Exclusives
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Kyiv last. Lviv first. Ukraine's 2025 comfort map (MAP). As the year draws to a close, Euromaidan Press looked at which of Ukraine's 463 cities Ukrainians would like to live in most. |
Military
Ukraine's drone troops hit Russian Nebo radar and boat in Crimea, bases in Donetsk Oblast (VIDEO, MAP). Among the damaged sites in Donetsk Oblast was a command post and deployment area used by Russia's elite 14th GRU brigade.
Frontline report: Wagner mercenaries deployed on Russia's shadow fleet as EU sanctions squeeze Baltic routes. Russia is placing combat veterans with a record of severe violence on merchant ships to deter foreign inspections, as the EU blacklists over 600 vessels and Sweden detains a sanctioned cargo ship.
Budanov: Russia recruited 403,000 soldiers in 2025, will aim higher next year. Contract soldiers remain main manpower source as Kremlin raises payments to fill ranks.
Russian "flag runners" film propaganda in Huliaipole, then die – Moscow calls it victory.
Russia ramps up pressure after Kupiansk defeat — but it may already be too late. Despite heavy losses, Russian forces regroup on the Oskil's left bank in a desperate attempt to save face near Kupiansk, the Ukrainian military says.
Ukraine keeps dismantling Russian air defenses in Crimea: HUR's "Ghosts" destroy another S-300V launcher and radars (VIDEO). Ukrainian military intelligence confirmed multiple air defense assets were taken out in a targeted operation before Christmas.
Ukrainian forces destroy Russia's newest off-road vehicle Ulan-2 near Pokrovsk (video). The Russian army just saw its prized burnt out near Pokrovsk — the first known destruction of this new model.
Russians capture Ukrainian battalion command post in Huliaipole with laptops still running. Southern Defense Forces launch investigation as officers blame delayed withdrawal orders
Intelligence and technology
Sanctions are working: Russia admits it cannot repair Crimea's foreign-made energy equipment. By 2031, equipment will fully exhaust its service life.
In 2025, Ukraine sent 75% of its weapons procurement budget to domestic manufacturers, with further increases planned for 2026. More than 50% of weapons in Ukraine's military are now domestically produced, achieving President Zelenskyy's October target in under three months.
Ukraine downs one of Russia's rarest spy drones with homegrown interceptor (VIDEO). Russia's advanced "Knyaz Veshchiy Oleg" can spot targets 45 km from the front.
International
Zelenskyy demands 60-day ceasefire before any referendum on peace deal. Ukraine and US have finalized most elements of bilateral agreements, but still unclear if Russia will accept peace plan at all.
Zelenskyy says only Ukrainians can decide Ukraine's fate, flags referendum on sensitive peace terms. Signals elections initiative came from Washington; security guarantees essential for any vote
"Hybrid attack" on EU airports: Belarus balloons cost Lithuania €800,000, disrupt 51,000 passengers. Cigarette smuggling or hybrid attack? Lithuania says Belarus balloons are deliberate destabilization.
Sweden transfers $66.4 million to Ukraine's Energy Support Fund as total contributions exceed $211 million. Sweden adds $66.4M to Ukraine's Energy Support Fund—part of $268M in December contributions. Funds purchase equipment for power operators in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Chernihiv oblasts.
Polish forces seize 5,000 cigarette packs from Belarus balloons as officials warn of provocation.
Zelenskyy: Belarus helps Russian drones evade Ukrainian air defenses. Russian attack drones are successfully evading Ukrainian air defenses by routing through Belarus, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed following recent strikes on railway infrastructure in western Ukraine that left thousands without power.
Zelenskyy confirms 28 December Trump meeting: 20-point plan nearing completion. Security guarantees, reconstruction, and a 20-point plan that is 90% ready will be at the center of the 28 December meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump
Pope mentions Ukraine among global conflict zones in his Christmas message. The pontiff asked warring sides in Ukraine to engage in "sincere, direct and respectful dialogue" during his Christmas message broadcast by the Holy See on 25 December. Leo XIV's appeal came 48 hours after he said Russia had declined a proposed holiday ceasefire.
Zelenskyy to meet Trump at Mar-a-Lago as 20-point peace framework advances. A phone call between Zelenskyy and Trump's envoys has produced plans for a presidential meeting "in the near future," the Ukrainian leader announced on 26 Dec.
"Conflict is at our door": NATO and European leaders sound alarm as Trump pushes Ukraine peace deal. European military and government leaders are issuing weekly warnings about potential war with Russia, marking a fundamental shift for a continent that spent decades promoting peace and economic cooperation after two world wars, The WSJ reports.
Humanitarian and social impact
Russian missile tears through Uman, destroying seven homes and damaging 50 more (PHOTOS). Two children among six injured in Cherkasy region strike.
Russia drops guided bomb on Kharkiv's busiest road, killing two men and injuring nine-month-old girl (PHOTOS). Strike set cars on fire with people inside, blew out windows in apartment blocks.
Russian prison chief charged over deaths of journalist Roschina and Ukrainian mayor in torture facility. Viacheslav Perevozkin, who has run detention center No. 3 in Kizel since July 2024, organized a torture system that forced Ukrainian prisoners to stand for over 16 hours daily in freezing cells without warm clothing, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Russia hits ports, Kovel railway station overnight, targets Ukraine's power infrastructure amid severe winter temperatures (MAP). A locomotive and freight car were damaged in Volyn Oblast, while electricity outages were confirmed in multiple regions.
Political and legal developments
Putin tells Russian businessmen he wants all of Donbas but may swap other captured territories. Russia may be willing to trade some captured Ukrainian territory but not Donbas, President Vladimir Putin told business leaders this week
New developments
Ukraine harvests 60 million tons of grain but lags behind France and Germany in yield efficiency. Ukrainian farmers harvested 23.5 million tons of corn—more than 40% of the EU's total production—and 9 million tons of sunflower, surpassing the entire European Union's output, the Ministry of Economy reports.
Read our earlier daily review here.
