Exclusives
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Want to build long-range drones for Ukraine? First, you need the right friends. Companies must fight for personnel, information, access |
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What Ukrainian children who lost fathers in war want for Christmas. Four children who lost fathers defending Ukraine wrote Christmas letters. Their small, practical wishes reveal what war takes from childhood. |
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AfD lawmaker files eight drone-defense inquiries in one day; minister: "Kremlin task list". Politician demands details on police capabilities, Western arms routes through Thuringia. |
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Sviat Vechir: Ukraine's ancient Christmas Eve and its twelve sacred dishes. The ritual is older than Christianity. The Soviets tried to kill it. It survived—and this year, once again, soldiers will observe it from the trenches |
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Ukraine holds at 15.5% as Russia's rate swings. Ukraine's central bank voted 10-1 to hold its key rate at 15.5%. |
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The battle for Pokrovsk is ending. For Huliaipole, it's just beginning.. Drones hold Pokrovsk now. Ukraine's assault brigades rush south — and meet Russians attacking on horses. |
Military
"Capturing settlements on credit": Russia's "victories" cost 100+ soldiers in one village in Kharkiv Oblast (VIDEO). Russia's "credit victory" tactic was exposed by Ukrainian forces.
"Kill zones everywhere": Ukrainian military describes new "combination" replacing mass assaults across main fronts. These zones now cover Kupiansk, Pokrovsk, and Dobropillia axes.
ISW: Russian forces will remain locked in slow foot-paced advances as their mech assaults keep failing. Russian milbloggers have criticized commanders for continuing armored assaults, arguing that past experience shows such attacks consistently fail.
Ukraine took out Russia's only submarine-hunter aircraft before historic Kilo-class sub strike (VIDEO). Air-burst drone took out Il-38N patrol aircraft at Yeysk base.
Drone attack sets synthetic rubber plant ablaze in Russia's Tula Oblast.
Russia hits Zaporizhzhia with three bombs, wounds three civilians. Russian forces dropped three aerial bombs on Zaporizhzhia during the night of 24 December, injuring three people and igniting fires in garages and vehicles, regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported
Intelligence and technology
Battlefield math is changing in Ukraine: Kyiv's drone output surged 2.5-fold in 2025. Ukraine produced 3 million FPV drones in 2025, equivalent to one drone every 10 seconds.
Ukraine's $50,000 naval drones are hunting Russia's Black Sea fleet—and winning. Group 13's kamikaze boats pushed Russian warships out of Crimea, sank a $65 million patrol ship, and now target the shadow fleet financing Putin's war.
International
Meloni warns Italian government staff: "Next year will be much worse" than 2025. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni used her Christmas address to government staff to deliver an unusually candid forecast, telling employees that 2026 will bring greater challenges than the difficult year ending, according to Ansa.
US ambassador to NATO: Russia's overnight attacks show what they're willing to do.
Humanitarian and social impact
Russia avoided Ukraine's gas targets for 3 years. In 2025, it destroyed 60% of country's gas capacity amid peace talks. No more transit, no more restraint.
Dead seabirds wash up on Odesa beaches after Russian strikes trigger Black Sea oil spill
. Dozens of geese found covered in oil film
Political and legal developments
Ukraine's Prosecutor's Office opens case over anti-corruption activist's intimate photo leak after initially refusing to register complaint. Anti-corruption chief says photo leak was revenge.
Zelenskyy unveils 20-point peace draft including "Article 5-like guarantees"; territorial status still unresolved. Points list 800,000-strong army, EU membership, $800B reconstruction package
Support for continuing war in Ukraine drops to record low among Russians. Two-thirds want peace talks—but 73% still back the invading army
"Russia must take end of war seriously," Zelenskyy says after briefing on US talks. Ukraine's negotiating team has produced working drafts of peace agreements and strengthened key provisions during talks in the United States, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Read our earlier daily review here.
