Lilia Podolyak
Cardinal Angelo Becciu has been sentenced by a Vatican court to 5. 5 years in prison for fraud related to the purchase of real estate in London. This is the first time a cardinal has been convicted in the Vatican.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, rejected the Kyiv mayor's request to transfer scrapped cars to Ukraine, citing that the ULEZ recycling scheme should benefit Londoners.
Ukraine has fulfilled Romania's environmental requirements for the Danube-Black Sea canal project, resolving the dispute under the Espoo Convention. This paves the way for the construction of the canal, which will connect the Danube with the Black Sea.
Next week, the EU will vote on the 12th package of sanctions against Russia, which was blocked by Austria.
Over the past day, Russians shelled Sumy region of Ukraine 26 times, resulting in 138 explosions and one civilian being wounded. The attacks included mortar, artillery and grenade attacks on several settlements.
Lithuania and the United States signed a new defense cooperation plan for 2024-2028 to strengthen deterrence in the Baltic region and ensure the American military presence. The plan also focuses on developing Lithuania's defense capabilities and ongoing military procurement.
A 55-year-old man wounded in a grenade attack on a village council member in Zakarpattia, Ukraine, has died in hospital from his serious injuries. The deputy faces up to 12 years in prison for the attack, which injured 26 people.
Kyiv region survived a five-hour drone attack at night without damage to infrastructure or casualties thanks to the effective work of air defense forces.
Russian shelling damaged a residential building in Zaporizhzhya region; 107 attacks were carried out in 19 towns and villages, with no civilian casualties.
At night, Russians shelled Sumy region with mortars, causing 13 explosions in various localities, including Krasnopilska, Bilopilska, Esmanska and Znob-Novgorodska.
The number of military clashes and air strikes in the area of the Joint Forces Operation Tavria decreased, although Russian troops continue infantry attacks and artillery shelling, said JFO Commander Tarnavsky.
Kherson was subjected to nighttime shelling by the occupiers, which resulted in three people being wounded, including one person with a head injury and another with limb injuries, as well as damage to infrastructure and a medical facility.
Mykolaiv oblast air defense shoots down two drones; Russian shelling of Ochakiv and nearby villages results in no casualties.
Ukrainian air defense destroyed 12 Russian-launched Shahid drones, the wreckage of which damaged a building and a hospital in Kherson, with no casualties.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine intercepted and destroyed 30 Shahid attack drones used by the Russian army in 11 regions during a night raid.
Russia's losses in Ukraine since February 2022 have amounted to approximately 344,820 personnel and 5,720 tanks, with additional losses in other military equipment.
In the Dnipropetrovs'k region, the wreckage of a downed plane caused a fire at a private enterprise, which was quickly extinguished, and no one was injured.
Ukrainian air defense shoots down 30 of 31 Russian Shahid drones launched overnight, the General Staff says.
Ukrainian missile forces struck 4 military units and 2 ammunition depots in 96 combat engagements.
The commander of the Joint Forces, Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev, said that 14 Shahid drones were shot down in northern Ukraine, attacking military and civilian targets near Kyiv and Chernihiv.
The United States and South Korea plan to develop joint nuclear defense guidelines by mid-2024 to counter the threat from North Korea, which will include methods for secure information exchange and consultation in crisis situations.
Alex Beatty, a British boy who had been missing for six years, was found in France at the age of 17; he had been living in a spiritual community but left it, missing his family.
A New York court sentences Charles McGonigal to prison for harming national security by conspiring with a Russian oligarch.
US Secretary of State Blinken and German Foreign Minister Burbock discussed Israel's defense against Hamas, the humanitarian needs of Gaza, the protection of civilians, the prevention of new conflicts, and the response to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
Kyiv's air defense system shot down all attacking drones during a nighttime attack on December 16, with no casualties. This is the sixth air attack on the city in December.
Three drone strikes hit the Kursk region of Russia, damaging 8 buildings and infrastructure, including a compressor station and a power line, with no casualties.
The U. S. State Department has approved a $300 million sale to support Taiwan's tactical information systems aimed at promoting regional stability and security. This arms sale could increase tensions between the US and China.
Global container shipping companies are suspending operations in the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on civilian vessels, and leading companies such as Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are temporarily suspending their cargo transportation.
Mark Zuckerberg is building a large underground bunker as part of a secret complex on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, with luxury amenities and high security, costing more than $270 million.
INTERPOL's Trigger-Salvo II operation in Asia has resulted in more than 1,700 arrests, the seizure of 714 firearms and more than 45,000 rounds of ammunition.