Olga Rozgon
Ukraine ranked 40th among 195 countries in the Government AI Readiness Index 2025, moving up 14 positions. The country surpassed the US and Great Britain in some criteria, particularly in the digitalization of public services.
Poland has installed the first elements of an anti-drone system on the border with Belarus near the town of Krynki. The system will become operational in January, detecting, tracking, and neutralizing unmanned aerial vehicles.
The price of spot gold rose to $4,476. 15 per ounce, and US gold futures climbed to $4,509.80. Spot silver rose to $69.44 per ounce, renewing its record at $69.98.
In the Kharkiv region, a junior medical brother of the Chuhuiv branch of forensic medical examination was exposed for appropriating mobile phones of fallen Ukrainian soldiers. He has been notified of suspicion of theft committed under martial law, repeatedly.
Large-scale schemes for illegal border crossing by conscripts have been exposed in four regions of Ukraine. The organizers transported men to Moldova and Hungary for tens of thousands of dollars, and also issued fictitious disability documents.
In the first 9 months of 2025, global vehicle production exceeded 68. 7 million units, which is 4% more than last year. China remains the largest producer, having manufactured over 24.3 million units.
Poland scrambled its military aircraft and put air defense systems on alert in response to Russia's massive attack on Ukraine on December 23. These actions are preventive in nature to ensure the security of Poland's airspace.
Donald Trump has once again expressed his desire for the US to control Greenland, citing its importance for national security. This comes after the appointment of Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the island.
Donald Trump commented for the first time on the release of Jeffrey Epstein's files, stating that the reputations of people who "innocently met" with the convicted pedophile could be harmed. He expressed sympathy for prominent Democrats who have once again come under scrutiny due to their ties to Epstein.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni put more than 270 state gifts up for auction, including python skin shoes and an iPad from Zelenskyy. The total value of the lots is about 800,000 euros, and the sale is due to a law prohibiting keeping gifts worth more than 300 euros.
Several citizens of Belarus, Russia, and Lithuania are suspected of transferring EU-funded technologies to Russia's military industry. Five individuals and one company have been notified of suspicion, and more than ten searches have been conducted in various cities of Lithuania.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov announced "slow progress" after talks in Miami on a plan to end the war in Ukraine. Negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and Donald Trump's envoys were productive, but without significant breakthroughs due to contentious issues.
In Lviv region, three men organized an interregional channel for illegal arms trade, selling Kalashnikov assault rifles for $1,000 per unit. The perpetrators disguised the weapons as sports nutrition, and received payment in cash, including by hiding money in books.
Law enforcement officers uncovered an underground workshop in the Lviv region that produced counterfeit clothing of famous Italian brands. Property worth almost UAH 14 million was seized, including over 2,000 units of clothing and over UAH 1 million in cash.
In Odesa, police launched a criminal investigation into the death of two kittens in a cat cafe. Some of the animals in the establishment were in a sickly condition.
The former director of "Lymansky Forestry" has been served with a notice of suspicion of abuse of office. In 2023–2024, the forestry enterprise purchased 3,000 cubic meters of timber without production necessity, overpaying more than UAH 1.6 million in state funds.
On December 23, temperatures around zero are expected in Ukraine, with light snow in the west, north, and occasionally in the center. No precipitation is expected in the south and east.
Denmark reacted to the appointment of the US special envoy to Greenland, emphasizing respect for territorial integrity. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stressed that everyone must respect the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Two NATO intelligence agencies believe Russia is working on a new anti-satellite weapon capable of attacking Starlink. It could form orbital 'clouds' of debris that could potentially disable satellites and pose a threat to other space systems.
Today, December 22, traffic on the Southern Bridge will be partially restricted in the leftmost lane from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The reason is the repair of the asphalt concrete pavement of the bridge's overpass section.
A new service has been launched in the "Diia" application for veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which allows them to receive compensation for car insurance. 50% of the cost is compensated by the insurance company, and the rest by the state, making the policy free.
Dianne Holechek, the first wife of Hollywood actor Chuck Norris, has died at the age of 84 at her home in Texas. The cause of death was a long battle with dementia.
In November, more than 60% of new passenger car sales in Ukraine fell on five regions. Kyiv remains the leader, and regional buyer preferences vary significantly by model.
US President Donald Trump is preparing to tighten immigration policies in 2026, anticipating billions of dollars in new funding. This comes amid growing public opposition and declining approval ratings for his policies.
The Ukrainian negotiating team in Florida is meticulously working on documents concerning the end of the war, security guarantees, and the reconstruction of Ukraine. Possible timelines for solutions are also being discussed with representatives of US President Donald Trump.
President Zelenskyy stated that the allocation of a 90 billion euro interest-free loan to Ukraine for two years is a real financial security guarantee. The funds will be disbursed at 45 billion euros annually for two years and will be repaid from Russian assets.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will redirect up to 1 GW of electricity for the needs of the population by December 24. This will reduce the number of outages, balancing the energy system.
Russia exported gold bars worth $961 million to China in November, which is a historical high. In total, for 11 months of 2025, China's import of Russian gold amounted to $1.9 billion.
An employee of the Élysée Palace, responsible for storing silverware, has been arrested in Paris on suspicion of stealing silver items and porcelain worth approximately 40,000 euros. The stolen items, some of which are considered national cultural heritage, were allegedly offered for sale through online auctions.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Russia is no different from ISIS terrorists after the forced removal of 50 civilians from Hrabovske in Sumy region to the Russian Federation. Ukraine demands the return of all civilian hostages and calls on the international community to join the demand for their release.