Fico's threats to cut off electricity supplies won't work, Ukraine's Energy Minister says
Herman Halushchenko said Ukraine could compensate for any disruption by importing electricity from Romania and Poland.
Ukraine
Ukraine war latest: In world first, Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian helicopter
Key developments on Dec. 31: * Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian helicopter with anti-air missile in first strike of its kind * Russian attacks damage homes and infrastructure in Kyiv and Sumy oblasts ahead of New Year * Ukraine strikes oil depot in Russia's Smolensk Oblast, General Staff confirms * Russian officers trained for
Ukraine strikes oil depot in Russia's Smolensk Oblast, General Staff confirms
The depot, which supplied the Russian military, was targeted in a coordinated operation involving Ukraine's Special Operations Forces and the Unmanned Systems Forces.
EU won't be impacted by end of Russian gas transit deal with Ukraine, Deutsche Welle reports
European infrastructure allows for the flow of gas from other countries, a European Commission representative said.
Ukrainians paid $24 billion in taxes in 2024, Finance Ministry reports
This comes a month after President Volodymyr Zelensky signed off on a major tax increase bill on Nov. 28 in a bid to plug Ukraine’s budget deficit.
Russian attacks damage homes and infrastructure in Kyiv and Sumy oblasts ahead of New Year
Russian missile and drone attacks injured at least one person and damaged residential buildings and infrastructure in Kyiv and Sumy oblasts on Dec. 31
Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian helicopter with anti-air missile in first strike of its kind
During a battle in the Black Sea off the Western tip of occupied Crimea, the special unit Group 13 launched SeeDragon missiles from the Magura drone.
Zelensky dismisses Presidential Office deputy head
Mashovets had been in the role since April 2020 under the Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak and oversaw the military direction of the President's Office.
General Staff: Russia has lost 789,550 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,610 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day
China's Xi tells Putin two countries always move forward 'hand in hand'
Xi emphasized that China and Russia consistently advance together on a "path of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party," according to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Oil depot on fire in Russia's Smolensk region following drone attack
An oil depot in the Yartsevo district of Russia's Smolensk region caught fire following a drone attack overnight on Dec. 31, according to regional authorities.
Ukraine can help restore stability in Syria after years of Russian interference, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine has a chance to contribute to restoring stability in Syria following years of Russian interference, emphasizing that this effort will also bolster Ukraine’s own pursuit of peace.
Ukraine war latest: Kyiv brings back 189 Ukrainians from Russian captivity; US unveils $2.5 billion in aid
Key developments on Dec. 30: * Ukraine brings back 189 people from Russian captivity in prisoner swap * Biden announces $2.5 billion security assistance package for Ukraine * Russian military suffers 427,000 casualties in 2024, Syrskyi claims * Russia launched over 1,300 drone strikes, 250 missiles at Kyiv in 2024 Ukraine
Ukraine quadruples domestic gas transit fees as Russian gas pipeline deal expires
Ukraine will quadruple gas transit tariffs for its domestic customers starting Jan. 1 when a deal to transport Russian gas through Ukrainian pipes expires, the National Energy Regulatory Commission said during a meeting on Dec. 30.
Ukraine's police name Russian commander suspected of murder of woman who became symbol of Bucha massacre
Ukrainian National Police named the Russian commander responsible for the murder of Iryna Filkina, the Ukrainian woman who came to symbolize the mass murder of civilians in Bucha in the early stages of Russia's full-scale invasion when a photo of her hand with a red manicure went viral around the world.
Ukraine’s exports grew 13% in 2024 amid stabilized port activity, Economy Ministry says
Preliminary data shows that Ukraine’s exports grew by more than 13% over the past year, primarily due to stabilizing the functioning of Ukrainian seaports, Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on Dec. 30.
Ukrainian startups cut demining time by centuries with new tech
Editor’s Note: This story was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine. When a sapper with the call sign "Boroda" asked his friends, the founders of the Rovertech company, to create something for demining, and provided them with his own sketch, they seized on the idea.
Zelensky appoints human rights activist Olha Reshetylova as first military ombudsman
President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed human rights activist Olha Reshetylova to the newly-created position of military ombudsman on Dec. 30.
Kyiv, Damascus hold 'similar view' on Russian military presence in Syria, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed Kyiv's position on Russia's military presence in Syria to leaders of the new Syrian administration during a diplomatic visit to Damascus on Dec. 30, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said at an online meeting attended by the Kyiv Independent.
Partisans allegedly set ablaze two trains near Moscow destined for occupied Ukrainian territories
Ukrainian partisans in Russia set fire to two locomotive trains on Dec. 30 destined for occupied regions of Ukraine, according to a Telegram post from Petro Andryushchenko, an advisor to the mayor of the Russian-occupied Mariupol.
Ukraine struck hundreds of targets deep inside Russia in 2024. What did they achieve?
As Russian troops continued to hold an advantage on the ground, Ukraine has been keen to level the power in the air. In 2024, Ukrainian forces bet on drones, hitting targets thousands of kilometers deep inside Russia. Ukrainian attacks have targeted dozens of oil refineries that aid Russia's war efforts,
Ukraine brings back 189 people from Russian captivity in prisoner swap
The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs) called it one of the largest prisoner exchanges since the start of the full-scale war in 2022.
US sends $3.4 billion in financial aid to Ukraine
The United States made a $3.4 billion payment in direct budget support to Ukraine, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced on Dec. 30.
Russian military suffers 427,000 casualties in 2024, Syrskyi claims
"Russia continues to carry out constant 'human wave' assaults, suffering record losses," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
Russia launched over 1,300 drone strikes, 250 missiles at Kyiv in 2024
The capital endured over 500 air raid alerts, according to Kyiv City Military Administration head Serhii Popko on Dec. 30.
Biden announces $2.5 billion security assistance package for Ukraine
U.S. President Joe Biden announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine worth nearly $2.5 billion on Dec. 30.
US to send $15 billion to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, PM says
The United States will provide Ukraine with $15 billion, backed by future revenues from frozen Russian assets, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Dec. 30.
Ukraine's foreign minister meets with Syrian leadership in Damascus
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Damascus on Dec. 30, marking the first official Ukrainian delegation to Syria in years. During the trip, he held talks with Syria’s de-facto leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa.
Ukraine received over $41 billion in international aid in 2024, finance minister says
The Ukrainian Finance Ministry received $41.7 billion in international aid in 2024, Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said in a televized statement on Dec. 30.
Ukraine shot down 21 Russian drones overnight, Air Force reports
Russia used 43 drones against Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Dec. 30.
Ukrainian FM urges EU to ban, replace Russian LNG imports
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the European Union must be banned and replaced with supplies from the United States and other partners.
General Staff: Russia has lost 787,940 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 2,010 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
(Updated: )
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