Bloomberg: Some EU nations balk at push to advance Ukraine’s membership bid

8:19 PM

North Korean troops deployed to aid Russia were Pyongyang’s idea, NYT reports.

While some Western officials initially viewed the arrival of North Korean soldiers in Russia as evidence of the Kremlin’s desperation, U.S. agencies now reportedly believe the idea was North Korea’s initiative, quickly embraced by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

8:02 PM

YouTube traffic in Russia drops 80% as authorities try to curb access.

The ongoing slowdown, reportedly implemented by Russian regulators to restrict access to the service, has made the platform nearly unusable in the country.

7:35 PM

Defense production

How Ukraine’s new drone-missile hybrids are changing long-range weapon technology

6:40 PM

Over 3,000 North Korean troops killed, wounded in Kursk Oblast, Zelensky says.

This estimation, coming from Ukraine's intelligence, is a significant increase from other recent reports about the North Korean casualties.

6:34 PM

War analysis

Assassinations of pro-war figures seek to demoralize Russia, punish war criminals

5:57 PM

First Ukrainian Legion unit trained in Poland deployed to Ukraine, ambassador says.

The initiative aims to bolster Ukraine’s Armed Forces by recruiting Ukrainian men living in Poland and other EU countries.

5:31 PM

47% of Ukrainians back NATO accession even while territories stay occupied, survey shows.

Nearly half of Ukrainians support Ukraine joining NATO even if some territories remain under Russian occupation at the time of accession, according to a new poll.

4:54 PM

Satellite imagery suggests North Korea to supply more arms to Russia, WSJ reports.

North Korea appears to be preparing to supply more arms to Russia on top of some 20,000 containers it had already sent, the Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 23 based on its analysis of satellite images.

4:07 PM

Germany provides Ukraine with 15 Leopard 1 tanks, 2 IRIS-T systems, 2 Patriot launchers.

Berlin supplied Ukraine with 15 Leopard 1A5 tanks, one short-range and one medium-range IRIS-T air defense system with missiles, two Patriot air defense launchers, and other aid in the latest delivery, the German government said on Dec. 23.

3:59 PM

Moldova

Moldova prepares for harsh winter, as Russian-occupied part of country runs out of gas

3:31 PM

More than two-thirds of Ukrainians favor idea of restoring nuclear arms arsenal, poll shows.

Around half of the respondents said they would support the development of nuclear weapons even at the price of losing Western aid and coming under sanctions.

3:24 PM

KI Insights

2025 – A Turning Point for Ukraine

2:59 PM

'What is being paid to him, and what does he pay with?' — Zelensky blasts Fico after Moscow visit.

Zelensky called Fico's pro-Russian energy policy "a big security issue" for Slovakia and Europe, asking: "Why is this leader so dependent on Moscow? What is being paid to him, and what does he pay with?"

1:58 PM

'We don't have to grovel before a mass murderer' — Czechia blasts Fico over Moscow trip.

The Czech government’s decision to wean itself off from Russian energy ensured that "we don't have to grovel before a mass murderer," Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Dec. 22, referring to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s visit to Moscow.

1:29 PM

Russian cyberattack: Breach occurred at 'top-level account,' MP says.

Hackers could have used phishing or bribed employees to break into Justice Ministry registries during a Russian cyberattack last week, Oleksandr Fedienko, head of the parliamentary subcommittee on cybersecurity, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Dec. 23.

12:43 PM

Ukraine receives $1.1 billion from IMF.

The funds come as already the sixth tranche disbursed to Ukraine under the IMF's Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, raising the amount provided so far to $9.8 billion.

12:21 PM

Cargo vessel sent to transport Russian military equipment from Syria breaks down in open sea, Ukraine's intel claims.

Concurrently, marine traffic monitors show a Vladivostok-bound cargo ship, Ursa Major, previously registered as Sparta III and visually matching the picture published by HUR, moving at a very low speed of little over 1 knot in the open sea between Spain and Algeria.

11:49 AM

NATO chief defends Scholz, calls Zelensky's criticism 'unfair'.

In the interview, Rutte said that Scholz's contributions to Ukraine are commendable. The chancellor ensured that Germany ranks second after the U.S. in military support for Ukraine, something Kyiv could express its gratitude for, Rutte noted.

11:09 AM

Moscow begins providing energy aid to Georgia's Russian-occupied Abkhazia region.

The press service of the Abkhaz energy company Chernomorenergo reported that a schedule from Nov. 1, under which electricity will be unavailable for four hours per day, is in effect.

10:40 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 3, injure 3 over past day.

The Russian military attacked Ukraine with 72 Shahed-type drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles overnight on Dec. 23, Ukraine's Air Force reported on Telegram.

10:01 AM

Australian citizen fighting for Ukraine allegedly captured by Russia.

The man, who identifies himself as 32-year-old Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins, is seen in military fatigues, apparently tied up, and violently interrogated in a video shared on Russian Telegram channels.

9:30 AM

Russia's threat to Europe 'much wider than we imagine,' Italian PM warns.

"It's about our democracy, it's about influencing our public opinion, it's about what happens in Africa, it's about raw materials, it's about the instrumentalization of migration. We need to know it's a very wide idea of security," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.

8:48 AM

'Mysterious' fire engulfs Russian Shahed warehouse, Ukrainian intelligence claims.

A large-scale fire broke out at a Shahed drone warehouse at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia's Tatarstan, destroying drone parts worth $16 million, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on Dec. 23.

8:12 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 776,090 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,990 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:49 AM

North Korea preparing to ship more troops, drones to Russia, Seoul says.

North Korea is preparing to deploy additional troops and weapons, including kamikaze drones, to aid Russia in its full-scale war against Ukraine, the South Korean military said on Dec. 23.