Japan expands sanctions against Russia, Belarus, bans import of gold from Russia

2:16 PM

US, South Korea, Japan pledge to increase cooperation, pressure on North Korea.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the three countries planned to increase their trilateral cooperation to create a united front against the spectrum of North Korean hostile actions towards its neighbors in the region and the larger world. In particular, the officials said that North Korea was using cyber activities to fund its nuclear program.

12:44 PM

Russian drone strike in Kherson Oblast kills 1, injures 1.

A Russian drone dropped explosives on the city of Beryslav, Kherson Oblast, on the morning of Dec. 9, killing one and injuring another, the regional prosecutor's office reported.

12:23 PM

Warsaw denies claim that border blockade prevents delivery of military aid to Ukraine.

Polish Vice Minister of National Defense Marcin Ociepa was responding to a Dec. 7 story by The New York Times in which a Ukrainian soldier, known only as Oleksandr, said that the blockade had prevented his unit from receiving much-needed night vision devices.

11:47 AM

Poll: Nearly 50% of Republicans think US provides too much aid to Ukraine.

As with other polls gauging Americans' support for Ukraine, there was a significant partisan divide. Only 16% of Democrats thought the U.S. was providing too much aid, while 39% thought it was about right, and 24% said it was not enough.

11:15 AM

Up to 800,000 Russians have reportedly moved to Crimea since occupation in 2014.

Up to 800,000 Russians have moved to occupied Crimea since its illegal annexation in 2014, and around 100,000 Ukrainians have left, in what amounts to a larger Russian project of remaking the peninsula's demography, said Vladyslav Miroshnychenko, an analyst for the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union on Dec. 6.

10:15 AM

Kyiv authorities begin dismantling prominent Soviet-era statue in city center.

Authorities in Kyiv have begun dismantling a statue of Red Army commander Mykola Shchors located on one of the main streets in the center of the capital, the Kyiv City State Administration announced on Dec. 9.

9:14 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 338,120 troops in Ukraine.

According to the report, this figure includes 900 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:40 AM

White House: Costs of not supporting Ukraine too high to pay.

"If you think the cost of supporting Ukraine is high now, think about how high it’s going to be in national treasure and in American blood if we have to start acting on our Article Five commitments," U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

6:23 AM

German drone manufacturer joins Diia City to produce drones in Ukraine.

Quantum Systems hopes its residency in Diia City will help it establish drone production facilities in Ukraine and launch a research and development center.

5:35 AM

Russian cities cancel New Year celebrations to save money for war.

Various officials have pledged to scale back traditional holiday festivities and fireworks displays in order to purchase military equipment to supply Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

4:21 AM

Hackers impersonated Ukrainian agencies in emails to Polish officials.

Government employees in Poland and Ukraine received emails with subject lines related to "debts" and "legal claims," according to an investigation carried out by the Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine.

3:43 AM

Russia shells 4 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces attacked four communities along the Sumy Oblast border on Dec. 8, firing 6 times over the course of the day, the Sumy Oblast military administration reported.

2:23 AM

Estonia, Lithuania condemn IOC decision to let Russian athletes compete in Paris.

"Allowing Russian athletes participate in the Olympics without a flag will not wash away the blood on their hands," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

1:33 AM

Zelensky urges Ukrainians to remain resilient amid anticipated attacks on energy infrastructure.

"The role of our state now — no matter how difficult it may be — is to not lose strength and not allow the enemy to seize the initiative," Zelensky said.

1:13 AM

RFE/RL: Russian intelligence may receive data from Ukrainian surveillance cameras.

A Schemes investigation found that footage from surveillance cameras with Russian software goes directly to servers in Moscow with ties to the FSB.

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.