Russian forces damage Sviatohirsk Lavra church in Donetsk Oblast.

2:48 PM

US weighs sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet, Chinese banks supporting war effort, Reuters says.

Washington is considering more sanctions on "shadow fleet" tankers and has not ruled out targeting Chinese banks if they are found to be involved in Russia’s war effort, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters in an interview on Dec. 13.

1:11 PM

Russia's focus on Ukraine weakened support for Syria's Assad, UK Defense Ministry says.

Russia’s focus on the war in Ukraine has significantly reduced its ability to support Syria’s Assad regime, increasing the risk of losing key military assets in the region, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported on Dec. 13 via X.

12:08 PM

Ukraine downs 58 of Russian 132 drones launched overnight, Air Force reports.

Ukrainian air defense intercepted 58 drones out of 132 launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported on its Telegram channel on Dec. 14.

12:02 PM

Over 2,000 Ukrainian military personnel hospitalized for chemical poisoning since start of full-scale war, Ukrainian colonel says.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 2,000 Ukrainian servicemen have been hospitalized with chemical poisoning, and three have died, Ukrainian Colonel Artem Vlasiuk said during a Dec. 13 press briefing.

9:59 AM

Norway to relocate Ukrainian F-16 pilot training base to Portugal, Norwegian defense minister says.

Norway will continue training Ukrainian F-16 pilots as part of its support for Ukraine’s defense and will relocate its training base from Denmark to Portugal, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced in a Dec. 13 press release.

9:16 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 761,160 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

Russia has lost 761,160 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Dec. 14.

1:30 AM  (Updated:  December 14, 2024 7:25 am)

Ukraine reportedly strikes oil depot in Russia's Oryol Oblast.

Ukrainian drones reportedly struck an oil depot in the city of Oryol overnight on Dec. 14, causing a large fire. Governor Andrey Klychkov later said that 11 drones were downed over the Oryol region.

6:49 AM

Russia appears to be withdrawing military assets from Syria, satellite images suggest.

At least two AN-124 heavy military transport planes were spotted at Khmeimim air base, located in Latakia on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, with their nose cones lifted, signaling readiness to load cargo, according to satellite images collected by Maxar.

5:42 AM

EU to impose first sanctions on Russian intelligence over disinformation campaigns, Bloomberg reports.

The proposed measures target more than a dozen individuals and three entities, including Russian intelligence officers and media entrepreneurs, according to Bloomberg. The sanctions aim to counter destabilizing operations globally.

3:28 AM

Russian authorities block Viber messaging app.

Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, announced on Dec. 13 that it had blocked access to the Viber messaging app.

2:45 AM

Macron expected to raise possibility of peacekeepers in Ukraine at upcoming EU summit, RFE/RL reports.

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to raise the possibility of deploying European soldiers to Ukraine at the upcoming EU leaders' summit on Dec. 18-19, if a ceasefire deal is eventually reached between Russia and Ukraine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on Dec. 13, citing EU diplomats.

12:46 AM

Biden administration sharing information on Ukraine war with Trump's team ahead of potential peace talks, NBC reports.

Members of President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration have held discussions with White House officials as part of the incoming administration's ongoing effort to establish a ceasefire once Trump is inaugurated in January, NBC News reported on Dec. 13, citing sources familiar with the talks.

11:23 PM

War will be 'resolved in next few months,' Trump's Ukraine peace envoy believes, plans to 'listen' ahead of peace talks.

"I truly believe this will be resolved in the next few months," Kellogg said in an interview on Fox Business. "The only person who can do this is President Donald Trump, and he will do it. They're tired of killing each other out there. This is time," Kellogg added.

11:02 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russia launches one of the largest aerial attacks on Ukraine's energy grid

10:19 PM

Chechnya

How Kadyrov became so powerful, and why Chechnya remains vital for survival of Putin's regime.

10:15 PM

Zelensky to meet with EU, NATO leaders in Brussels on Dec 19.

Brussels will host a two-day European Summit in the EU Council buildings on Dec. 18-19.

8:53 PM

Former prosecutor general reportedly appointed Ukraine's ambassador to Netherlands.

Kostin submitted his resignation on Oct. 22 following a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) meeting headed by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

7:40 PM

Russia mulls attacking Ukraine with Oreshnik nuclear-capable missile this weekend, FT reports.

The unnamed official said that Russia wanted to use the weapon to intimidate Ukraine and its supporters, but the Oreshnik "does not change the rules of the game on the battlefield."

7:14 PM

Opinion

The West is pushing Ukraine toward concessions that will backfire

7:10 PM

Opinion

The collapse of Assad’s regime shows the limits of Russian airpower

6:52 PM

Belarus weekly

Belarus Weekly: Putin, Lukashenko sign security treaty, promise Oreshnik deployment in Belarus

6:36 PM

Russia advances toward Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, Ukraine makes progress near Kupiansk, Estonian intelligence says.

Ukrainian forces are enjoying success in the Kupiansk sector, where two Russian bridgeheads that emerged during the crossing of the Oskil River were destroyed, Estonian intelligence said.

6:19 PM

Religion in Ukraine

Breakaway churches, spiritual awakenings, prayers in captivity. How war is changing Ukraine’s faith

5:36 PM

Georgian parliament bans masks, fireworks during protests.

The fine for wearing a mask or using lasers or fireworks is 2,000 Georgian lari ($712).

3:53 PM

Ukraine resisting Russian encirclement attempts at 4 Donetsk Oblast villages, military says.

The statement comes as analysts raise concerns about a growing risk of Ukrainian units being encircled in the area.