Exclusives
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Treasury trumpets Iran sanctions but delists ex-Sberbank executive quietly. The press release made no mention of delisting a former Sberbank executive. |
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Outnumbered territorials may have had no choice but to retreat from Huliaipole. The battle for Huliaipole was a defeat for the 102nd and 106th Territorial Defense Brigades. But that doesn't necessarily mean the defeat was the territorials' fault. |
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Company behind half of Ukraine's deep strikes eyes $760M deal with Kremlin-friendly UAE. Buyer on a defense investment spree across the globe |
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Outgunned territorials retreat. Now the path to Zaporizhzhia is open.. Ukrainian commanders neglected the defense of Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Now the town has fallen ... and the chaos has just begun. |
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Is Ukraine's wartime economy becoming female-led? The numbers say yes (INFOGRAPHIC). The gender transformation since 2021 reflects necessity, not optimism. |
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Tchaikovsky out: Ukraine drops Russian imperial composer from top music academy name amid wartime decolonization push. A student-led push succeeded in cutting a Russian imperial label from Kyiv's main conservatory as Ukraine distances itself from Moscow's influence. |
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Russian soldiers execute seven civilians in Pokrovsk after being refused alcohol. Only one survivor, who pretended to be dead |
Military
406,000 mobilized, 410,000 lost: Russia loses six soldiers for every Ukrainian soldier killed, Syrskyi says. Battlefield says army isn't growing. The math explains why.
Syrskyi interview: 800,000 troops guarantee defense as reforms reshape Ukraine's military. Russia's 410,000 losses this year exceeded its entire recruitment drive.
Kremlin wants victory under Christmas tree: Russian troops pushing to outflank Pokrovsk from Dobropillia axis. Reality: 30 vehicles destroyed in one week.
Intelligence and technology
Estonia's top spy: Russia limits Baltic Sea provocations to protect oil shipments by shadow fleet. Moscow has rerouted drones attacking Ukraine and tightened aircraft discipline over the Baltic Sea after NATO responses, but the restraint could end as the war continues, Kaupo Rosin warns.
. The Russian drone threatens Chernihiv, Poltava, Odesa.
International
Latvia just finished building a 280-kilometer fence to keep Russia out. With the physical barrier on the Russian and Belarusian borders now complete, authorities plan to create the most modern border protection system on the EU's eastern frontier by installing smart technology by the end of 2026.
India and UAE condemned attack on Putin's house that "never happened." Zelenskyy asks: Where's their condemnation of killed Ukrainian children?. Zelenskyy says Russia's attack claim is a fake, designed to sabotage positive US-Ukraine meeting.
Italy approves Ukraine military aid in 2026, shelving earlier shift to humanitarian focus. Meloni's cabinet greenlights the 13th aid package despite prior talk of transitioning to mostly civilian support.
Japan unlocks €47.7 million for Ukrainian demining and energy restoration. Japan has unlocked €47.7 million for Ukraine to finance demining operations, energy sector repairs, and water supply system restoration, with Tokyo's parliament approving budget for a fifth phase of emergency assistance.
G7's frozen Russian assets bring Ukraine $38 billion—three quarters of 2025 aid. he European Union plans to allocate 90 billion euros to Ukraine over 2026-2027, establishing itself as the country's primary donor going forward.
EU leaders huddle on Ukraine security guarantees ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting. European leaders held consultations on Ukraine's security architecture days before President Zelenskyy's weekend meeting with Donald Trump in Florida, with von der Leyen connecting the country's EU accession prospects to long-term security guarantees.
Humanitarian and social impact
Over 120 km² of Ukrainian farmland cleared of mines in 2025 alone under state-funded program. State-backed demining contracts worth $17 million helped reclaim thousands of hectares once too dangerous to farm.
Car stopped, then fired upon again: Russian commander charged for deliberate killing of evacuating Ukrainian civilians. Three civilians tried to evacuate. Russian commander ordered 30mm cannon fire.
Political and legal developments
17 tons of fuel stolen from frontline unit: Ukraine arrests commander and subordinate for wartime embezzlement. Every 10 days fuel disappeared.
Russia's 2026 plan: Draft 261,000 year-round, ignore war crimes tribunals, continue war indefinitely. Putin formalizes permanent mobilization after 135,000 the fall call-up.
Kremlin threatens tougher negotiating position after alleged drone attack Ukraine denies. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed disappointment that Emirati, Indian and Pakistani officials voiced concern over an alleged attack on Putin's residence "that never happened."
Read our earlier daily review here.
