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Intercepted Russian phone call suggests North Korean troops suffering trainloads of wounded
In the call, a nurse at a Moscow hospital tells her husband, a soldier fighting in Kursk Oblast, that wounded fighters are being brought in by the trainload.
Ukraine
US may not be able to send remaining $5.6bn in military aid to Ukraine before Trump takes office, NYT reports
Although the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden plans to allocate some funds from the presidential drawdown authority, it is unlikely to spend the whole amount.
Slovak PM Robert Fico to discuss gas transit through Ukraine with EU chief
Slovakia currently imports 3 billion cubic meters of gas per year through Ukraine from Russia’s energy giant Gazprom.
Peace talks with Russia only possible when Moscow runs out of resources, Ukraine’s Yermak says
"Real negotiations for a lasting peace will begin only when the enemy no longer has the resources to continue the war," Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, said on Dec. 17.
Russia detains two suspects over assassination of General Igor Kirillov, Kremlin media reports
Russian Telegram channel 112 said the suspects had already confessed to authorities.
'Couple hundred' North Korean troops lost fighting for Russia against Ukraine, AP reports
A senior U.S. military official did not give an exact figure but said the high casualty rate was in part due to the soldiers' lack of battle experience.
General Staff: Russia has lost 766,690 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,580 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Oscars shortlist includes two Ukrainian documentaries
The Ukrainian documentaries “The Porcelain War” and “Once Upon a Time in Ukraine” have been shortlisted for the 97th Academy Awards, the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Dec. 17.
Rheinmetall to provide Ukraine with 20 more Marder infantry fighting vehicles
German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has received an order to supply Ukraine with 20 additional Marder infantry fighting vehicles, the company announced on Dec. 17.
Trump's Ukraine peace envoy plans January trip to Kyiv, European capitals, Reuters reports
The Trump administration's incoming Ukraine peace envoy, Keith Kellogg, plans to visit Kyiv and several European capitals in early January as part of the new administration’s effort to address the Russia-Ukraine war.
Poland-Ukraine relations show progress on historical issues, defense cooperation, Tusk says
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Lviv on Dec. 17 to discuss bilateral cooperation, historical reconciliation, and coordination with Western partners.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine's SBU assassinates Russian general charged with chemical weapons crimes
Key developments on Dec. 17: * Ukraine's SBU assassinates Russian general charged with chemical weapons crimes, source claims * Ukraine's Special Forces claim to kill 50 North Korean soldiers in 3 days * Russia heavily attacking in Kursk Oblast for 3rd day, 'actively' using North Korean troops, Syrskyi says * Zelensky rejects Orban's mediation,
NATO takes lead in coordinating Western military aid to Ukraine, Reuters reports
NATO has assumed responsibility for coordinating Western military aid to Ukraine through the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine center, Reuters reported on Dec. 17, citing its sources.
Ukraine state-owned enterprises weekly — Issue 158
Editor’s Note: This is issue 158 of Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly, covering events from Dec. 9-14, 2024. The Kyiv Independent is reposting it with permission. Corporate governance of SOEs The Cabinet of Ministers completes the composition of Ukrenergo’s new supervisory board. On Dec. 10, the Cabinet of Ministers
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 5
Editor’s note: This is issue 5 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from Dec. 9-Dec. 15, 2024. This newsletter was until recently titled “Ukrainian Economy in Brief." The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial
General Igor Kirillov, the Russian chemical weapons chief and propagandist assassinated by Ukraine
LATEST: Russia detains two suspects over assassination of General Igor Kirillov, Kremlin media reports Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov met his demise in Moscow on Dec. 17, reportedly killed by a bomb attached to a scooter planted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). "Kirillov was a war criminal and a
Russia heavily attacking in Kursk Oblast for 3rd day, 'actively' using North Korean troops, Syrskyi says
"For the third day, Russian forces have been conducting intensive offensive operations in Kursk Oblast, actively using North Korean units," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
Ukraine's parliament supports bill on multiple citizenship in first reading
The legislation lists permissible cases for holding multiple citizenship and simplifies procedures for foreigners to obtain Ukrainian citizenship.
Slovak energy company, partners call for continued gas transit via Ukraine
Slovakia's state-owned energy company SPP and its partners in Hungary, Italy, and Austria called for continued gas transit through Ukraine in a declearation published on Dec. 17.
Ukraine 'strongly condemns' African delegation's visit to Russian-occupied territories
"Their statements during this visit about opposing colonialism, made on Ukrainian land illegally seized by Russia in the course of its neocolonial war of aggression against Ukraine, are completely absurd," the Foreign Ministry said.
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 4, injure 6 over past day
A Russian attack killed one person in the front-line town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.
Ukraine's SBU assassinates Russian general charged with chemical weapons crimes, source claims
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and another Russian service member were reportedly killed in an explosion in Moscow on the morning of Dec. 17.
Updated: Defense Ministry to investigate alleged abuse of service members in engineering brigade
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Dec. 16 ordered an investigation into the alleged abuse, extortion, and humiliation of soldiers in the 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade by their commanders.
General Staff: Russia has lost 765,110 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,600 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
West should pressure Russia into peace talks, not Ukraine, Polish FM says
"Both the United States and the European Union must help Ukraine to achieve a better negotiating position for possible future negotiations, which should be encouraged and forced on the aggressor, not the victim."
North Korean soldiers 'legitimate targets' for Ukrainian military, US official says
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller warned that if North Korean troops crossed the border into Ukraine to fight for Russia, that would mark a serious "escalation" in the war.
Russia trying to hide North Korean losses in Ukraine war, Zelensky claims
"Russia is not only involving North Korean soldiers in assaults on Ukrainian positions, but is also trying to hide the losses of these people," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 16.
Russian gas transit deal ends on December 31, won't be renewed, PM Shmyhal says
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Dec. 16 that the deal allowing Russian gas to transit through Ukraine will not be extended beyond the end of the year. His statement comes as several European countries intensify efforts to secure alternative energy supplies.
Estonia urges NATO allies to boost defense spending to counter Russian threat, Reuters reports
"Everybody in NATO and in the EU right now has the feeling in their backbone that you should increase defense expenditure because of what is happening all over the world and with Russia," Estonia's Prime Minister Kristen Michal told Reuters.
Ukraine war latest: Russia sets goal to fully occupy 4 Ukrainian regions in 2025
Key developments on Dec. 16: * Russia sets 2025 goal to fully occupy 4 Ukrainian regions, Defense Minister says * 'It's a tough one,' Trump says following questions on how he plans to stop Russia's war against Ukraine * Ukraine possesses laser weapons, advanced drone technologies, commander says * North Korean troops suffer
Ukraine condemns Hungary’s ‘peacekeeping’ proposals, calls them manipulative
Hungary, which maintains close ties with Moscow despite Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has consistently criticized EU sanctions against Russia and blocked initiatives to provide military aid to Kyiv.
North Korean troops suffer casualties in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Pentagon says
North Korean troops have joined combat operations in the Kursk Oblast, marking the first confirmed engagement of North Korean soldiers alongside Russian military, Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder said on Dec. 16.
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