SBU: Russian troops near Kharkiv were ordered to shoot at civilians.

1:41 AM

Russia shells 7 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces attacked seven communities along the Sumy Oblast border on Dec. 5, firing 15 times over the course of the day, the Sumy Oblast military administration reported.

1:28 AM

Ukrainian human rights activist seen in Luhansk penal colony.

Ukrainian human rights activist and serviceman, Maksym Butkevych, was seen in a penal colony in Krasnyi Luch in Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast on Dec. 5. His whereabouts over the last four months were previously unknown.

1:16 AM

Zelensky cancels address to US senators as Republicans rally against aid package.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that President Volodymyr Zelensky canceled his video address to U.S. senators scheduled for Dec. 5, The New York Times reported.

11:49 PM

Zelensky awards Ukrainian volunteers on International Volunteer Day.

President Volodymyr Zelensky presented 40 Ukrainian volunteers helping the military and civilians with the Golden Heart state awards on Dec. 5, the Presidential Office reported.

11:02 PM

Ukraine war latest: Putin to visit Saudi Arabia, UAE; Qatar announces return of 6 Ukrainian children from Russia

10:44 PM

Prosecutor’s Office: Russian attack in Donetsk Oblast kills 1, injures 5.

Russian forces struck the front-line town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, killing one resident and wounding another five when they were receiving humanitarian help, the regional prosecutor’s office reported on Dec. 5.

10:11 PM

Zelensky: Soldiers awarded Hero of Ukraine title will receive apartments from state.

All Ukrainian soldiers who have been awarded the Hero of Ukraine title since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion and relatives of those awarded posthumously will receive apartments from the state, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 5.

9:49 PM

Society

Efforts to legalize cannabis to help Ukrainian veterans cope with trauma stymied by opposition in parliament

9:19 PM

Iran, Russia agree to jointly combat Western sanctions.

Moscow and Tehran signed a declaration on jointly combating Western sanctions imposed against the two regimes over their role in the war against Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Dec. 5 at a meeting with his Iranian counterpart.

8:34 PM

Field report

Ukraine holds back Russian assault on Avdiivka as long winter battle looms

8:19 PM

The Netherlands to provide $8.6 million to support law enforcement in liberated territories.

The Dutch government has announced 8 million euros ($8.6 million) of funding for Ukrainian law enforcement in territories liberated from Russian occupation, the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine said on Dec. 5.

7:45 PM

FT: Slovakia, Czechia seek extension to EU permission allowing trade of Russian oil products.

Bratislava and Prague are requesting an extension to an EU sanctions exemption that allows Slovakia to sell Russian oil products to Czechia beyond today's deadline, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 5.

7:02 PM

Russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast village destroys medical facility, causes blackout.

Russian forces shelled the village of Kozacha Lopan in Kharkiv Oblast, destroying a clinic and leaving residents without electricity and mobile connection, a local official said on Dec. 5.

6:40 PM

Qatar announces return of 6 Ukrainian children from Russia.

Following negotiations mediated by Qatar, Russia has allowed six Ukrainian children to return to their families in Ukraine, Qatar's Foreign Ministry announced on Dec. 5.

6:18 PM

Media: Ukraine hits several Russian military facilities in occupied Crimea.

Ukrainian forces struck several Russian military facilities in occupied Crimea with drones early on Dec. 5, Hromadske media outlet reported, citing its anonymous sources in law enforcement.

5:40 PM

Politico: Macron invites Orban to Paris to 'strike compromise' on EU support to Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron has invited Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to meet in Paris for talks this week, following Orban's threats he will block EU support to Ukraine and Ukraine's accession to the bloc, Politico reported on Dec. 5. European Council President Charles Michel will also cut his trip to China short amid the growing diplomatic crisis, Politico said.

5:01 PM

Official: Ukrainian volunteer killed in Russian attack on International Volunteer Day.

One of the two people killed in Russia’s morning attack on Kherson was Ruslan Anisenko, a volunteer of the Spravzhni organization, the regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Dec. 5.

4:38 PM

Investigations

Investigative Stories From Ukraine: Zelensky’s deputy chief of staff lives in a villa owned by people tied to Yanukovych

4:08 PM

Baltic countries' ambassadors appeal to Poland over Ukraine border blockade.

The ambassadors of Baltic countries expressed their dissatisfaction to Poland over the ongoing blockade of the Ukrainian border, as it undermines Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russia, the Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported on Dec. 5.

4:07 PM

Putin threatens Latvia with consequences over Russian minority policies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Latvia would face repercussions "inside their own country" due to Riga's policies regarding the Russian-speaking minority. He made the statement at the meeting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights on Dec. 4.

3:56 PM

Prosecutor General's Office starts internal investigation after media report shows gifts arriving at building.

The Prosecutor General's Office is conducting an internal investigation following the publication of a video that appears to show gifts being dropped off at the office on Dec. 1, the Prosecutor General's Office said on Dec. 5.

2:40 PM

Sponsored

Ukrainian women fight escalated gender-based violence amid war

2:22 PM

UK Defense Ministry: Russian forces control most of destroyed Marinka.

The Russian army has made "creeping advances" through the ruins of Marinka in Donetsk Oblast and now "likely controls" most of the area, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported in an intelligence update on Dec. 5.

2:05 PM

Armenia not to attend CSTO parliamentary meeting in Moscow.

An Armenian representative will not participate in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Parliamentary Assembly meeting, to be held in Moscow on Dec. 19, the Public Radio of Armenia reported on Dec. 5.

1:39 PM

Media: Nepal appeals to Russia to stop army recruitment of its citizens.

Nepal has urged the Russian government to stop recruiting Nepalese citizens into its army, amid growing reports of Nepalese mercenaries being killed while fighting in Ukraine, the Kathmandu Post reported on Dec. 5.