Bloomberg: Hungary blocks new sanctions against Russia

11:51 PM

Zelensky: Nearly 40 more Ukrainians evacuated from Gaza.

Ukraine evacuated another group of its citizens from the Gaza Strip amid increasing Israeli strikes on the Palestinian enclave, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 8.

11:00 PM

Zelensky signs 4 laws required for EU accession.

However, the law on reforming the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) signed by Zelensky failed to fully repeal the so-called Lozovyi's amendments, which are thought to help those suspected or accused of corruption to avoid responsibility.

10:47 PM

Bulgarian parliament overrides presidential veto to approve more military aid to Ukraine.

The agreement to provide Kyiv with over 100 previously written-off Soviet-era armored vehicles, already signed by both Sofia and Kyiv, had been initially sent back by Rumen Radev on Dec. 4 to parliament, which now approved the transfer again, with 162 votes in favor and 55 against.

10:35 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Scammers reportedly cheat volunteers out of millions on drone purchases

10:16 PM

Belarus weekly

Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko visits China, meets Xi Jinping

9:40 PM

Human story

Anger and disappointment in endless lines of Ukrainian trucks at Polish border

9:00 PM

Russia

Putin plays it safe by delaying new mobilization ahead of election in Russia

8:47 PM

Guardian: EU set to unlock part of frozen funds for Hungary.

The European Commission is expected to unlock 10 billion euros ($10.7 billion) in frozen funds for Hungary, the Guardian reported on Dec. 8, citing anonymous diplomatic sources.

8:03 PM

Opinion

Alexander Khrebet: Don’t write off Ukrainians living under Russian occupation

7:51 PM

Russia records 11 incidents involving civilian airplanes in first 8 days of December.

All of the planes that experienced serious incidents, which included cabin depressurization, fires, engine and rudder failure, among other issues, eventually landed safely, although several were forced to make emergency landings.

7:32 PM

International Maritime Organization to send mission to Ukraine.

"This decision, as well as the non-election of Russia to the International Maritime Organization Council for 2023-2024, shows the protection of the international maritime community's right to free navigation of every country," said Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov.

6:38 PM

Update: Russian strike on Novohrodivka, Donetsk Oblast, kills 5.

Forensic experts identified the body of the fifth victim of Russia's Nov. 29 missile strike on Novohrodivka in Donetsk Oblast, the National Police reported on Dec. 8.

6:27 PM

Russians, Belarusians to be allowed to compete as neutral athletes at 2024 Paris Olympics.

Under the rules, Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be able to participate as teams nor display any flags or any official identification with either country. Athletes or support personnel who have openly supported the war will not be allowed, as will anyone who has served or is affiliated with either the military or security organizations of Russia or Belarus.

6:20 PM

Tusk says Orban government 'openly' supports Russian positions.

"(Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor) Orban does not hide it," Donald Tusk added, saying, "his relationship with Moscow is organic."

6:01 PM

UK sanctions 17 members of Belarusian judiciary over role in politically-motivated cases.

The U.K. announced sanctions on Dec. 8 against 17 members of the Belarusian judiciary, including judges, prosecutors, and an investigator, for their involvement in politically-motivated cases. The sanctioned individuals had been involved in cases against "political activists, independent journalists, and human rights defenders."

5:39 PM

Prosecutors: Ukrainian spy who coordinated Russian attacks in Odesa identified.

According to the prosecutors, the individual began spying for Russia in October and was tasked with taking pictures of the locations of Ukrainian troops, as well as defense and energy infrastructure in Odesa, which he then sent to his Russian contacts. He also allegedly photographed the aftermath of Russian strikes in the oblast so that future Russian attacks could be corrected for a more accurate result.

5:23 PM

Parliament approves additional amendments to law on national minorities.

Ukraine's parliament adopted an updated draft law on national minorities to implement the latest recommendations by the Council of Europe, lawmakers reported on Dec. 8.

4:09 PM

Finnish court releases suspected Russian terrorist, rules he cannot be extradited to Ukraine.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) found that Yan Petrovsky collaborated with members of the Russian-installed proxy government in occupied Luhansk Oblast and the Rusich neo-Nazi paramilitary unit to aid the Russian invasion of Ukraine starting in 2014.

3:43 PM

Interview

French ambassador: ‘Now is not the time for negotiation, now is the time for war’

3:37 PM

Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to exchange prisoners, work toward peace treaty.

Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on Dec. 7 to work toward a peace treaty and make tangible steps for stabilizing mutual relations, including an exchange of prisoners.

3:18 PM

Germany hands over shells, drones, other equipment in latest delivery to Ukraine.

The delivered items included 11 reconnaissance drones, six border protection vehicles, eight off-road Zetros trucks, 100,000 first aid kits and other medical materials, 33 GMG automatic grenade launchers, and additional 155mm artillery shells.

2:50 PM

Update: 8 injured, 1 killed in Russian missile strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

The number of people injured in a Russian missile attack against Dnipropetrovsk Oblast's Pavlohrad district on Dec. 8 has risen to eight, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

2:46 PM

Putin announces he will seek 5th term as president.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been in power as either president or prime minister since 1999. Constitutional changes signed by the Russian leader in 2021 allowed Putin to run for two more six-year terms, meaning he could stay in power until 2036. It is unclear if other candidates will nominally participate, but Putin's victory is all but assured.

2:37 PM

Media: Scammers allegedly cheat volunteers out of millions on drone purchases.

Participants in a scam may have stolen up to Hr 84 million ($2.3 million) from volunteers and charitable organizations on the pretenses of selling drones for the military, an investigation by Ukrainska Pravda published on Dec. 8 reveals.

1:55 PM

Podcasts

This Week in Ukraine Ep. 37 – What's behind the crisis at Ukraine-Poland border?

Episode #37 is dedicated to the trucker protests that have been blockading several border crossings at Ukraine-Poland border for over a month.