In Pokrovsk, battles continue in the southern part of the city, and in Myrnohrad, isolated cases of enemy infiltration are being detected and eliminated. Ukrainian units are holding defensive lines and neutralized 123 occupiers in 24 hours in the Pokrovsk direction.
Due to the enemy's attack on a critical infrastructure facility, traffic on the Odesa-Reni highway has been stopped. Passage through the checkpoints "Mayaky-Udobne-Palanka" and "Starokozache-Tudora" on the Ukrainian-Moldovan section is temporarily suspended.
Russia once again attacked Odesa region, targeting energy and transport infrastructure. As a result of the strikes, the Odesa-Skhidna railway station was damaged, an employee was injured, 74.5 thousand subscribers were left without electricity, and 85 thousand without heating.
Ukraine has repatriated 1003 bodies, which, according to the Russian Federation, belong to Ukrainian servicemen. Law enforcement agencies will conduct examinations and identification of the repatriated bodies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held his first official meeting with Polish President Karol Navrotskyi in Warsaw. The leaders will discuss security, economic, and historical issues.
One of SpaceX's Starlink satellites experienced an anomaly in space, creating a small amount of debris and losing communication at an altitude of 418 km. The satellite is practically intact, rotating and will re-enter Earth's atmosphere, where it will completely disintegrate within a few weeks.
A Kyiv resident in a police uniform filmed a provocative video for likes, imitating the behavior of law enforcement officers and using obscene language. He faces a fine of up to UAH 34,000 for creating such content.
Due to Russian attacks on energy facilities in five regions of Ukraine, consumers have been cut off from power, with over 99,000 of them in Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Blackout schedules remain in effect, but additional capacities have been freed up to shorten them.
French President Emmanuel Macron believes it would be useful for Europe to resume interaction with Vladimir Putin. He stressed that Europeans should find ways to do so in the coming weeks.
The European Union and its member states are ready to contribute to robust security guarantees for Ukraine, including through a Coalition of the Willing and in cooperation with the United States. The EU will address matters within its competence or those affecting its security, according to the European Council conclusions of December 18.
US President Donald Trump has ordered a suspension of the green card lottery program after a shooting suspect who killed an MIT professor obtained one. The move is part of the Trump administration's efforts to curb legal immigration.
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to ease federal marijuana rules, directing the Attorney General to reclassify it. This decision could change the cannabis industry and open the door for research funding.
The European Union plans to introduce its 20th package of sanctions against Russia in early 2026, continuing pressure to end the war. EU leaders call for coordination with the G7 and stronger measures against sanctions circumvention, as well as condemning third-country support for Russia.
In Odesa, an energy facility and a residential building were damaged, and one person was injured. Residents of one of the largest residential areas were left without electricity, water, and heat supply.
The European Council decided to allocate 90 billion euros in funding to Ukraine for 2026-2027. The funds will be based on EU borrowings without the use of Russian assets and without the involvement of the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia.
Russia attacked Ukraine with 160 Shahed-type, Gerbera, and other drones on the night of December 19. Air defense forces destroyed or suppressed 108 enemy drones in the south and east of the country.
Over 25% of new cars sold globally in 2025 are electric, according to an Ember analysis. This growth is driven by emerging markets, which are now leading the transition to electromobility.
The National Bank of Ukraine considers receiving a reparation loan as the baseline scenario, but in case of delays with external assistance, the government can rely on banks. NBU Deputy Governor Serhiy Nikolaychuk noted that banks have the potential to increase investments in government securities.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that using frozen Russian assets is the only realistic way for Europe to finance support for Ukraine. He noted that technical discussions are currently underway regarding a mechanism based on Russian assets, instead of discussing alternatives.
Technical groups at the EU summit are working to find ways to finance Ukraine, which could take hours. Discussions on a loan for Ukraine are moving in the right direction, a German official assessed.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of a number of enemy targets in the temporarily occupied territories, including the 55Zh6 "Nebo-U" radar in Crimea and a fuel and lubricants depot in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. A UAV depot in Makiivka was also hit, and two S-400 air defense system launchers in Belgorod Oblast were destroyed.
Police are investigating the beating of a district officer by three servicemen of the Odesa RTCC and SP. One of the attackers was intoxicated, all suspects have been notified of suspicion.
EU countries have offered additional guarantees to Belgium to support a plan to provide Ukraine with a 210 billion euro loan from frozen Russian assets. Unused loan funds will be the first line of defense if the EU has to compensate Russia for damages.
The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine has published a draft law on the introduction of VAT for individual entrepreneurs from 2027, which is intended to improve VAT administration for single tax payers. The changes envisage a reduction of the single tax rate from 5% to 3% for the 3rd group of individual entrepreneurs who reach the limit of UAH 1 million, and mandatory registration as a VAT payer.
An anticyclone will determine the weather in Ukraine on December 18, it will be dry and sometimes windy. From December 26, a cold snap with night frosts down to -5...-11 degrees is expected.
The European Union has imposed sanctions against 41 vessels of Russia's "shadow fleet. " This decision was made within the framework of the sanctions regime for Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine.
The EU leaders' summit began with a delay due to negotiations between Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa with farmers. Leaders are discussing funding for Ukraine, defense readiness, and a trade agreement with Mercosur.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the EU plan to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine is “dead. ” According to him, not enough leaders supported the idea.
A 10-year-old boy with a disability died of starvation in Vinnytsia region. The child's mother, a social worker, and a family doctor received suspicions.
President of the European Council António Costa stated that a decision on supporting Ukraine would be made by the end of the EU summit. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen also confirmed that leaders would not leave the summit without an agreement on financing Ukraine for the next two years.
