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.
Russia
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Russia buys acceptance with cash, plunging economy into uncertainty
For Russia's military recruiters, money talks. In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin doubled the federal signing-on bonus for contract soldiers to 400,000 rubles ($3,850) — over five times the country's average monthly wage. Regional governments are expected to top this up further, although the exact amount differs in each
Belarus Weekly: EU imposes new sanctions on Belarusian officials, companies supporting regime
The EU imposes new sanctions on Belarusian officials and companies supporting the regime of Alexander Lukashenko. In response to Belarus and Russia’s artificial migration crisis, the EU pledged 170 million euros for border security and backed Poland’s plan to suspend the right to asylum. Belarus labels exiled National
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.
Russian missile attack damages 6 foreign embassies in Kyiv, Foreign Ministry says
The embassies of Albania, Argentina, Palestine, North Macedonia, Portugal and Montenegro are located in a building that was heavily damaged by the Russian attack.
Ukraine launched ATACMS, Storm Shadow against Russian chemical plant on Dec. 18, Moscow claims
Ukraine attacked the Rostov Oblast's Kamensky Combine, one of the largest chemical plants in Russia, with six U.S.-made ATACMS and four British Storm Shadow missiles on Dec. 18, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Dec. 20.
Ukraine retrieves bodies of 503 fallen soldiers
The bodies of 403 soldiers were recovered from Donetsk Oblast, while 57 and 12 bodies were brought back from Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk oblasts. Another 31 bodies were repatriated from morgues in Russia.
Russia's GRU possibly behind cyberattack on Ukraine's government, SBU says
"All the Justice Ministry's data has been saved. Recovery is underway," Deputy PM and Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna said.
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 7, injure 34 over past day
Russian attacks against Ukraine killed seven people and injured at least 34 others over the past day, regional authorities said on Dec. 20.
Russia captures 'Uspenivka pocket,' Ukraine denies reports of failed breakout
"Commander-in-Chief (Oleksandr Syrskyi) decided to withdraw Defense Forces units from the said area to avoid encirclement," the Khortytsia group of forces said.
Russian An-72 military transport plane damaged in blast near Moscow, Ukraine's intel claims
The Russian Navy plane's main power unit exploded on Dec. 12, the military intelligence agency said without providing details on the cause or circumstances of the explosion.
Ukraine intercepts Russian sabotage groups attempting to push toward Kherson
The reports come amid an anticipated large-scale Russian advance in Kherson Oblast. In early December, Russian troops were carrying out assaults in the southern region to gain a foothold on islands in the Dnipro River delta.
Russia targets Ukrainian government services in 'largest cyberattack in recent time'
In the largest cyberattack in recent months, several government services were targeted, including state registers the Ministry of Justice oversees. Russia has regularly targeted Ukrainian companies and government institutions with cyberattacks since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
General Staff: Russia has lost 770,420 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 2,200 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Russian losses exceed 750,000 troops, expected to surpass 1 million within 6 months, UK estimates
The U.K.'s latest estimate are in line with figures from Ukraine's General Staff, which, as of Dec. 19, sits at 768,220 troops lost since the start of the war. The figures do not specify killed or wounded, though the overall consensus is that it includes dead, wounded, missing, and captured.
Fire, casualties reported in Kyiv amid Russian missile attack
Russia attacked the capital with five ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M or the North Korean KN-23 model, the Air Force said. All five missiles were reportedly shot down, with debris falling in several districts of the city.
Ukraine must decide between 'carrying on the fight or looking to negotiate ceasefire,' Blinken says
In a wide ranging interview with MSNBC on Dec. 19, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about prospects for a potential ceasefire in Ukraine as well as support for the embattled country ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in January.
6 injured in Russian attack on residential building in Kryvyi Rih
A Russian missile struck a two-story residential building in the city of Kryvyi Rih overnight on Dec. 19, injuring six people, including a child.
5 killed, 7 injured in fire at detention facility housing war deserters in Russia's Sakha Republic
Five people have been killed and a further seven injured in a fire at a detention center in the city of Yakutsk, which houses Russian soldiers who deserted their units during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian officials reported.
Putin says full-scale invasion of Ukraine should have been 'earlier,' expresses willingness to meet Trump
When asked what he would have done differently if he could go back to February 2022, the month Russia launched its all-out war against Ukraine, Putin responded, "Knowing what's happening now, back in 2022, I would've thought the decision ought to have been taken earlier."
Russian court orders two-month detention for suspect in General Kirillov assassination
A Moscow court ruled on Dec. 19 to place the suspect in the killing of General Igor Kirillov in pre-trial detention for two months. Kirillov was killed in Moscow on Dec. 17, with a bomb attached to a scooter.
EU leaders call for more military aid to Kyiv, pledge Ukraine's inclusion in key decisions
"Only Ukraine as the aggressed country can legitimately define what peace means — and if and when the conditions are met for credible negotiations," said Antonio Costa, president of the European Council.
Ukraine war latest: Zelensky blasts Putin’s Oreshnik threats, calling him ‘dumbass’
Key developments on Dec. 19: * Zelensky blasts Putin’s Oreshnik threats, calling him ‘dumbass’ * Zelensky dismisses ceasefire as Putin’s ploy to regroup, seeks coordinated peace plan * Ukraine strikes 'only oil refinery operating' in Russia's Rostov Oblast, military says * Putin acknowledges sanctions have impact on Russia's economy * Ukraine’s Special
G7 discusses slashing Russian oil price cap, complete ban, Bloomberg reports
Discussions reportedly include lowering the current $60-per-barrel cap to approximately $40 or even implementing a complete ban on Russian oil supplies.
(Updated: )
Most popular
Editors' Picks
Fall of Aleppo deals blow to Russia's Middle East clout, may indirectly strengthen Ukraine's hand
‘Destroying us little by little:’ Ukrainian troops worried about fate of Kursk operation
Once liberated Kupiansk braces for worst as Russian troops approach, and future Western support looks uncertain
