Ukraine This Week: Su-57s, foreign mercenaries, and an internet rumor

8:53 PM

Former prosecutor general reportedly appointed Ukraine's ambassador to Netherlands.

Kostin submitted his resignation on Oct. 22 following a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) meeting headed by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

7:40 PM

Russia mulls attacking Ukraine with Oreshnik nuclear-capable missile this weekend, FT reports.

The unnamed official said that Russia wanted to use the weapon to intimidate Ukraine and its supporters, but the Oreshnik "does not change the rules of the game on the battlefield."

7:14 PM

Opinion

The West is pushing Ukraine toward concessions that will backfire

7:10 PM

Opinion

The collapse of Assad’s regime shows the limits of Russian airpower

6:52 PM

Belarus weekly

Belarus Weekly: Putin, Lukashenko sign security treaty, promise Oreshnik deployment in Belarus

6:36 PM

Russia advances toward Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, Ukraine makes progress near Kupiansk, Estonian intelligence says.

Ukrainian forces are enjoying success in the Kupiansk sector, where two Russian bridgeheads that emerged during the crossing of the Oskil River were destroyed, Estonian intelligence said.

6:19 PM

Religion in Ukraine

Breakaway churches, spiritual awakenings, prayers in captivity. How war is changing Ukraine’s faith

5:36 PM

Georgian parliament bans masks, fireworks during protests.

The fine for wearing a mask or using lasers or fireworks is 2,000 Georgian lari ($712).

3:53 PM

Ukraine resisting Russian encirclement attempts at 4 Donetsk Oblast villages, military says.

The statement comes as analysts raise concerns about a growing risk of Ukrainian units being encircled in the area.

3:26 PM

War analysis

How will Russia's war in Ukraine end? The good, the bad, and the ugly scenarios

3:23 PM

Ukraine not ready for negotiations without strong Western support, Yermak says.

Regarding U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s repeated promises to quickly end the war, Yermak said, "There is no plan yet, and we have not seen it for sure. We know that several opinions and positions are being discussed."

3:06 PM

Dutch Supreme Court dismisses Russia's appeal in Naftogaz's $5 billion arbitration case.

The Supreme Court of the Netherlands has rejected Russia's appeal, upholding a decision by the Hague Arbitration Court requiring Russia to pay $5 billion in compensation to Ukraine’s state-owned Naftogaz for misappropriated assets in occupied Crimea, Naftogaz reported on Dec. 13.

2:49 PM

Italy willing to join potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, defense minister says.

"I hope to talk about peace, about peacekeeping, as soon as possible in Ukraine, but also in Gaza and Lebanon," Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told journalists in Madrid when asked about the possibility of Rome deploying peacekeepers in Ukraine.

2:15 PM

EU defense commissioner takes shelter in Kyiv amid massive Russian aerial strike.

Andrius Kubilius, the newly appointed European defense commissioner, spent the morning of Dec. 13 in a shelter in Kyiv during a large-scale Russian missile attack, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova said on X.

2:05 PM

Moldova announces state of emergency over expected halt of Russian gas.

Moldova's parliament on Dec. 13 voted to introduce a 60-day-long state of emergency starting Dec. 16 over the expected halt of Russian gas transit via Ukraine.

1:13 PM

Putin orders 'emergency support' for struggling Russian coal industry.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for urgent measures to support the country’s coal companies, which face multibillion-dollar losses and risk mass bankruptcies, The Moscow Times reported on Dec. 12.

12:55 PM

Ukraine downs 161 of 287 Russian missiles, drones in mass aerial attack.

Moscow deployed four Kinzhal air-launched missiles, two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, one Kh-23 North Korean ballistic missile, 55 Kh-101 and Kh-55SM cruise missiles launched from Tu-95MS bomber planes, 24 sea-launched Kalibr missiles, seven Iskander-K cruise missiles, and one Kh-59/69 missile, the Air Force said.

12:33 PM

Ukraine's new Ground Forces chief announces reforms focused on personnel, tech.

The proposed changes include a revamped recruitment system with "zero tolerance for corruption," improved military training tailored to front-line needs, and integration of advanced technology into training and operational processes.

12:13 PM

Massive fire engulfs warehouse in Russia's Novosibirsk.

A massive fire engulfed a warehouse in Russia's Novosibirsk overnight on Dec. 13, covering 5,000 square meters, Russian media reported.

11:46 AM

Russia deals 'massive blow' to Ukraine's thermal power plants, energy company says.

"DTEK thermal power plants were attacked. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties," the company said. The plants' equipment was "seriously damaged," with energy sector employees already working on repairs.

11:15 AM

Google to suspend payments for Russian app developers, Russian IT portal claims.

Google Play will indefinitely halt processing payments to app developers with bank accounts in Russia starting Dec. 26, Habr, a Russian IT portal, reported on Dec. 12.

10:23 AM

Trump tells Macron, Zelensky he wants European troops monitoring Ukraine ceasefire, WSJ reports.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump wants European troops to monitor a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 12, citing undisclosed official sources.

9:24 AM

Russia jails 2 Ukrainian soldiers deployed in Kursk Oblast for 14, 15 years.

The court convicted the soldiers on terrorism charges, accusing them of "opening fire to kill both Russian servicemen and civilians." Russia often uses trumped-up charges to jail captured Ukrainian soldiers, activists, journalists, and regular civilians for lengthy terms.

9:03 AM

UNESCO grants enhanced protection to 2 Ukrainian cultural sites.

UNESCO has added Ukraine's Babyn Yar Memorial and the Odesa Literary Museum to its international list of Cultural Property under Enhanced Protection.

8:33 AM

US announces visa bans for individuals over undermining Georgian democracy.

The U.S. State Department announced visa bans for approximately 20 Georgian individuals for undermining democracy in the country, according to the department’s statement on Dec. 12.