Olga Rozgon
A scheme to embezzle budget funds by military officials and civilians has been uncovered in the Kyiv region, causing UAH 15. 5 million in damages to the state. The accountant of the military unit processed fictitious payments to civilians who were not on the personnel lists.
A man who drove a car into a crowd of football fans during a parade in Liverpool has been sentenced to 21. 5 years in prison. More than 130 people were injured in the incident, including a Ukrainian woman who required surgery.
The occupation administration of the Kherson region has admitted that gasification of the left bank reaches only 27%, leaving about 38,000 facilities without connection. This is happening despite promises of integration into Russian systems, and a significant part of the gas lines are not functioning or are in disrepair.
Russian oil prices have fallen to their lowest level since the start of the war, as sanctions deepen the discounts the country's oil industry is forced to offer. Exporters are receiving just over $40 a barrel, down 28% compared to the last three months, while global benchmark oil prices are also falling.
The occupation authorities of Crimea announced the "nationalization" of the property of 84 Ukrainians, accusing them of "cooperation with Kyiv" and supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The list includes world boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, as well as politicians, entrepreneurs, and military personnel.
Despite economic problems, Russia continues to increase the production of tanks, drones, helicopters, and missiles. This indicates Putin's attempt to compensate the elites of the defense complex for sanctions losses and the Kremlin's unwavering course towards continuing the war.
French President's wife Brigitte Macron has apologized for calling feminists "sales connes" in a private conversation. She stated that her remarks were made in a private context and she would not have used such words publicly.
A transnational network of fraudulent call centers operating in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Ivano-Frankivsk has been liquidated in Ukraine. The perpetrators defrauded EU citizens of over 50 million hryvnias using "vishing" and other schemes.
A Christmas tree was lit and a Nativity scene was opened in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. The ceremony, led by Sister Raffaella Petrini, emphasized the symbolism of peace and fraternal unity.
The cost of a New Year's table for a family of four in Ukraine in 2026 will be about 3980 hryvnias. This is 10.7% more expensive than last year, according to data from the Institute of Agrarian Economics.
In November, Ukrainians purchased 3,908 Chinese passenger cars, which is 4. 8 times more than last year. The vast majority of them are electric vehicles, accounting for 93% of the total volume.
Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit in Miami court against the BBC for $10 billion for defamation and violation of Florida's trade practices law. The lawsuit concerns edited footage of Trump's speech shown on the Panorama program.
The European Union has imposed sanctions against Pakistani oil tycoon Murtaza Lakhani and Azerbaijani businessman Etibar Eyubov. This happened as part of a new package of measures against Russia over its war against Ukraine.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to take Poland's support for granted, calling for a reset of relations ahead of their meeting in Warsaw. Nawrocki stated that Poles "often do not feel like partners" in relations with Ukraine.
A 28-year-old man in Kyiv has been notified of suspicion in the murder of an 89-year-old grandmother and the attempted murder of his 65-year-old mother. He was detained at the railway station after fleeing.
Over the past week, 10,238 new cases of flu and ARVI, including COVID-19, were registered in Kyiv, which is 4. 7% more than last week. 160 patients with flu and ARVI, as well as 25 people with COVID-19, were hospitalized.
Prosecutors of the Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor's Office uncovered an underground workshop where six local residents organized a full cycle of illegal production of e-cigarette liquids. The production capacity allowed for the manufacture of up to 2,000 sets of products per day, and the estimated value of the seized goods and materials exceeds 20 million hryvnias.
The European Union has expanded sanctions against Belarus to include hybrid hostile actions against neighboring countries. The new criterion allows for restrictions to be imposed on companies and individuals involved in actions that threaten the EU's democracy, rule of law, stability, or security.
The launch of the Russian Proton-M carrier rocket from Baikonur, scheduled for December 15, failed due to a "local discrepancy" in the upper stage. This incident points to systemic problems in Russia's space industry amid international sanctions.
Australia plans to tighten gun laws after the largest mass shooting in nearly 30 years, which killed 16 people at Bondi Beach in Sydney. A father and son, identified as Sajid Akram and Navid Akram, carried out the attack using registered weapons.
The SBU and the National Police detained a 23-year-old unemployed man who was preparing an assassination attempt on a leading specialist of a defense plant in Zaporizhzhia. The Russian agent collected data on the official and tracked the locations of the Defense Forces for air strikes.
Czech President Petr Pavel has appointed a new government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. The government includes representatives of ANO, SPD, and "Motorists," who have taken 16 ministerial portfolios.
Thailand halted fuel shipments to Laos via the Chong Mek border crossing, fearing diversion to Cambodia. This decision is linked to the border conflict and intelligence reports of fuel supplies to Cambodian troops.
In 11 months, over 11,000 companies ceased operations in Ukraine, mostly in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv regions. Public organizations turned out to be the most vulnerable, while joint-stock companies lasted the longest.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Germany for a meeting with the American delegation. The negotiations concern security guarantees for Ukraine to avoid a repeat of the Budapest Memorandum experience and Russia's invasion.
Russia continues a large-scale campaign to falsify historical memory, using pseudo-historical "research" for informational influence on neighboring states. In particular, in 2025, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations published a 400-page "History of Lithuania" with a preface by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will seek another path to end the war with Russia if peace talks do not yield results. He emphasized the need for a realistic approach to the peace process, noting that financial support from EU partners continues to arrive.
12 people have died and 29 have been injured in a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Police are investigating the possibility of a third attacker and have found a car with suspected explosive devices.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the peace plan will not satisfy everyone, as it contains compromises. He emphasized the importance of justice for Ukraine and the plan's effectiveness to prevent new Russian aggression.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the US and some European countries did not support Ukraine's accession to NATO. This happened during negotiations on the American administration's peace plan.