Russia's budget surplus nears $170 billion in six months, despite western sanctions.

5:34 PM

Ukraine's General Staff denies Guardian report about air defense personnel being transferred to infantry units.

A source told the Guardian the situation was reaching a critical level, expressing doubts about the air defense's ability to function effectively.

5:14 PM

Slovak PM Robert Fico to visit Putin in Russia next week, Serbian president says.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he had "learned unofficially" of the upcoming visit.

2:34 PM

Orban says Hungary proposing ‘trick’ to keep Russian gas shipments via Ukraine.

Ukraine has said it will not extend the transit agreement for Russian gas through its territory, set to expire on Dec. 31.

12:08 PM

'If Putin attacks, we need to be able to wage war,' German Defense Minister says.

Boris Pistorius has come out in favor of a reform of the debt brake in order to increase funding for military defense.

11:30 AM

Two Russian airports suspend flights after Ukrainian drones target Kazan, media, officials report.

Russian state media Kommersant reported that the airports of both Kazan and the neighboring city of Izhevsk had suspended flights.

10:22 AM

For first time, Ukraine attacks Russian positions using solely ground, FPV drones.

A military spokesperson said the drones included ground systems equipped with machine guns, and kamikaze FPV drones.

9:14 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 762,440 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

This number includes 1,860 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:33 AM

Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia injures 4, including child.

The attack damaged a 9-story apartment building in the city, Governor Ivan Fedorov said. Three women and a 12-year-old boy sustained injuries.

7:05 AM

OSCE urges Tbilisi to institute reforms in final report on Georgian parliamentary elections.

"To safeguard the democratic principles currently at stake in Georgia, it is imperative that the authorities urgently address all concerns," OSCE representative Eoghan Murphy said.

5:22 AM

Over 12,000 civilians killed in Ukraine during Russia's full-scale war, UN says.

Over 12,340 civilians were killed and more than 27,836 were wounded in Ukraine between Feb. 24, 2022 and Nov. 30, 2024, according to the United Nations.

4:16 AM

IMF approves $1.1 billion in funding for Ukraine.

The IMF approved the $1.1 billion tranche after completing its sixth review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), a plan to provide Ukraine with over $15 billion in budget support over four years.

3:28 AM

Russian drone attack in Kharkiv injures 6, including child.

The drone hit a 9-story residential building in the city's Saltivskyi district, authorities said. A 12-year-old child was among the injured.

2:24 AM

Trump plans to continue US military aid to Ukraine after inauguration, FT reports.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump plans to continue military support for Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 20, citing undisclosed sources.

12:03 AM

Ukraine war latest: Russian An-72 military transport plane damaged in blast near Moscow, Ukraine's intel claims

11:37 PM

Druzhba pipeline disruption halts Russian, Kazakh oil shipments to Europe, Reuters reports.

Russian and Kazakh oil shipments to Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany via the Druzhba pipeline have been halted since Dec. 19 due to technical issues at a Russian pumping station, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources.

11:04 PM

Ukraine, US agree on date of peace envoy Kellogg's visit to Kyiv, official says.

Tykhyi did not disclose the specific date of the visit for security reasons. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 19 that Kellogg would visit Ukraine before Trump's inauguration in January.

10:29 PM

Zelensky approves over 30 new ambassador appointments.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the approval of over 30 Ukrainian ambassadorial appointments abroad during his evening address on Dec. 20.

10:14 PM

War analysis

Russia buys acceptance with cash, plunging economy into uncertainty

10:07 PM

Several countries interested in deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine, Foreign Ministry says.

This idea, initially proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, has reportedly garnered interest from multiple countries.

8:55 PM

Fico criticizes Zelensky over refusal to extend Russian gas transit, warns of crisis.

President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed the refusal during a press conference on Dec. 19, saying that Kyiv would not enable Moscow to earn additional revenue while continuing its war.

3:26 PM  (Updated:  December 20, 2024 7:43 pm)

War analysis

How will Russia-Ukraine war end? The good, the bad, and the ugly scenarios

7:37 PM

Ukraine charges Russian general with killing Reuters employee in Kramatorsk.

The strike killed Ryan Evans, a British security adviser for Reuters, and injured six others, including two Reuters journalists.

6:52 PM

Belarus weekly

Belarus Weekly: EU imposes new sanctions on Belarusian officials, companies supporting regime

6:31 PM

Russia keeps key interest rate at 21%, defying expert expectations.

To rein in accelerating inflation fueled by war spending, Russia's Central Bank has been raising its interest rate — from 7.5 percent in July 2023 to the current 21% - the highest level since the early 2000s.

5:13 PM

Watchdog urges Zelensky to halt media intimidation, ensure press freedom.

The organization also criticized a proposed bill in the Verkhovna Rada that could impose harsher criminal penalties for publishing information from public databases during martial law, saying that it threatens investigative journalism.