
Norway to send F-16s to Denmark for Ukrainian pilots to train on
Norway will also provide 10 instructors to the training facility in Denmark. The two planes the country will send are for training purposes, but according to NRK, Norway also plans to send Ukraine between five and ten F-16s.
Russian attacks over past day kill 3 civilians across Ukraine, injure 4
Russian forces attacked at least seven regions over the past day, killing three civilians and injuring at least four, regional authorities reported on Jan. 3.
Foreign Ministry: Territorial concessions to Russia will only lead to more aggression
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko was responding to a comment from German lawmaker Michael Kretschmer, the head of the state of Saxony, who suggested that the Ukrainian government temporarily give up territory in exchange for a ceasefire with Russia.
Indian foreign minister: India's ties with Russia are 'very strong, very steady'
India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is in the midst of a 5-day trip to Russia, where he met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian leader Vladimir Putin will meet with Jaishankar later on Dec. 27.
Official: Russia's full-scale invasion has killed over 400 Ukrainian athletes
Some in Russia have complained about supposed unfairness of only being able to compete without the Russian flag, said Vadym Gutzeit, the head of Ukraine's National Olympic Committee. "We're losing people... Is that fair to us?" he added.
Ex-Supreme Court chief found guilty of illegally accepting gift as he awaits ruling on other bribery charge
Vsevolod Kniaziev, the former head of Ukraine's Supreme Court, was found guilty by a court in Kyiv of illegally accepting a gift after it was revealed he was renting an apartment in an elite neighborhood of Kyiv for Hr 1,000 ($26) a month, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) reported on Dec. 27.
Politico: Russia attempting to use Ukrainian POWs to foment unrest at home
Families of POWs told Politico that after months of silence, they suddenly received calls from their family members in Russian custody, in which the POWs encouraged their families to protest against the government, claiming that "Kyiv does not want to take us back."
Military: Russia trying to bypass Avdiivka, avoid fighting within city
Avdiivka remains a primary focus of Russian forces in the area, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi said, but they likely want to avoid actually entering the city and engaging in the type of brutal street combat that was seen in the battle for Bakhmut.
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 4, injure 21 over past day
Russian troops targeted Odesa with kamikaze drones overnight, killing one person and injuring at least three, including a 17-year-old teenager, Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces wrote.
Russian attacks in Kharkiv Oblast kill 1, injure 1
Russian forces attacked 15 different locations over the past day in Kharkiv Oblast, killing one person and injuring at least one, the regional police said on Dec. 26.
Lukashenko claims transfer of Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus completed months ago
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin signed an agreement in May 2023 to transfer tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, a process that Russian leader Vladimir Putin said had begun in June.
Russia launches drone attack against southern Ukraine on Christmas
Air defenses shot down 13 of the 19 drones launched.
Russia confirms its landing ship hit by Ukrainian missile strike in occupied Crimea (UPDATED)
Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed that the Novocherkassk landing ship had been damaged by Ukrainian missile strikes early on Dec. 26
Moldovan President Sandu announces she will run for second term
In the statement declaring her intent to run for reelection, President Maia Sandu also said that she has asked the Moldovan parliament to organize a referendum on the country's accession to the EU.
Ukraine receives $1.3 billion in financial support from World Bank
The funding is part of the Public Expenditures of Administrative Capacity Endurance program (PEACE) in Ukraine, designed to support the country's social and humanitarian expenditures. The latest tranche was initially announced by the World Bank on Dec. 14.
Russian media: Foreign shareholders suspend participation in Russian Arctic LNG-2 project
The project is run by the private company Novatek, Russia's largest producer of LNG, which has a 60% share. The Chinese, French, and Japanese companies represented the remaining 40% of shares. The foreign companies all declared force majeure on the project.
Demonstrations against alleged electoral fraud in Serbia continue, 38 protesters arrested
Opposition parties and some Western electoral observers have claimed that the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), under President Aleksandar Vucic, committed voter fraud and witnessed other irregularities in the municipal elections in Belgrade on Dec. 17. SNS and Vucic declared victory in the parliamentary elections held on the same day.
Russian emergency service: Fire reported on nuclear-powered vessel, quickly extinguished
The fire occurred in a cabin on the ship, named the Sevmorput, while docked at the Murmansk port in northern Russia. The ministry initially reported that the fire spread to about 30 square meters, but firefighters managed to contain it before it spread.
Biden administration strengthens sanctions on Russia, target financial backers of war effort
The White House said the executive order would expand sanctions authority over any financial institutions "determined to have conducted or facilitated any significant transactions...or provided any services" for already sanctioned individuals or companies involved in Russia's military-industrial complex.
Japan to transfer Patriot missiles to US
Japan changed its laws regarding arms exports, allowing for the transfer of weapons, the Japanese Foreign Ministry announced on Dec. 22. The ministry added that it will send the U.S. Patriot missiles, paving the way for the U.S. to replenish its stocks while potentially sending Ukraine some of its own current supply.
Energy Ministry: Widespread power outages due to bad weather, Russian attacks
Thirteen oblasts across Ukraine were affected by either or both bad weather and Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, impacting the power supply of close to 100,000 people.
Ombudsman: 12-year-old boy returned after nearly 2 years under Russian control
The boy initially went to visit his father in Luhansk Oblast just days before the beginning of the full-scale invasion and then was stuck under Russian occupation in the oblast for 18 months. He then spent another four months on Russian territory and was forced to attend Russian school.
Governor: Russian soldiers in occupied Kherson Oblast killed boy in front of his family
Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said that, according to preliminary information, the Russian soldiers may have thought the boy was taking a picture of something, so they seized him, brought him home, and shot him while his family watched.
Polish foreign minister arrives for first official visit in Kyiv
Radoslaw Sikorski, who previously served as Poland's foreign minister, was reappointed to the position by newly elected Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in December. He has been an outspoken advocate of Poland's support for Ukraine.
Official: 3,900 trucks waiting in line at Polish border to enter Ukraine
Ukraine's Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said four border crossings are blocked as of the morning of Dec. 22.
WSJ: Russian Security Council secretary ordered Prigozhin's assassination
Sources in Russian and Western intelligence told the WSJ that Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev ordered the assassination of Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin, adding that Russian leader Vladimir Putin did not object to the plans.
Governor: Czech Republic to provide $10 million in aid for medical facilities in Kharkiv Oblast
The funds will go towards purchasing medical equipment for hospitals in the oblast, as well as boilers to help heat civilian homes and critical infrastructure, said Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov.
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