Yuri Zoria
2430 posts
A philologist by education, in 2003-2007 Yuri worked as a journalist in a Luhansk online media. He was born and lived all his life in the peaceful provincial city of Luhansk, where nothing serious happened. Until 2014.
Now he is an IDP. Follow Yuri on twitter: @loogunda
Turkey blocks UK minehunters for Ukraine, citing 1936 Montreux pact
Citing an international pact, NATO member Turkey has blocked the passage of two British Royal Navy minesweepers through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits en route to Ukraine for its war operations against Russia.
The Times: Europe steps up plans to independently arm Ukraine if Trump wins in 2024
Concerned over waning US support for Ukraine if Trump returns to power in 2024, European countries like Britain work urgently to build capacity to independently sustain Ukraine's defense against Russia. according to The TImes sources.
Death toll from Russia’s late December missile strike on Kyiv rises to 29
Kyiv City authorities have reported the discovery of another civilian's body, bringing the total death toll from the Russian missile attack on Kyiv on December 29 to 29 victims. The body was found on 1 January.
Russia attacks Ukraine with 90 explosive drones killing a teenager on New Year’s night, Ukraine downs 87 UAVs
Russia unleashed a massive drone attack on Ukraine overnight on New Year's Eve, sending 90 explosive Shahed drones in waves. Ukraine's air defenses shot down a record 87, but the attacks killed a 15-year-old and injured 9 civilians in Odesa.
Ombudsman: Russians trying to use relatives of Ukrainian POWs against Ukraine
The Ukrainian Ombudsman says Russia systematically tells Ukrainian POW families that Ukraine blocks returns, demanding relatives hold protests and provide infrastructure photos to Russia.
Ukraine exports 13 mn tons by sea since summer defying Russian blockade
By creating a safe maritime corridor, Ukraine has shipped 13 million tons of critical exports on hundreds of vessels since August, defying Russia's threats to blockade the Black Sea.
Ukraine’s national guardsmen down Russian cruise missile with machine guns
A mobile fire group of Ukraine's Pechersk Brigade of National Guard shot down Russian cruise missile with machine gun fire in Kyiv Oblast during Russia's massive 29 December missile attack against Ukraine.
Military: Ukraine downs 114 of 158 missiles and drones during Russia’s “most massive” air attack
Overnight on 29 December, Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force called “the most massive air attack” against Ukraine,…
Ukraine under massive air attack: civilians casualties reported in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia (updates)
As of 8:00 on 20 December, Ukraine has been under Russia’s massive missile attack after an hours-long Shahed…
Bloomberg: Germany expects EU to provide Ukraine aid even without Hungary approval
Germany expresses confidence EU will discover method to deliver $55 billion Ukraine aid bypassing Hungary veto of package.
US announces $ 250 mn military aid package for Ukraine, “the last until Congress authorizes additional funds”
US announced a $250 million military aid package for Ukraine, but Pentagon cautions it is likely the last assistance possible until Congress approves more Ukraine defense funding.
Ukrainian Air Force denies rumored presence of F-16 in Ukraine
Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson urges the Ukrainian press and social media accounts to refrain from disseminating "incredible assumptions" made in Newsweek about the alleged F-16 presence in Ukraine.
Minister: Ukraine has “over five” mass-produced analogs of Russia’s Iranian-made Shahed explosive drones
"We have more than five mass-produced analogs of Shahed-131 [long-range suicide drone]. And there is one type that is analogous to Shahed-136," Ukrainian minister says, adding that those are mass-produced.
Ukraine’s Security Service says it destroyed over 500 Russian tanks in 2023
Ukraine's Security Service says in 2023, it has destroyed more than 500 Russian tanks assaulting eastern and southern Ukraine, using anti-tank armaments and UAVs in coordination with Ukraine's Armed Forces.
Poll: Trust in Ukrainian Army at 94% in the country with highest distrust in political parties
A new poll reveals that Ukrainians place the most trust in the army, and volunteer units and organizations, while political parties, officials, and judiciary entities are the most distrusted.
Estonia’s MoD says it trained 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers in two years
Estonia has trained over 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers, about one-sixth of the total number of its own conscripts, since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, per Estonia's MoD. Training includes basic skills, artillery, sniping, and cybersecurity.
Russia’s suicide drone attack kills two in Odesa as Ukraine downs 32/46 UAVs
Russia struck central/southern Ukraine using 46 launched suicide drones overnight, air defenses intercepted 32 drones but falling wreckage still killed 2 civilians in Odesa.
ISW: Ongoing Russian offensives in Ukraine’s east can result in gradual tactical advances
Russian offensive operations pressure Ukrainian defenses in eastern Ukraine, forcing possible limited tactical retreats to preserve personnel as marginal Russian gains accumulate amid continued heavy casualties, ISW says.
Regional leader: Kharkiv Oblast’s Synkivka under Ukrainian control, contrary to Russian advance claims
Kharkiv Oblast chief asserts Ukraine retains control over Synkivka village near Kupiansk, despite intensive Russian efforts to seize settlement.
Russia shells crowded Kherson train station killing police officer, injuring four more people
Russian artillery struck Kherson railway station as civilians awaited evacuation train, killing police officer and wounding two officers and two civilians, per official reports. The station building and trains were damaged.