Bulgaria, Latvia cease issuing visas to Russians

6:15 PM

Construction of fortifications in Zaporizhzhia complete, Shmyhal says.

Ukraine has been building heavy fortifications near the city of Zaporizhzhia in preparations for a potential Russian offensive in the region.

5:30 PM

'Weapon' may have brought down Azerbaijan Airlines plane, Azerbaijan's transport minister says.

Azerbaijani Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev said on Dec. 27 that an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan was due to 'external interference,' with authorities investigating "the type of weapon used in the interference."

5:28 PM

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 6

5:20 PM

China’s Xi Jinping to visit Russia next year, Kremlin’s Beijing ambassador says.

Speaking to Russian media, Ambassador Igor Morgulov said plans for several bilateral events were being "drawn up" but that Xi’s trip was a priority.

4:39 PM

Ukraine repelling Russian attempt to gain foothold in Kherson Oblast, military says.

Ukrainian troops have thwarted a Russian attempt to gain a foothold on one of its islands on the Dnipro River delta, Vladyslav Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian military's Southern Command, said on national TV on Dec. 27.

4:17 PM

Ukraine completes preparations for second peace summit, Foreign Ministry says.

While Ukraine aimed to hold the summit before the end of 2024, spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said the focus is on achieving substantive outcomes rather than organizing “an event for the sake of an event.”

3:28 PM

Belarus weekly

Belarus Weekly — 2024 in review: Drone incursions, deepening alliance with Russia, totalitarianism

3:15 PM

Loud bang heard before Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed, passengers tell Reuters.

The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) on Dec. 27 said the aircraft had been hit by “a Russian Pantsir S1 air defense system on Russian terrain.”

3:14 PM

45% of Ukrainians think Trump’s election will bring peace closer, survey finds.

Overall, 23% of respondents think peace under Trump would be mostly or completely fair to Ukraine, whereas 31% believe it would be mostly or completely unfair.

2:57 PM

Russia ramps up production of Shahed drones, decoys at Tatarstan plant, CNN reports.

In 2023, the factory produced 2,738 Shahed-136 drones, with output more than doubling to 5,760 units in the first nine months of 2024.

1:29 PM

Ukraine working to extend basic training to 2 months, Syrskyi says.

“We are currently working to create conditions for the training to last 2 months in total. High-quality training means, first and foremost, the preservation of the lives and health of our soldiers,” Syrskyi said.

12:50 PM

Opinion

Trump's China strategy hinges on crippling Russia’s economy

12:49 PM

Ukraine sends 500 tons of wheat flour to Syria under humanitarian program, Zelensky says.

The aid aims to help alleviate a looming food crisis following the collapse of the Russia-backed regime of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8 amid a large-scale rebel offensive.

12:12 PM

3 senior Russian officers killed in HIMARS, drone attack, Ukraine’s military intelligence says.

Video released by HUR shows a large explosion followed by what appears to be the detonation of a cluster munition.

11:42 AM

Russia's new Oreshnik missile relies on Western manufacturing technology, FT reports.

According to the Financial Times, developers of the Oreshnik posted job listings in 2024 that specified expertise in operating German and Japanese metalworking systems.

11:11 AM

Storm damages Russian anti-drone barriers near Crimean Bridge, satellite images reveal.

The images, taken on Nov. 8, Dec. 16, and Dec. 24, reveal that Russia has yet to fully repair the barriers, which are constructed from old barges.

10:42 AM

Ukraine considers 60,000 citizens as missing persons, official says.

As of late 2024, 60,000 individuals in Ukraine are considered missing under special circumstances, Ukrinform reported on Dec. 26, citing Dmytro Bohatyuk, head of the Interior Ministry’s Department for Missing Persons.

9:49 AM

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

Overnight, Russia launched 24 drones from inside Russia, as well as two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Voronezh and Kursk oblasts, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

9:15 AM

Seoul confirms Ukrainian capture of wounded North Korean soldier in Kursk Oblast.

The confirmation followed a report from Ukraine's military-focused news outlet Militarnyi on Dec. 26, which first revealed the capture without specifying the date of the incident.

8:22 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 782,510 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,650 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

3:22 AM

Moldova approves 10-year defense strategy amid tensions with Russia.

The country's defense strategy seeks to increase spending to 1% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.

1:50 AM

Ukrainian platoon commander charged with abuse of authority, accused of beating, humiliating subordinates.

Ukrainian law enforcement agents have charged a platoon commander of Ukraine's 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade with abuse of authority, accusing the individual of beating and humiliating subordinates, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on Dec. 26.

3:46 PM  (Updated:  December 27, 2024 12:47 am)

Russian air defense missile caused plane crash over Kazakhstan, Azerbaijani government sources claim.

A Russian surface-to-air missile caused the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight near Aktau, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijani government sources reportedly confirmed on Dec. 26. The missile was fired from a Pantsir-S air defense system.

12:28 AM

Trump administration should make first move to 'restore dialogue,' Lavrov says.

Russia is willing to improve relations with the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, if the United States makes the "first move" in restarting dialogue, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Dec. 26.

11:19 PM

Russia 'not opposed' to having Slovakia host peace talks, Putin says.

Responding to questions from journalists, Putin said that Slovakian officials "would be happy to provide their own country as a platform for negotiations. We are not opposed, if it comes to that. Why not? Since Slovakia takes such a neutral position."