The Kharkiv region was switched to emergency power outages in the morning, and consumers in the Donetsk region were completely de-energized due to night attacks by the Russian Federation. In total, more than 700,000 consumers in the Odesa and Donetsk regions remain without electricity.
Today, the 32nd meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense in the "Ramstein" format will take place. Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal will inform the allies about the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine's needs.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the Pokrovsk agglomeration, destroying almost 100% of aerial targets. Over the past week, enemy personnel losses reached 446 people, which is 30% more than in the previous period.
The SBU found a Makarov pistol with a silencer, which was used to kill People's Deputy Andriy Parubiy. The weapon was in a cache set up by the killer and contains his DNA.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko reported on the discovery of the pistol used to kill Andriy Parubiy, and new evidence indicating the suspect's treason. His actions have been additionally qualified for cooperation with Russian special services and justifying Russian aggression.
The US is offering Ukraine security guarantees similar to NATO's Article 5, but with an implicit ultimatum to accept them now. This offer is an attempt to accelerate a peace agreement and allay fears of a future Russian attack.
Research has found that some new variants of the H5N1 bird flu virus are better at infecting cow cells than older ones. This highlights the need for monitoring as the virus spreads among dairy cattle and poses a potential pandemic threat.
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson are engaged after a year of relationship. President Trump announced the engagement at the White House.
Overnight, Russia attacked Ukraine with 69 Shahed-type, Gerbera, and other attack UAVs. Air defense forces shot down/suppressed 57 enemy UAVs; hits by 10 attack UAVs were recorded at 7 locations.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine have received reinforcements and continue active operations in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration area. The enemy has committed all its operational reserves, but Ukrainian troops are successfully resisting its attempts to break through the defense.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that there is no agreement on the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. He noted that the positions of Europe and the US on this issue differ significantly.
A military drone crashed on private property in Lekowo, Mazowieckie Voivodeship, during Polish soldiers' training. No one was injured, and no buildings were damaged.
Chinese automaker BYD has significantly extended the battery warranty coverage for its electric vehicles in Europe to 8 years or 250,000 km. This new policy exceeds industry standards and puts pressure on competitors.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 151 combat engagements over the past day, more than half of which occurred in the Pokrovsk, Oleksandrivka, and Kostiantynivka directions. The enemy launched 90 airstrikes and used 5,471 kamikaze drones.
US President Donald Trump has classified fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, giving the government additional powers in the fight against illicit trafficking. This move will allow the US to use military force against drug traffickers, particularly in Venezuela.
Canadian defense manufacturers will be able to access loans under the EU's SAFE program totaling 150 billion euros, with a limit of 80% of the value of purchased equipment. This is a significant increase compared to the usual 35% for manufacturers from third countries, with Canada also paying an entry fee.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the damage to the Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant on the night of December 15. Explosions and a powerful fire were recorded on the plant's territory, and the extent of the damage is being clarified.
The Ukrainian diplomat refutes conspiracy theories regarding negotiations with the United States, stating that the information is false. He emphasizes the importance of involving the American side in the peace process.
EU ambassadors in Brussels today are discussing the European Commission's amendments to the reparations loan proposal for financing Ukraine. These amendments aim to address the concerns of Belgium, as well as Italy, Bulgaria, and Malta, who are calling for alternative options.
The meeting between Trump's advisers and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday was productive, a US official said. This became known after the second round of talks in Berlin involving Zelenskyy and US representatives.
Hybrids and plug-in hybrids are rapidly increasing sales, displacing gasoline cars. In the US, 22% of passenger cars sold in the first quarter of this year were hybrids, and in Europe they are already the most popular, occupying 35% of the market.
A fight between teenagers was recorded near the Alley of Memory of Heroes in Irpin. The Bucha district police are conducting an investigation and identifying those involved.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US negotiators in Berlin amid increased pressure from Donald Trump on Ukraine to reach an agreement. The meeting followed five hours of talks on Sunday aimed at ending the war with Russia.
In Ukraine, moderately warm weather without significant precipitation is expected in the coming days due to the Frieda anticyclone. In most regions, the temperature will be +4...+7 degrees, in the east from -1 to +2 degrees.
In Lutsk, a 35-year-old man was detained after he fired three shots from an undeclared automatic rifle on December 14, at about 6 p. m., while intoxicated. He was charged with illegal handling of weapons.
The European Union has expanded sanctions against 9 individuals and entities supporting Russia's "shadow fleet" that transports oil. This decision aims to limit Russia's revenues and targets companies associated with "Rosneft" and "Lukoil" that use illegal shipping practices.
Ukraine and the US are holding a second day of talks in Berlin on a plan to end the war, with security guarantees for Ukraine taking center stage. President Zelenskyy is discussing abandoning NATO membership in exchange for bilateral security agreements.
The Louvre Museum in Paris did not open on December 15 due to a staff strike, who unanimously voted to stop working. Employees are protesting against deteriorating working conditions and insufficient funding after the robbery on October 19.
Ukraine has introduced a new approach to air raid alerts with district-by-district notification, which will reduce the duration of alerts in communities without a real threat. This has already shortened the time of alerts in frontline and central regions, allowing businesses to operate more stably.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin refuses a unilateral withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk region. This comes against the backdrop of a 28-point US plan that envisages Ukraine's renunciation of NATO and new elections.
