The GUR published a radio interception that reveals new methods of "forced" mobilization in the aggressor's army. Russian sailors are being transferred to infantry units, given a choice: either extend their contract or be transferred to the assault detachments of the 810th separate marine infantry brigade.
Political expert Mykhailo Shnaider stated that NAB top official Magamedrasulov is being made into a "savior of the nation," but he will face disappointment from Ukrainians. The expert recalled suspicions against Magamedrasulov regarding his involvement in a scheme to sell technical hemp and abuse of influence over the tax service.
Trump once again announced that in 2026 he plans to host a "grand" party for US Independence Day. The American president announced sports and other events.
On December 20, scheduled hourly power outages and power restrictions for industrial consumers will be in effect in most regions of Ukraine. This is due to the consequences of Russian missile and drone attacks on energy facilities.
The Defense Forces conducted a special operation to destroy enemy armored vehicles near Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast. An anti-aircraft missile system, tanks, combat vehicles, and motor transport were destroyed.
The Government of Ukraine has approved negotiating positions for Clusters 4 and 5, which allows the country to start negotiations with the European Union on all six Clusters. This decision is based on the reports of the European Commission and reflects Ukraine's consistent fulfillment of its obligations on the path to EU membership.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw. Tusk stated that Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression protects Poland's independence, and Zelenskyy noted that the Kremlin will not defeat Ukraine and Poland if they stand together.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov and Lieutenant General Andriy Hnatov will hold consultations with the American side in Miami. The negotiations are focused on finding long-term solutions for the defense of Ukraine.
Due to damage to bridges in Odesa region, postal operators "Ukrposhta" and "Nova Poshta" warned of possible delays in parcel delivery. In particular, traffic on the M-15 "Odesa – Reni" highway section was completely blocked.
EU leaders agreed on a plan to finance Ukraine through joint borrowing after 16 hours of negotiations. Politico named Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever as the main "winners" of the summit.
Representatives of "Plast" handed over the Bethlehem Fire to the chaplains of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The fire will be delivered to the soldiers in the combat zone as a symbol of support and home comfort.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko met with U. S. Chargé d'Affaires Julie Davis and FBI attaché Jamie Volkert, discussing the results of international cooperation. Ukraine satisfied all 5 U.S. requests for extradition and fulfilled 46 American requests for legal assistance.
The Australian Defence Force granted ABC exclusive access to a classified operation to supply M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Dozens of 60-tonne tanks are already in Poland, having been transported halfway across the world on a cargo ship.
The occupation administration of Zaporizhzhia Oblast is "gifting" homes of Ukrainians to families of Russian ZNPP employees. This is happening under the pretext of the New Year, using the homes of Ukrainians who have been killed, deported, or forced to leave.
National security advisers from Germany, France, and Great Britain will meet in Miami with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov. The talks are expected today, as reported by Axios journalist Barak Ravid.
The European Commission has published a report on the visa suspension mechanism, with a special focus on Georgia. Brussels will gradually begin to restrict privileges for Georgian citizens, starting with holders of diplomatic passports.
This year, 5,475 foreign students have been admitted to Ukrainian higher education institutions, which is 534 more than last year. The most popular specialties are management, medicine, law, and computer science.
As of 4:00 PM on December 19, 52 combat engagements were recorded at the front. The enemy is showing the greatest assault activity in Donetsk Oblast, terrorizing the border areas of Sumy Oblast with artillery shelling.
A record harvest of sugar beets in Belarus, about 5 million tons, has become a risk factor due to the oversupply in the Russian market. This leads to a drop in sugar prices and a deterioration of the economy for farmers and processors.
The Cabinet of Ministers has not yet approved the procedure for obtaining a certificate for 150,000 hryvnias for the purchase of a vehicle for military personnel, as provided for by the law on strengthening mobilization. The Ministry of Finance has developed a draft resolution, which is processing comments from interested bodies.
After the investigation into the death of businessman Adnan Kivan began, the owners of the Odrex clinic registered a new company, "Medical House 'Odrex'". In December 2025, they founded another firm providing medical services – LLC "MDO Pivden".
German Chancellor's advisor on Ukraine, Günther Sautter, is heading to Florida for talks between the US and Russia. The talks concern a peaceful settlement of the war, where the US's 20-point plan will be discussed.
Citizens heading to Odesa are informed about restrictions and redirected to alternative routes due to complicated traffic on the Odesa-Reni highway. It is recommended to choose checkpoints in Vinnytsia and Chernivtsi regions.
In the Turkish province of Kocaeli, local residents discovered a crashed Orlan unmanned aerial vehicle. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine its route and purpose of being in Turkish airspace.
In temporarily occupied Mariupol, ticket sales have resumed at the drama theater, despite it being destroyed by Russian troops. The first performances, including "Chic Wedding" and "The Scarlet Flower," are scheduled for late December.
Gas prices in Europe have fallen to pre-war levels, but European factories continue to close or relocate. Experts believe that relief came too late, and businesses have lost faith in stability on the continent.
In Kharkiv, a traffic accident occurred involving a judge of one of the district courts, two girls aged 13 and 14 were injured. They were hospitalized with severe injuries and are in intensive care.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki stated that the joint work of Ukraine and Poland on historical issues deprives Russia of the opportunity to use them for disinformation. He emphasized that all formal and administrative issues will be resolved by the Ukrainian side.
The head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, Vitalii Kim, emphasized the need to create conditions for investments in Ukraine's economy for its recovery.
