Winter holidays in Kyiv will last from December 25 to January 11 inclusive. Parents will be able to bring their children to school for extracurricular activities and clubs.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will meet with Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish officials in Miami to discuss a deal on Gaza.
Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on southern and northeastern Lebanon, approaching the deadline for Hezbollah's disarmament. This occurred ahead of a ceasefire compliance committee meeting and meetings in Paris regarding aid to the Lebanese army.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde expressed confidence that EU leaders will agree on a way to support Ukraine. She expects a solution to be found, despite possible difficulties, as the issue is too important.
Ukraine announced a successful restructuring of GDP warrants worth $2. 6 billion, which will avoid significant payments in the post-war period. This transaction will strengthen debt sustainability and increase the country's budget predictability.
In Odesa region, due to a Russian air attack, traffic has been restricted to certain border crossing points with Moldova. Traffic on the Odesa-Reni highway has been suspended due to an attack on a critical infrastructure facility.
An enemy attack drone hit a civilian car moving on a bridge in the Odesa district. A woman in the car was killed, and her three children were taken to the hospital with injuries and an acute stress reaction.
On December 19, hourly power outage schedules will be in effect in most regions of Ukraine due to the consequences of Russian attacks. Ukrenergo does not specify the number of queues and advises to inquire about information from regional power distribution companies.
Traffic on the Odesa-Reni highway has been temporarily stopped in both directions. The head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, urged people to refrain from using this section of the road.
Two suspects in the murder of a 21-year-old Ukrainian in Vienna, which occurred in November 2025, have been remanded in custody by the court. The man was forced to transfer 50,000 euros from a crypto wallet, and was later found dead in a burned-out car.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Hungary, the US, Slovakia, and possibly a few other allies oppose Ukraine's membership in the Alliance. He noted that at the 2024 Washington Summit, allies agreed on Ukraine's irreversible path to NATO, but in practice, some members are against it.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in Brussels. The main topic of discussion was the use of frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine, as well as coordination with Europe and the United States on the peace process.
Since the beginning of the day, 98 combat engagements have been recorded, the enemy is actively operating in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions. The defense forces are repelling attacks in several directions, and battles are ongoing in many locations.
The Kyiv City Council approved the capital's budget for next year, which amounts to over 106 billion hryvnias. According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the budget is balanced and ensures the city's vital functions, assistance to the military, and socially vulnerable Kyiv residents.
A man from Kharkiv, who violated traffic rules 86 times, was sentenced to 2 years in prison. He ignored court decisions to deprive him of the right to drive vehicles.
In a capital school, a student threw an airsoft grenade, which detonated under the stairs. There are no casualties, law enforcement officers are working at the scene.
European officials say every act of sabotage – from vandalism of monuments to cyberattacks and warehouse fires – consumes valuable security resources.
On December 18, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law granting military personnel released from captivity an additional leave of 90 calendar days with the preservation of monetary allowance. This leave is granted without additional conditions and without division into parts.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appealed to the heads of states, parliaments, and governments of democratic countries of the world, as well as the International Paralympic Committee. This appeal concerns the ban on the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in international sports competitions.
Melania Trump has released a trailer for the documentary "Melania," which chronicles the 20 days leading up to the US presidential inauguration for a second term. The film will be released in cinemas worldwide on January 30, 2026.
In Nigeria, armed men attacked a church in Kogi State, abducting at least 13 parishioners. The attack provoked a shootout with local hunters.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency proposes inspecting Airbus SE A320 aircraft and requires repairs to panels found on fuselages that do not meet specifications due to a quality issue in manufacturing. A total of 628 aircraft contain panels that may be too thick or too thin, with about 170 of them already in service.
Ukraine will increase the accessibility of prostheses and orthoses for civilians affected by Russian aggression by increasing compensation and, for the first time, providing children with bionic prostheses. The government has adopted a corresponding decision, while maintaining the algorithm for receiving assistance.
The Ukrainian government has approved a decision to compensate for the costs of retrofitting cars for people with disabilities. The payment amount will be up to UAH 50,000, and applications can be submitted in person or online.
The Danube Commission has decided to create a Register of Damages from Russian aggression on the Lower Danube. This will ensure systematic collection of data on the damages caused and their transfer to the Council of Europe and the EU for compensation.
The Ukrainian government has approved a package of Ministry of Defense decisions to launch the Defence City space from January 5, 2026. This will provide comprehensive state support to Ukrainian arms manufacturers for scaling up, modernizing production, and generating innovations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects that the meeting of European leaders in Brussels will convince Russia of the futility of continuing the war next year. He also counts on continuing negotiations with the American team on peace and security.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Moscow is preparing next year as a year of war, and these are signals not only for Ukraine. He emphasized the need for partners, particularly the US, to react to this rhetoric, which undermines diplomacy.
Lioness Vasylina, rescued from Kharkiv region, died in a rehabilitation center in South Africa. She did not wake up, showing no signs of illness, after being evacuated and living with lion Nikola.
On December 18, hourly shutdown schedules and power limitations for industrial consumers will be in effect in most regions of Ukraine. The reason is the consequences of Russian missile and drone attacks on energy facilities.
