Exclusives
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Russia plays the ultimate squatter card at its closing Gdańsk consulate it never actually owned or paid for. Moscow stationed an embassy worker inside the building, claiming the premises remain inviolable diplomatic property even after the mission shuts down. |
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Is Russia's LNG "success" in China really just a discount trap?. Moscow surrenders pricing power to move sanctioned cargoes that Beijing controls. |
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A Ukrainian Christmas music playlist from Euromaidan Press (2025 edition). Try something new this holiday season with this selected collection of ancient and modern songs |
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Russia deploys entire nuclear icebreaker fleet for first time—and it's still not enough. Shadow fleet tanker fails to reach Siberian terminal despite unprecedented support. |
Military
Moscow says Kupiansk is Russian. Ukrainian forces insist only 100 Russian soldiers left in city. Drones can't carry enough ammunition.
Drone vs horseman: Ukrainian FPV strike ends bizarre Russian cavalry charge (VIDEO)
. A new video from Ukraine's 92nd Brigade shows a Russian soldier on horseback being taken out mid-charge by an FPV drone
Russian oil tanker Valery Gorchakov slowly sinks days after recent drone attack near Rostov. New photos show the Valery Gorchakov's stern submerged following a drone strike on 18 December.
Ukrainian drones hit Russian tankers and oil terminal's pipeline at Black Sea port of Taman (updated: PHOTOS, MAP). Russian officials confirmed damage to two tankers, a pipeline, and port infrastructure during an overnight strike in Volna, Krasnodar Krai.
ISW: Russian forces have likely seized the town of Siversk after 41 months of fighting (MAP). After years of resistance and brutal advances, Russian troops may have finally taken the small town of Siversk in Donetsk Oblast.
Ukrainian sabotage wipes out two Russian fighter jets in Lipetsk overnight strike (MAP, VIDEO). Careful study of patrol routes and guard rotations let Ukrainian operatives penetrate Lipetsk-2 airfield undetected and torch the aircraft.
Intelligence and technology
From 700 to 5,500 km: Russian troops in Belarus control Oreshnik intermediate-range missile, which puts entire European continent in range. The missile, which struck Dnipro in November 2024, can carry conventional or nuclear warheads.
New Russian reconnaissance drone uses British Raspberry Pi microcomputer and licensed Windows 11. Russia upgrades drone with British, Chinese tech to target Ukraine's rear.
Russia building new weapon to attack Starlink satellites that help Ukraine on battlefield — AP. Intelligence agencies from two NATO countries have identified Russian efforts to develop anti-satellite weapons that would use clouds of millimeter-sized pellets to disable multiple Starlink satellites,
Belarus launches secret project: full-cycle ammunition plant for Russian army by 2026. Belarus has been implementing a classified state project since November 2023 to create a complete production cycle for 122 mm and 152 mm artillery and rocket ammunition, with the end products oriented toward use in Russia's war against Ukraine
International
"Constructive" or "unconstructive"? US and Russia split on Miami talks. Putin's aide dismisses European and Ukrainian amendments to US peace plan.
EU transfers sixth Ukraine Facility tranche worth $2.7 billion to Kyiv. The transfer consists of $2.5 billion in loans and over $230 million in grants designated for social and humanitarian needs.
Swedish authorities board sanctioned Russian vessel after engine failure in Oresund strait. A Russian freighter that reportedly ferries North Korean weapons to Moscow spent the weekend under inspection by Swedish Customs, Coast Guard, and special police forces after mechanical problems forced it to anchor in Swedish waters
Humanitarian and social impact
"Nothing sacred for them": Zelenskyy warns Russia may target Ukraine with massive strike during Christmas holidays. Trump says Russia wants peace. Ukraine's Headquarters prepares for Christmas missile attack.
Russia plans to cut Ukraine off from sea which handles 90% of its trade. Only Patriots can stop Russia's ballistic attacks on ports.
Russia strikes Ukraine's largest port for third straight day, sets food storage ablaze. 30 containers of flour and vegetable oil burn at Pivdennyi as 120,000 lose power
Russia pounds Odesa region port and bridge, Zelenskyy fires air defense commander. Attacks cut Ukraine's main fuel import route, cripple port logistics
Russian drones damage infrastructure in Odesa and Kryvyi Rih, derail train in Zhytomyr Oblast (MAP). Ukraine reported overnight strikes on several cities, injuring civilians, damaging facilities, and disrupting railway operations.
Russians may have killed civilians who refused deportation from Hrabovske, says Ukrainian official
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Political and legal developments
No bombs needed: Ukraine's Security Service reveals Russia's tactics to remove inconvenient official in city it considers its own. Russian intelligence targeted Ukrainian official through his wife.
Ukraine's parliament weighs wartime elections after repeated Trump demands. All factions, election commission, civil society to weigh in on wartime vote
"Catastrophic consequences": Russia warns of nuclear escalation, accusing NATO of pushing world toward dangerous threshold. Ryabkov blames UK and France for "aggression."
New developments
"100% for Ukraine, 20% for Europe": Expert warns 2026 could bring serious threats not only for Kyiv. Belarus makes chips, Iran makes drones, North Korea sends shells, China floods market
Read our earlier daily review here.
