Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that is worsening. Her doctors are preparing for a possible organ transplant, which may be needed as early as autumn 2025.
Leading Russian funeral companies earned 14. 872 billion rubles in 2024, which is 24% more than a year earlier. Coffin prices have increased by 84%, and grave digging by 51% since the beginning of 2022.
On December 19, the United States imposed sanctions on seven individuals linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The restrictions target relatives of Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, who is accused of corruption in the oil company.
The SBU detained a Russian agent in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast who was attempting to set up "video traps" on Dnipro highways to spy on columns of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The perpetrator collected data on the quantity and types of military equipment of the Defense Forces moving to the front line.
On December 19, the US Department of Justice released a portion of the investigation materials in the case of Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sex crimes. The documents include photographs of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, Donald Trump, and 50 censored images of nude women.
The occupiers made gains near Dronivka, Vyshneve, and in Siversk in Donetsk region. DeepState updated the combat map on December 19.
Donald Trump stated that Operation "Hawk Strike" in Syria is retaliation for the killing of American servicemen by ISIS. He emphasized that the US is delivering decisive blows to ISIS strongholds.
During a meeting in Warsaw, Polish President Karol Nawrocki presented Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a two-volume set of "Documents of the Volyn Crime" in Ukrainian translation. This gesture was intended to emphasize the importance of the exhumation of the victims of the Volyn tragedy for Poland and the partnership relations between the countries.
IAEA head Rafael Grossi stated that the situation in Ukraine's energy system is the worst since September 2024, when substation monitoring began. Constant instability in the power grid undermines nuclear safety, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has lost external power supply 12 times.
Japan has decided to provide Ukraine with additional financial support for the next year, totaling approximately $6 billion. President Zelenskyy thanked Japan and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for this decision, which will strengthen Ukraine's defense.
The US has announced the start of Operation "Hawk Strike" in Syria, aimed at ISIS militants in response to an attack on American troops. The Pentagon emphasized that this is a targeted punitive operation to destroy terrorists and their infrastructure, not the beginning of a new war.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the situation at the front, calling it "difficult" due to the increasing number of Russian troops. He noted that Kupyansk, which he recently visited, remains under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, despite enemy pressure and problems with missile supplies.
The German government plans to expand the functions of the Federal Intelligence Service, allowing it to carry out cyberattacks and sabotage operations abroad. This comes amid growing hybrid threats and the activity of foreign intelligence services.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he does not seek to remain in the presidential office. He emphasized that he supports holding elections provided that security is guaranteed and legislative changes are made.
On the evening of December 19, Russian troops attacked Mykolaiv and the region, which led to power outages in part of the city and individual settlements. All necessary services are working at the shelling sites.
The Ukrainian delegation concluded a series of negotiations in the US with American and European partners. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov announced an agreement on further steps and continued joint work.
The Ukrainian government is promptly eliminating the consequences of the Russian strike on the key bridge between Odesa and Izmail, establishing alternative communication routes. The region is provided with resources, transport operations are being adapted, and business operations are supported, the Cabinet of Ministers assures.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will not allow Putin to influence possible elections in the country, as he wants to control not only Russian elections. The President noted that Putin is looking for justifications for the war, not its root causes, and does not intend to end the war only with Ukraine.
On the evening of December 19, the Russian army attacked a port infrastructure facility in Odesa district with ballistic missiles. As a result of the strike, seven people were killed and 15 more were injured.
Trump issued an executive order radically accelerating the Artemis program, setting strict deadlines for US dominance beyond Earth. The document provides for the return of humans to the Moon by 2028 and laying the groundwork for a flight to Mars.
On December 20, temporary traffic restrictions will be introduced in the central part of Kyiv. This is due to the visit of foreign delegations, as reported by the State Guard Administration.
BMW is recalling almost 37,000 cars in the US due to unintentional steering wheel rotation while driving. Earlier, Toyota recalled 600,000 cars due to faulty digital dashboards.
On December 19, fierce battles continue on the front, with 148 clashes recorded. The occupiers carried out over 3,400 kamikaze drone attacks and launched 26 air strikes, 66 of which were KABs.
Czech Defense Minister Jaromír Zuna confirmed the continuation of the ammunition initiative for Ukraine until 2026. Funding has been secured for the purchase of 760,000 shells, and support for Ukraine is "a matter of course."
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has been renamed the "Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." This decision by the Board of Trustees has drawn criticism due to the name being enshrined in law since 1964 and outrage from the Kennedy family.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that he managed to prevent "a declaration of war on Russia" by allocating a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine. In response, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski ironically "awarded" Orban the Order of Lenin.
Morgan Stanley is the leading contender to be the lead underwriter for the SpaceX IPO due to long-standing ties with Elon Musk. The SpaceX offering in 2026 is expected to be the largest in history, exceeding $1.5 trillion in capitalization.
Eve Air Mobility successfully conducted the first flight of its full-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) prototype in Brazil. This is an important step towards certification and entry into service in 2027.
The head of the European People's Party, Manfred Weber, stated that frozen Russian assets will be used to repay loans that the EU provides to Ukraine. He rejected US proposals for asset sharing, emphasizing that Russia must pay for its actions.
The SOF hinted at damage to a Russian Russian ship by publishing a photo with the alleged damage to the vessel. The photo likely shows a Project 22460 "Okhotnik" patrol ship, which is used for border patrol service.
