Russia will reach 1 million of killed and wounded soldiers in 2025, Latvian foreign minister says

6:59 AM

US teacher in Russian prison declared wrongfully detained, Associated Press reports.

The U.S. government has officially classified Marc Fogel, an American schoolteacher jailed in Russia on drug charges, as wrongfully detained, the State Department announced on Dec. 27.

4:38 AM

Telegram blocks Russian state-owned media channels in several EU countries.

A number of major Russian news outlets had their Telegram channels blocked across several European Union countries on Dec. 28. Users attempting to access these channels now see a notice saying that the content has been restricted and is no longer available.

3:43 AM

German FM warns of Russian 'shadow fleet' amid undersea cable incidents, calls for sanctions.

"Almost every month, ships are currently damaging important undersea cables in the Baltic Sea," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told Funke media group on Dec. 28. "This is an urgent wake-up call for all of us."

1:52 AM

Oil spill in Black Sea sparks environmental emergency near Crimea.

Authorities estimate the tankers were carrying 9,200 tons of fuel oil, of which approximately 40% potentially leaked into the sea. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the situation as "truly critical."

11:48 PM

Ukrainian drones made up over 96% of UAVs military used in 2024, defense minister says.

The domestic drone industry "reached unprecedented production volumes" in 2024, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Dec. 28.

11:08 PM

Pro-Russian hackers launch cyberattack against Italy's Foreign Ministry, Milan airports.

The websites had to shut down temporarily, Italy's cybersecurity agency said, but no flights were disrupted. A pro-Russian hacker group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

10:13 PM

Putin names Ukraine main source of 'extremism' in new decree.

Russia's updated anti-extremism strategy names Ukraine among the "main sources of extremism" and enshrines the concept of "Russophobia" for the first time.

9:16 PM

Ukraine receives 1st shipment of US LNG.

"Despite Russia's attempts to destroy our energy system during the war, we have won another victory on the energy front," Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, said on Dec. 28.

8:33 PM

Russian shelling in Kherson Oblast injures 8, including 2 teens.

The wounded victims, including a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, have been hospitalized, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

7:57 PM

Zelensky teases multiple 'important personnel decisions' coming soon.

"We are preparing several important personnel decisions," President Volodymyr Zelensky said via his official Telegram channel the evening of Dec. 28. "The decrees will be announced soon."

7:24 PM  (Updated:  December 28, 2024 7:34 pm)

Russia officially halts gas supplies to Moldova's Transnistria.

Russia's energy giant Gazprom claimed the decision was related to Moldova's outstanding debt, not problems with transit via Ukraine.

6:45 PM

Greece to deliver 24 Sea Sparrow missiles to Ukraine, media reports.

Sea Sparrows are U.S.-made short-range missiles that can be launched from the sea or ground to intercept cruise missiles or aircraft.

6:43 PM

How climate change threatens Christmas traditions in Ukrainian Hutsul region

6:41 PM

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Airlines crash highlights Russia's failure to close airspace amid war

6:32 PM

Politics

Russian-friendly politician reinvents himself in Ukraine as election speculation loom

6:21 PM

Putin 'appears to have ordered Slovakia's Fico to open second energy front against Ukraine,' Zelensky says.

Zelensky said this was "the only possible meaning" of Fico's threats to cut off Ukraine's emergency power supply in the winter, given Russian attacks on power plants and the distribution network.

5:59 PM

Video

Russia will reach 1 million of killed and wounded soldiers in 2025, Latvian foreign minister says

The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sat down with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze to look back at 2024 and discuss the country’s support for Ukraine amid political uncertainty before the inauguration of Donald Trump in the U.S. and Russia’s gains on the frontline.

4:33 PM

Putin apologizes to Azerbaijani president over plane crash, yet doesn't acknowledge Russia's responsibility.

The statement did not address the claims that a Russian air defense missile may have downed the Azerbaijani Airlines plane.

3:46 PM

Russia suffered 421,000 casualties in 2024, 'highest price' since start of invasion, Syrskyi says.

The figure includes both dead and wounded and is part of the total losses of approximately 785,000 Russian troops since the beginning of the invasion in February 2022.

2:13 PM

Russia detains suspect allegedly planning to assassinate defense official, pro-war blogger, Russian media report.

Russia claimed that the detained man was acting on instructions from Ukrainian intelligence.

1:18 PM

New railway linking China to Central Asia countries, bypassing Russia, begins construction in Kyrgyzstan.

The new route, part of China's economic expansion efforts, aims to expand Chinese commercial influence in Central Asia and Europe while bypassing Russian territory.

12:15 PM

Ukraine destroys drone storage facility in Russia's Oryol Oblast, General Staff reports.

Ukraine's General Staff said this combat operation "significantly reduced the enemy's ability to carry out airstrikes using kamikaze drones against Ukraine's civilian infrastructure."

11:00 AM

Russian airport suspends flights after Ukraine drone attack, official claims.

Operations at the airport were suspended at 6 a.m. amid a Ukrainian drone attack allegedly targeting the Russian regions of Voronezh, Rostov, and Belgorod.

9:09 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 784,200 troops in Ukraine since start of full-scale invasion.

This number includes 1,690 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

8:08 AM

Ukraine plans to open over 150 underground schools by fall 2025.

There are currently 79 underground education facilities under active construction, Deputy Education Minister Nadiia Kuzmychova said.