General Staff: Russia has lost 115,290 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24

6:24 PM  (Updated:  December 19, 2024 4:00 pm)

Belarus

'You'll die here' – Belarusian political prisoners recount experiences ahead of Lukashenko's reelection

3:53 PM

Ukraine's brigade commander arrested over alleged power abuse after media investigation.

A court in Ternopil took into custody Colonel Oleh Poberezhniuk, commander of the 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade, suspected of abuse of power, the Prosecutor General's Office reported.

3:52 PM

Ukraine's economy healthier that Russia's in some indicators, The Economist reports.

Ukraine's economy has adapted itself well to the realities of the full-scale war while Russia's economy faces increasingly unfavorable forecasts, The Economist wrote on Dec. 19.

3:39 PM

Putin claims Russia wasn't 'defeated' in Syria.

"Everything what is happening in Syria is not a defeat for Russia," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

1:26 PM  (Updated:  December 19, 2024 3:00 pm)

Russia building road to connect Crimea, Mariupol, with Russia's Rostov Oblast, Putin claims.

Moscow has already built a 40-kilometer-long segment between the Russian city of Taganrog and occupied Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

2:36 PM

Zelensky meets top EU officials in Brussels, discusses 'just peace' approach.

"As we approach the start of the new year, we really need unity between the United States, the EU, and European countries," President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "Only together, the U.S. and Europe can truly stop (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and save Ukraine."

2:17 PM

Shooting reported in Russian-occupied Abkhazia's local council; council member killed.

Vakhtang Golandzia, a member of the assembly that de facto serves as the occupied region's legislative body, was fatally shot, and his colleague Kan Kvarchia was injured, RFE/RL reported, citing local health authorities.

1:36 PM

Ukraine's parliament passes bill dissolving medical commissions after corruption scandals.

Starting Jan. 1, Ukraine will introduce new expert commissions in major hospitals for assessing people's medical status based on a new, "modern system," MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said.

1:03 PM

Putin proposes to 'experiment' on Western air defenses by launching Oreshnik at Kyiv.

Speaking during his annual press conference and a call-in program, Vladimir Putin again claimed that Russia's "new" Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) cannot be intercepted by air defenses.

12:32 PM

US reimposes sanctions on entities involved in Nord Stream 2 construction.

"We’re going to continue to work and ensure that Russia is never able to weaponize its energy resources and its energy positioning for political gain again," U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said.

12:07 PM

Putin acknowledges sanctions have impact on Russia's economy.

"The sanctions are having an effect, but they are not of key importance," Russian President Vladimir Putin said when talking about the surging inflation and prices in Russia.

11:32 AM

Ukraine won't limit army's strength as part of potential peace talks, Zelensky says.

"We simply have no right to limit the strength of our army in any case," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

10:52 AM

Ukraine strikes 'only oil refinery operating' in Russia's Rostov Oblast, military says.

Initially, SBU drones attacked the facility to distract Russian air defenses, providing a "window" for Ukrainian missiles to strike the facility, an SBU source said.

10:23 AM

At least 100 North Korean soldiers killed, 1,000 wounded in Russia-Ukraine war, South Korean official says.

At least 100 North Korean troops have been killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine, a South Korean lawmaker said after an intelligence briefing, the BBC reported on Dec. 19.

10:13 AM

Russia fails to breach Ukraine's defense lines in simultaneous attacks, Syrskyi says.

"The Ukrainian defense forces in heavy battles did not allow the Russians to breach the defense and achieve operational success on any of the directions," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

9:42 AM

Russian attacks kill 1, injure 8 in Ukraine over past day.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 45 of the 85 Shahed-type drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles launched overnight, the Air Force reported. Forty drones were reportedly lost across Ukraine thanks to electronic warfare countermeasures.

9:06 AM

Trump's peace envoy nominee to visit Ukraine in early January, Zelensky confirms.

"(The visit to Ukraine) will take place in early January. We are waiting for Mr. Kellogg, and then we will talk about what he had meant," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Brussels.

8:50 AM

North Korea producing missiles for Russia's use in Ukraine within months, researcher tells UN.

Jonah Leff said that the researchers from his group examined remnants of four North Korean missiles recovered in Ukraine in July and August. One of them had marks showing it was procured in 2024, according to the researcher.

8:12 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 768,220 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,530 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

2:00 AM  (Updated:  December 19, 2024 8:05 am)

Fire reported at Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia's Rostov Oblast amid alleged drone strike.

A fire broke out at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia's Rostov Oblast in the early hours of Dec. 19 following a mass drone and missile attack, Yuri Slyusar, acting governor of Rostov Oblast said.

7:32 AM

Russian hockey player sentenced to prison in Poland for spying.

Russian ice hockey player Maxim Sergeyev was convicted by a Polish court on Dec. 16 on charges of espionage and sentenced to nearly three years in prison.

6:26 AM

UK announces $283 million military aid package for Ukraine.

According to media reports, the package includes over 92 million pound ($115 million) in equipment to support Ukraine's navy, including small boats as well as reconnaissance drones. A further 39 million pounds ($49 million) will be used to supply over 1,000 counter-drone electronic warfare systems.

5:07 AM

Zelensky, NATO chief Rutte discuss air defense, 'reliability of peace' during meeting in Brussels.

President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Brussels on Dec. 18 for talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, as Ukraine seeks to secure more air defense as well effective security guarantees from its Western allies.

4:20 AM

Zelensky sees 'positive response' from some European leaders on potential peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

Ukraine is "discussing ideas with European leaders" on the potential deployment of European peacekeeping forces to the embattled country, President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters during a press briefing on Dec. 18.

1:20 AM

Zelensky, Macron discuss possibility of peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

"We continued to work on the initiative of President Macron regarding the presence in Ukraine of forces that can contribute to stabilization on the path to peace," Zelensky said after meeting with the French President on Dec. 18.