Loud explosion heard in Dnipro on Dec. 2

11:41 AM

48,000 Russian soldiers may be MIA in Ukraine, Putin's relative reveals.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anna Tsivilyova let slip on Nov. 26 that the ministry had received 48,000 applications for DNA tests from relatives seeking information about soldiers missing in action during the war against Ukraine.

11:18 AM

Ukraine sanctions Georgian government amid crackdown on EU-protests.

The sanctions target oligarch and de facto leader of Georgian Dream Bidzina Ivanishvili and 18 other individuals.

10:49 AM

Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 2, injure 6 over past day.

Ukraine’s Air Force intercepted 30 of 44 Russian drones launched overnight. Russia also fired two Iskander-M ballistic missiles during the assault, the Air Force reported.

10:11 AM

Russia keeps North Korean soldiers away from direct combat, Ukraine's National Resistance Center claims.

North Korean soldiers have been stationed at observation posts and checkpoints in Russia's Kursk Oblast as a "second echelon" not involved in direct combat, the Ukrainian military-run National Resistance Center reported on Dec. 4.

9:34 AM

Netherlands announces $23 million for Ukraine's air defense, cyber resilience.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp emphasized the need for NATO and its allies to address third countries aiding Russia’s war effort. "This demands a more robust and coordinated response from NATO and its Allies," he wrote.

9:06 AM

Oreshnik strike planned before long-range strikes permission, Gerasimov reportedly told US military chief.

Russian General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian army, held a rare phone call with U.S. General Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Nov. 27, The New York Times reported on Dec. 4, citing official sources.

8:53 AM

Romania targeted by 'aggressive Russian hybrid attacks,' authorities say amid elections.

Romanian authorities on Dec. 4 declassified evidence of what they described as a "highly organized" social media campaign backed by a "state actor" to boost pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu in a recent vote.

8:19 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 748,950 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,580 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past da

7:28 AM

Hungary requests US sanctions exemption for Russian natural gas payments.

Hungary has requested the United States to provide the country with a sanctions waiver to further continue payments for Russian natural gas imports through Gazprombank, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Dec. 4.

6:19 AM

Georgian police detain opposition leader amid protests.

Georgian police detained Nika Gvaramia, the leader of the Coalition for Change opposition party, on Dec. 4 amid government crackdowns as pro-EU protests in the country continue.

5:05 AM

Yermak-led delegation meets with Trump's team in Washington, Reuters reports.

The delegation, which reportedly included Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, met with incoming U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Ukraine peace envoy Keith Kellogg, a source told Reuters.

4:18 AM

84 arrested in UK-led crypto laundering investigation involving Russian oligarchs, spies.

The United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA) announced on Dec. 4 that it had dismantled a multibillion-dollar money laundering scheme that has enabled criminal networks, including Russian spies and oligarchs, to evade sanctions using cryptocurrency.

1:49 AM

Colombian man arrested in Romania for acting on Russian orders to plot infrastructure attack.

The suspect reportedly carried out reconnaissance missions, photographing and recording potential targets he intended to destroy with explosives or fire, Romanian prosecurors allege.

11:58 PM

Blinken confirms Ukraine to receive $50 billion transfer from frozen Russian assets.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed during a briefing that the transfer is part of a coordinated effort between the U.S. and EU to support Ukraine.

10:57 PM

US enforces visa restrictions on Russian officials linked to Ukrainian child deportations.

Since February 2022, at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted from Russian-occupied territories and sent to other Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine or to Russia itself.

9:59 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine's new Palianytsia missile-drone enters serial production, minister says

9:18 PM

Ukrainian businesses increasingly look beyond diesel for backup power as blackouts begin again.

As Ukraine begins yet another winter with rolling blackouts and freezing temperatures, businesses are increasingly looking beyond diesel generators to fuel their operations during power cuts, business leaders said at the Energy Security Dialogue 2024 on Dec. 4.

9:01 PM

Ukraine preparing sanctions against Georgian government amid crackdown on pro-EU protests.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Georgian authorities "are pushing the country into clear dependence on Russia."

8:26 PM

House Speaker rejects Biden's request for additional $24 billion in Ukraine aid.

"It is not the place of Joe Biden to make that decision now, we have a newly elected president, and we are going to wait and take the new commander in chief’s direction on all that, so I don’t expect any Ukraine funding to come up now," U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said.

7:53 PM

Drones

Russian drone strikes on Ukraine are surging — how bad can it get?

7:22 PM

Ukrainian drone hits special police regiment building in Chechnya, Kadyrov claims.

A drone attack hit a special police regiment building in the center of the city of Grozny in the Chechen Republic on Dec. 4, Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov claimed, Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti reported.

6:33 PM

Ukraine state-owned enterprises weekly — Issue 156

6:29 PM

Video

Could Ukraine build a nuclear bomb? We asked an expert.

The Kyiv Independent’s reporter Oleg Sukhov sat down with Robert Kelley to discuss whether the weapon Ukraine gave up would be of much use now and if the country still has the capacity to produce a nuclear device.

6:18 PM

Ukraine has 'hard decisions' to make about further mobilization, Blinken says.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described mobilization as "critical" for Ukraine, adding that despite having funds and ammunition, people are needed to repel Russian aggression.

5:47 PM

Ukraine Business Roundup — Historic tax increase signed 44 days late