Russia's offensive on Pokrovsk and government reshuffle | Ukraine This Week

3:37 AM

Parliament proposes bill to allow male students free travel from Ukraine.

The Verkhovna Rada is drafting a bill that will allow Ukrainian students enrolled in universities abroad to freely cross Ukraine's borders. Once entering the country from abroad, most male students currently cannot leave Ukraine again.

2:23 AM

Ukraine receives 86 million euros from European Investment Bank to protect energy infrastructure from drone attacks.

Anti-drone shelters will be constructed with the funding to protect electricity transmission equipment and make Ukraine's energy grid more reliable and resilient, the EIB said in a statement.

12:46 AM

US plans to impose more sanctions on Russian energy by year-end, Ukrainian official says.

The U.S. is planning to impose additional sanctions on Russian oil by the end of the year, particularly targeting Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Ukrainian president’s commissioner for sanctions, told public broadcaster Suspilne on Dec. 23.

11:52 PM

Ukraine to prohibit withdrawal of foreign issuer securities amid efforts to curb bypasses to currency restrictions.

Ukraine's National Securities and Stock Market Commission announced on Dec. 23 that it will prohibit the withdrawal of foreign issuer securities, with the ban taking effect on Jan. 1.

10:15 PM

Ukraine war latest: Over 3,000 North Korean troops killed, wounded in Kursk Oblast, Zelensky says

9:49 PM

War analysis

Ukraine ends year battered, with Russian troops pushing north, east, and south

9:36 PM

'Fico’s energy policy poses a threat to Europe' — Ukraine criticizes Slovak PM after Russia visit.

The criticism followed Fico's meeting with Putin in Moscow on Dec. 22 to discuss gas supplies after Ukraine announced it would not extend its transit deal for Russian gas beyond Dec. 31.

8:19 PM

North Korean troops deployed to aid Russia were Pyongyang’s idea, NYT reports.

While some Western officials initially viewed the arrival of North Korean soldiers in Russia as evidence of the Kremlin’s desperation, U.S. agencies now reportedly believe the idea was North Korea’s initiative, quickly embraced by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

8:02 PM

YouTube traffic in Russia drops 80% as authorities try to curb access.

The ongoing slowdown, reportedly implemented by Russian regulators to restrict access to the service, has made the platform nearly unusable in the country.

7:35 PM

Defense production

How Ukraine’s new drone-missile hybrids are changing long-range weapon technology

6:40 PM

Over 3,000 North Korean troops killed, wounded in Kursk Oblast, Zelensky says.

This estimation, coming from Ukraine's intelligence, is a significant increase from other recent reports about the North Korean casualties.

6:34 PM

War analysis

Assassinations of pro-war figures seek to demoralize Russia, punish war criminals

5:57 PM

First Ukrainian Legion unit trained in Poland deployed to Ukraine, ambassador says.

The initiative aims to bolster Ukraine’s Armed Forces by recruiting Ukrainian men living in Poland and other EU countries.

5:31 PM

47% of Ukrainians back NATO accession even while territories stay occupied, survey shows.

Nearly half of Ukrainians support Ukraine joining NATO even if some territories remain under Russian occupation at the time of accession, according to a new poll.

4:54 PM

Satellite imagery suggests North Korea to supply more arms to Russia, WSJ reports.

North Korea appears to be preparing to supply more arms to Russia on top of some 20,000 containers it had already sent, the Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 23 based on its analysis of satellite images.

4:07 PM

Germany provides Ukraine with 15 Leopard 1 tanks, 2 IRIS-T systems, 2 Patriot launchers.

Berlin supplied Ukraine with 15 Leopard 1A5 tanks, one short-range and one medium-range IRIS-T air defense system with missiles, two Patriot air defense launchers, and other aid in the latest delivery, the German government said on Dec. 23.

3:59 PM

Moldova

Moldova prepares for harsh winter, as Russian-occupied part of country runs out of gas

3:31 PM

More than two-thirds of Ukrainians favor idea of restoring nuclear arms arsenal, poll shows.

Around half of the respondents said they would support the development of nuclear weapons even at the price of losing Western aid and coming under sanctions.

3:24 PM

KI Insights

2025 – A Turning Point for Ukraine

2:59 PM

'What is being paid to him, and what does he pay with?' — Zelensky blasts Fico after Moscow visit.

Zelensky called Fico's pro-Russian energy policy "a big security issue" for Slovakia and Europe, asking: "Why is this leader so dependent on Moscow? What is being paid to him, and what does he pay with?"

1:58 PM

'We don't have to grovel before a mass murderer' — Czechia blasts Fico over Moscow trip.

The Czech government’s decision to wean itself off from Russian energy ensured that "we don't have to grovel before a mass murderer," Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Dec. 22, referring to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s visit to Moscow.

1:29 PM

Russian cyberattack: Breach occurred at 'top-level account,' MP says.

Hackers could have used phishing or bribed employees to break into Justice Ministry registries during a Russian cyberattack last week, Oleksandr Fedienko, head of the parliamentary subcommittee on cybersecurity, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Dec. 23.

12:43 PM

Ukraine receives $1.1 billion from IMF.

The funds come as already the sixth tranche disbursed to Ukraine under the IMF's Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, raising the amount provided so far to $9.8 billion.

12:21 PM

Cargo vessel sent to transport Russian military equipment from Syria breaks down in open sea, Ukraine's intel claims.

Concurrently, marine traffic monitors show a Vladivostok-bound cargo ship, Ursa Major, previously registered as Sparta III and visually matching the picture published by HUR, moving at a very low speed of little over 1 knot in the open sea between Spain and Algeria.

11:49 AM

NATO chief defends Scholz, calls Zelensky's criticism 'unfair'.

In the interview, Rutte said that Scholz's contributions to Ukraine are commendable. The chancellor ensured that Germany ranks second after the U.S. in military support for Ukraine, something Kyiv could express its gratitude for, Rutte noted.