UK special forces could shore up Ukraine’s defense amid Russian military buildup

1:59 PM

44% of Ukrainians trust Trump, more than elsewhere in Europe, survey suggests.

Some 44.6% of Ukrainians trust U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, roughly 10 points less than incumbent President Joe Biden, a survey by New Europe Center published on Dec. 10 showed.

1:30 PM

Chinese exports to Russia decrease for first time in 4 months, Reuters reports.

The decrease of 10.5% compared to November 2023 marks the first drop since July, Reuters writes.

12:38 PM

Russian losses in Syria — BBC identifies 543 soldiers, Wagner mercenaries who died since 2015.

Of the total number, 346 were employees of the Wagner company, a private mercenary group also deployed in Russia's war in Ukraine and elsewhere.

12:12 PM

70% of Ukrainians support 'West German' model for NATO accession, survey shows.

A key difference is that the invitation would encompass the entire Ukraine, but the alliance's defensive "umbrella" would extend to the occupied territories only after their future liberation.

10:22 AM  (Updated:  December 10, 2024 11:26 am)

Russian attack against Kharkiv Oblast town injures 10.

A Russian missile attack against the town of Zlatopil in Kharkiv Oblast on Dec. 10 injured at least eight people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

11:12 AM

Russian troops sabotage their boats to avoid Dnipro River crossing, Ukrainian partisans claim.

Russian soldiers increasingly sabotage their own boats and equipment to avoid having to attack the Dnipro River islands on the southern front, Ukrainian resistance group Atesh claimed on Dec. 10.

10:53 AM

Russian attacks against Donetsk, Kherson oblasts kill 3, injure 14 over past day.

Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least three civilians and injured at least 14 over the past day, regional authorities reported on the morning of Dec. 10.

9:37 AM

China curbs sale of drone parts to US, Europe, hindering Ukraine’s war effort, Bloomberg reports.

Chinese manufacturers began limiting their sales of vital drone components to their U.S. and European customers, preluding a broader ban on exports by officials, Bloomberg wrote, citing undisclosed sources on Dec. 9.

9:15 AM

Hungary's PM Orban meets with Trump, Musk, says 'future has begun.'

"The future has begun — an afternoon in Mar-a-Lago," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

8:41 AM

Zelensky tells Trump 'Putin fears only him and, perhaps, China.'

"And that’s the truth — only decisiveness can bring this war to a just end and ensure lasting peace," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.

8:16 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 755,940 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,350 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:57 AM

UK sanctions illicit gold trade, says it funds Russia's war.

The latest round of sanctions imposes asset freezes on five individuals involved in the illicit gold trade, including the CEO of Paloma Precious, which has purchased more than $300 million of Russian gold.

4:53 AM

Ukraine approves Droid TW robotics system for combat operation.

The system was approved after performing reliably in combat testing, the Defense Ministry said on Dec. 9.

3:50 AM

Ukraine won't trade young soldiers' lives for better weapons, Zelensky says.

"The priority should be providing missiles and lowering Russia's military potential, not Ukraine's draft age. The goal should be to preserve as many lives as possible, not to preserve weapons in storage."

2:45 AM

5 Ukrainian children return home from Russia, Russian-occupied territories.

Ukraine successfully returned five children from Russia and Russian-occupied territories as part of the "Bring Kids Back UA" initiative, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak announced early on Dec. 10.

1:58 AM

German opposition leader vows Ukraine won't fight one-handed.

During his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Friedrich Merz, the leading contender to become Germany's next chancellor, condemned the German government's hesitance to provide long-range weaponry like Taurus cruise missiles.

12:29 AM

Syria

What does Assad’s downfall mean for Russia and Ukraine?

11:30 PM

US says it's ready to train, arm new soldiers if Ukraine changes conscription policy.

"We have made clear is that if (Ukraine) produces additional forces to join the fight, we and our allies will be ready to acquit those forces and train those forces to enter battle," U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Dec. 9.

11:12 PM

Winter Holidays

Ukrainian gift guide 2024

10:35 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Zelensky 'may consider' deployment of foreign peacekeepers to ensure ceasefire

10:20 PM

Ukraine assembling coalition for united stance on ending war, President's Office reports.

Ukraine is assembling a coalition of partners to create a working group aimed at bolstering its defense and forming a united diplomatic stance on ending the war, the president's spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov said on Dec. 9.

9:46 PM

Russian military suppliers exploit loophole to source US microchips.

Russian distributors allegedly integrated Texas Instruments' online store into their trading platforms, enabling customers in Russia to access semiconductor inventories and prices, and place orders.

9:06 PM

Russia’s defense spending surges to record levels, media reports.

Russia’s spending on “national defense” reached an unprecedented $43 billion in the third quarter of 2024, The Moscow Times reported on Dec. 9.

8:48 PM

Transnistria declares economic emergency over Russian gas supply threat.

Leader of Moldova's Russian-occupied Transnistria region, Vadim Krasnoselsky, signed a decree on Dec. 9 introducing a 30-day economic state of emergency due to the risk of Russian gas supply disruptions, Newsmaker media reported.

7:10 PM

NATO jets intercept Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea.

The F-35s, deployed under NATO’s eastern airspace monitoring mission, intercepted a Russian An-72 transport aircraft and an SU-24 reconnaissance aircraft.