Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that is worsening. Her doctors are preparing for a possible organ transplant, which may be needed as early as autumn 2025.
Leading Russian funeral companies earned 14. 872 billion rubles in 2024, which is 24% more than a year earlier. Coffin prices have increased by 84%, and grave digging by 51% since the beginning of 2022.
On December 19, the United States imposed sanctions on seven individuals linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The restrictions target relatives of Carlos Erik Malpica Flores, who is accused of corruption in the oil company.
The SBU detained a Russian agent in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast who was attempting to set up "video traps" on Dnipro highways to spy on columns of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The perpetrator collected data on the quantity and types of military equipment of the Defense Forces moving to the front line.
On December 19, the US Department of Justice released a portion of the investigation materials in the case of Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sex crimes. The documents include photographs of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, Donald Trump, and 50 censored images of nude women.
The occupiers made gains near Dronivka, Vyshneve, and in Siversk in Donetsk region. DeepState updated the combat map on December 19.
Donald Trump stated that Operation "Hawk Strike" in Syria is retaliation for the killing of American servicemen by ISIS. He emphasized that the US is delivering decisive blows to ISIS strongholds.
During a meeting in Warsaw, Polish President Karol Nawrocki presented Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a two-volume set of "Documents of the Volyn Crime" in Ukrainian translation. This gesture was intended to emphasize the importance of the exhumation of the victims of the Volyn tragedy for Poland and the partnership relations between the countries.
IAEA head Rafael Grossi stated that the situation in Ukraine's energy system is the worst since September 2024, when substation monitoring began. Constant instability in the power grid undermines nuclear safety, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has lost external power supply 12 times.
Japan has decided to provide Ukraine with additional financial support for the next year, totaling approximately $6 billion. President Zelenskyy thanked Japan and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for this decision, which will strengthen Ukraine's defense.
The US has announced the start of Operation "Hawk Strike" in Syria, aimed at ISIS militants in response to an attack on American troops. The Pentagon emphasized that this is a targeted punitive operation to destroy terrorists and their infrastructure, not the beginning of a new war.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the situation at the front, calling it "difficult" due to the increasing number of Russian troops. He noted that Kupyansk, which he recently visited, remains under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, despite enemy pressure and problems with missile supplies.
The German government plans to expand the functions of the Federal Intelligence Service, allowing it to carry out cyberattacks and sabotage operations abroad. This comes amid growing hybrid threats and the activity of foreign intelligence services.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he does not seek to remain in the presidential office. He emphasized that he supports holding elections provided that security is guaranteed and legislative changes are made.
On the evening of December 19, Russian troops attacked Mykolaiv and the region, which led to power outages in part of the city and individual settlements. All necessary services are working at the shelling sites.
The Ukrainian delegation concluded a series of negotiations in the US with American and European partners. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov announced an agreement on further steps and continued joint work.
The Ukrainian government is promptly eliminating the consequences of the Russian strike on the key bridge between Odesa and Izmail, establishing alternative communication routes. The region is provided with resources, transport operations are being adapted, and business operations are supported, the Cabinet of Ministers assures.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will not allow Putin to influence possible elections in the country, as he wants to control not only Russian elections. The President noted that Putin is looking for justifications for the war, not its root causes, and does not intend to end the war only with Ukraine.
On the evening of December 19, the Russian army attacked a port infrastructure facility in Odesa district with ballistic missiles. As a result of the strike, seven people were killed and 15 more were injured.
The National Bank of Ukraine set the official exchange rates for December 19: the dollar remained at 42. 33 hryvnias. The euro lost 3 kopecks, and the zloty gained 1 kopeck.
Over the past day, the Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed 1220 Russian invaders and 141 units of enemy equipment. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 19.12.25 amounted to over 11 million personnel.
Russian border guards on a hovercraft crossed the control line on the Narva River, landing on Estonian territory. Estonia has intensified patrols and will summon the chargé d'affaires of the Russian embassy for explanations.
On Friday, December 19, stable weather without precipitation will persist in Ukraine due to high atmospheric pressure. Dense fogs are possible on the Left Bank, in the west, and in Zhytomyr region, which will worsen visibility on the roads.
The European Union has agreed to finance Ukraine with 90 billion euros over two years. Ukraine will repay these funds only after receiving reparations from Russia, and frozen Russian assets will remain frozen.
The number of patents in Russia has decreased by almost a quarter since the beginning of the war, reaching its lowest level in 20 years. Most state "innovative" projects are borrowed or adapted technologies, not genuine innovations.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed details of the agreement between EU leaders on providing financial assistance to Ukraine for 2026–2027.
Negotiations between the US and Russia on a peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine are planned in Miami, where the Russian side will be represented by Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev. The meeting will take place after consultations in Berlin, where security guarantees for Kyiv and possible territorial concessions were discussed.
The countries of the European Union have agreed to provide Ukraine with 90 billion euros in aid for 2026-2027. This was stated by the President of the European Council, António Costa.
Chinese company ByteDance has entered into an agreement to transfer its US division to the joint venture TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. American investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, will receive 45% of the shares of the new structure, which will be responsible for protecting user data in the US and content moderation.
Two FSB informants, exposed in Khmelnytskyi region in April 2024, have been sentenced to 12 and 10 years in prison. They installed hidden mini-cameras near operational airfields of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in western Ukraine to track combat aircraft.
