A Russian ship fired flares at a German military helicopter in the Baltic Sea. Germany responds by tightening control over critical infrastructure in the region.
The Verkhovna Rada voted for the liquidation of Krail from April 1, 2025 and the creation of a new gambling regulator. The law tightens control over the gambling market and sets new fines for operators.
The Verkhovna Rada has sent for a second reading a draft law on criminal liability for leaking information from state registers. The document provided for up to 8 years in prison for such violations during martial law.
Oleg Vinnik announced a concert in Warsaw on December 21, causing a mixed reaction in the network. The singer, who left for Germany after the war, promises to perform his favorite hits and new songs.
In the city of lenskoye, Yakutia, an asteroid about 70 centimeters in size was recorded falling. The celestial body fell at 19: 14, its appearance was predicted by scientists.
Brave1 was developed by three Ukrainian analogues of the Chinese Mavic UAV, which are already used at the front. The drones comply with NATO standards, have electronic warfare protection and automatic landing.
Due to the declaration of martial law in South Korea, the Ukrainian Embassy issued a warning to citizens. Ukrainians are advised to avoid mass events and have their documents with them.
Yale researchers have identified hundreds of children abducted by the Russian Federation from Donetsk and Luhansk regions. 148 children are already in Russian databases, 166 are placed in Russian families.
The president stated the need to strengthen the Donetsk direction, especially in the supply of weapons from partners. Ukraine is also working to increase its own defense production and range.
The Italian government plans to approve the 10th package of military assistance to Ukraine by the end of the month. Details of the package are classified, as are the previous nine, which included SAMP/T air defense systems.
Zelensky announced expectations of new air defense systems from partners in December and January. Germany will hand over the sixth IRIS-T system, as well as Patriot and Gepard launchers.
The Cabinet of ministers appointed Igor Smelyansky as the Government Commissioner for Customs Reform. He will coordinate Customs Reform and lead an interdepartmental working group with a wide range of tasks.
The Cabinet of ministers is preparing the largest expansion of the Affordable Medicines Program, which already covers more than 500 drugs. For remote and frontline territories, a "mobile pharmacy" and delivery via Ukrposhta were launched.
Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said that utility tariffs will remain unchanged until the end of the heating season - no increases are planned.
The Cabinet of Ministers has renamed the Ministry of Reintegration to the Ministry of National Unity of Ukraine. The Verkhovna Rada has appointed Oleksiy Chernyshov as the new head of the agency.
The Verkhovna Rada has passed a bill on the voluntary military registration of women. From 2025, women will be able to voluntarily undergo basic military training and be registered as reservists.
The Verkhovna Rada has adopted a law on depriving tax benefits of persons who have been stripped of state awards. The changes will affect, in particular, those who lost the title of Hero of Ukraine and other distinctions due to support for the aggressor country.
The parliament adopted a law on contingent liabilities, which will allow receiving $50 billion from the G7. The loan will not need to be repaid if Ukraine does not receive reparations from the Russian Federation.
The Verkhovna Rada supported the early termination of the powers of MP Alena Shkrum from Batkivshchyna. According to MP Honcharenko, she plans to head a new Ministry of Association of Ukrainians.
The Verkhovna Rada appointed Oleksiy Chernyshov as Vice Prime Minister - Minister of National Unity. The new ministry will be responsible for the return of Ukrainians and countering Russian influences abroad.
In the 15th round of the UPL, Ingulets won the first victory of the season, defeating Vorskla with a score of 3:0. Dynamo drew with Kolos and shares the first place with Alexandria.
The president of Ukraine said that there are insufficient contacts with the newly elected US President Donald Trump. Zelensky stressed the importance of maintaining the support of the United States and the EU in the war against Russia.
12 thousand North Korean military personnel arrived in Russia for the war against Ukraine. North Korea also handed over 3.5 million artillery shells and other military equipment to Russia.
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on law enforcement recommended the adoption of a bill on punishment for leaking information from state registers. Violators face from 5 to 8 years in prison and a ban on holding certain positions.
During Scholz's visit to Kiev, the leaders visited a drone manufacturing facility. Germany has announced a new package of military assistance worth 650 million euros, including air defense systems and armored vehicles.
Germany will transfer 650 million euros worth of military assistance to Ukraine, including IRIS-t air defense systems, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. The package will also contain 6,500 Helsing missiles and 4,000 drones.
In Dnipro, a BMW driver collided with a Ford during a U-turn near the Detsky Kombinat bus stop. As a result of the accident, a 10-year-old girl was killed, and four other people, including two children, were injured.
Gur reports the transfer of 2,000 North Korean military personnel to the Marine Corps and airborne brigades of the Russian Federation. Another 9,000 North Korean military personnel are in the operational reserve of the Russian Federation.
MEPs have called on the European Commission to impose sanctions against the leadership of the Georgian Dream because of the authoritarian seizure of power. The Baltic states have already agreed to impose national sanctions against the suppression of protests in Georgia.
ISW: an increase in Russian military spending to 41% of the budget in 2025 does not guarantee an increase in military capabilities. A significant part of the funds will be spent on social payments, which may weaken the country's economy.
