Russia’s wars, from Syria to Ukraine | Ukraine This Week

4:49 PM

Two Russian oil tankers reportedly sink in Kerch Strait.

Both vessels were carrying approximately 4,000 tons of fuel oil on board each, according to Baza.

3:13 PM

Video

Russia’s wars, from Syria to Ukraine | Ukraine This Week.

2:54 PM

Ukraine destroys Russian train with 40 fuel tanks in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, source claims.

The source said that the aim of the operation was to disrupt a supply line used to transport fuel from Crimea to the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia.

12:33 PM

Georgia's opposition parties appeal to EU following election of pro-Russian president, Sova reports.

In a joint letter, Georgian opposition leaders urged the release of all detained politicians, activists, and peaceful demonstrators; the introduction of targeted sanctions against those responsible for "undermining democracy;" the suspension of visa-free travel and visa restrictions for Georgian Dream officials; and the declaration of the "self-proclaimed regime" of Bidzina Ivanishvili as illegitimate.

12:07 PM

292 front-line clashes recorded over the past day, General Staff reports.

Russian forces continue their assaults employing diverse weaponry and tactics to strike Ukrainian positions, with a concentrated focus on Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

11:06 AM

2 injured in Mykolaiv amid Russia’s overnight missile and drone attack, Governor reports.

Two people were injured and an infrastructure facility was damaged in the city of Mykolaiv amid Russia’s overnight drone and missile attack, Governor Vitalii Kim reported on Dec. 15.

9:32 AM

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

This number includes 1,280 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

5:47 AM

UK’s Starmer urges G7 to intensify pressure on Putin with sanctions.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emphasized the importance of inflicting "maximum pain" on Russian President Vladimir Putin through additional sanctions and enhanced military support for Ukraine.

3:39 AM

Ukraine calls for FIFA apology over map of Crimea.

Ukraine has criticized FIFA for an "unacceptable error" after a map displayed during the 2026 World Cup draw appeared to exclude Crimea from the country's territory.

1:52 AM

Serbia claims US plans to sanction Russian-backed energy firm.

The Petroleum Industry of Serbia, primarily owned by Russia’s Gazprom Neft and its parent company Gazprom, is Serbia’s exclusive gas supplier and controls the main pipelines delivering gas from Russia to Serbian households and industries.

11:07 PM

North Korean troops open fire on Russian unit, Ukraine's military intelligence claims.

North Korean soldiers allegedly killed eight members of the Chechen Akhmat unit in a "friendly fire" incident, HUR said, attributing the attack to persistent language barrier problems.

7:43 PM  (Updated:  December 14, 2024 10:08 pm)

Suspected terrorist attack in Dnipro kills 1, injures 4.

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has classified the incident as a terrorist attack and detained a 37-year-old resident suspected of acting on instructions from Russian special services.

10:06 PM

War analysis

Outnumbered and outgunned, Ukraine struggles to halt Russian advance near Pokrovsk

9:30 PM

Ukraine sending humanitarian aid to Syria to prevent 'food crisis,' Zelensky says.

"We are ready to help Syria prevent a food crisis ... I have instructed the government to organize food deliveries in cooperation with international organizations and partners willing to help."

8:48 PM

Kyiv delayed minerals deal with US to let Trump take credit, NYT reports.

Ukrainian authorities twice delayed signing the agreement, officials on both sides of the negotiations said. The delays offer the opportunity for Trump to claim an early victory at the start of his term.

7:46 PM

Video

With Ukraine's ace drone unit hunting Russian soldiers near Kupiansk.

7:15 PM

North Korean troops joining Russian assaults in Kursk, Zelensky says.

North Korean units have sustained "noticeable losses" alongside Russian troops in Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 14.

6:23 PM

Ukrainian film actor Yakiv Tkachenko killed in action.

Yakiv Tkachenko, a theater and film actor from Dnipro, was killed in action while serving on the front line with Ukraine's 128th Territorial Defense Brigade.

4:55 PM

German CDU party highlights support for Ukraine in election program, European Pravda reports.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), one of Germany’s leading political parties, has reaffirmed its support for Ukraine as part of its platform in the upcoming German parliament elections, European Pravda reported on Dec. 14.

4:52 PM

Defense minister outlines military, financial plans for 2025 with Baltic, Nordic Allies.

Defense Minister Serhii Boiev held talks with representatives of the foreign ministries of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden to outline plans for military and financial assistance to Ukraine in 2025, the Defense Ministry reported on its website on Nov. 14.

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.