Since the beginning of December 27, 62 combat engagements have been recorded, with Russian occupiers storming the positions of Ukrainian defenders. Border settlements of Sumy Oblast are suffering from artillery shelling from the territory of the Russian Federation.
The Russian Ministry of Defense once again disseminated information about the alleged transfer of Kupyansk under the control of Russian troops. This happened after Russian military bloggers and Z-channels reported the loss of positions.
On December 26, 258 combat engagements took place on the Russian-Ukrainian front. The Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 63 assault actions of the aggressor in the Pokrovsk direction.
A video is circulating online in which Russian soldiers claim to have captured a command and observation post in Huliaipole. Law enforcement officers are verifying the authenticity of the video and the circumstances of the event, said Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Ukraine's air defense forces have already received nine modern IRIS-T missile systems. These missiles are capable of rapid maneuvering, hitting targets on head-on courses and during pursuit, and distinguishing real targets from decoys.
The prosecutor's office sent to court the case against 18 people involved in the torture of more than 90 civilians in Kupyansk, Kharkiv region. From March to September 2022, a torture chamber operated in the Kupyansk district police department, where people were held in inhumane conditions.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is introducing state financial support for enterprises of the defense-industrial complex under financial leasing agreements. The program provides for a reduction in the lessor's remuneration for critically important defense industry enterprises, providing access to transport and equipment at reduced rates.
Former heads of the State Aviation Service, Oleksandr Bilchuk and Ihor Zelinskyi, made decisions that could have harmed Ukraine's defense capabilities. Their actions, including blocking the use of Il-76 aircraft and cooperating with Russian companies, should be investigated within the framework of criminal proceedings.
During December 25, 115 combat engagements, 50 air strikes, 4060 kamikaze drones, and 2792 shelling attacks were recorded. The highest intensity of fighting was in the Pokrovsk direction, where the enemy carried out 26 attacks.
The Ministry of Defense has launched a pilot project using photo and video recording during the acceptance of rear property for the needs of the Armed Forces. This will ensure the objectivity of procedures and create an evidence base to minimize corruption risks.
On December 25, units of the Ukrainian Air Force successfully struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in the Rostov region with Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Numerous explosions were recorded, and the extent of the damage is being clarified.
On the night of December 25, 2025, the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck the port of Temryuk, causing a fire in two oil product tanks. The military airfield in Maykop and a repair unit in Truzhenka were also hit.
In Rivne region, an attack occurred on TCC employees, one of whom was struck with a metal object. The injured person is in serious condition and is receiving medical attention.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have regained control over most of Kupiansk, pushing the occupiers to the northeastern outskirts. Russian Z-channels report on the critical condition of their units, and the Center for Countering Disinformation confirmed the success of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
A 35-year-old Kyiv resident has been notified of suspicion of fraud for 30 thousand US dollars under the pretext of supplying drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The man, who had previously been convicted of fraud, promised to deliver 6 Mavik 3t quadcopters but did not fulfill his promise.
Now, funds from the "Winter Support" and "National Cashback" programs can be spent at NOVUS, LIGA PRIM, and online at ROZETKA. In total, Ukrainian products are available in 12 chains and on two online platforms.
The Security Service of Ukraine detained two pro-Kremlin agitators in Mykolaiv and Volyn who justified Russian aggression. Among those detained are a university postgraduate student and a deserter from the Armed Forces of Ukraine who spread pro-Russian posts.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive three million FPV drones by the end of this year, which is almost 2. 5 times more than last year. The vast majority of drones are domestically produced, and almost 15,000 ground-based robotic systems have also been supplied.
In November, 731 occupiers, 121 pieces of military equipment, and 59 other targets were destroyed on mine-explosive barriers installed by engineering units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The strikes were mostly carried out by remote mining using unmanned aerial vehicles.
Ukrainian defenders withdrew from Siversk in Donetsk region due to the enemy's superiority in manpower and equipment. The city remains under the fire control of the Defense Forces, which allows blocking the enemy's advance and inflicting damage on them.
Ihor Zelinsky, who is being lobbied for the position of head of the State Aviation Service, blocked the operation of the Ministry of Defense's Il-76MD military transport aircraft. This decision made it impossible to use critically important aviation equipment for the logistical needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the war.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled a mechanized assault by Russian occupiers in the Kostiantynivka direction on December 22. Soldiers of the 28th separate mechanized brigade destroyed enemy infantry and tanks.
The former head of the Central Department for the Provision of Fuel and Lubricants of the Rear of the Logistics Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is accused of illicit enrichment of over 17 million hryvnias. He also illegally stored weapons and ammunition seized during the search.
A Politico columnist predicts that the Russian-Ukrainian war will end next year on terms extremely unfavorable to Ukraine. This is due to the EU's inability to agree on the use of frozen Russian assets and insufficient funding.
On December 22, soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine repelled a Russian assault in the Dobropillia area. 4 tanks were destroyed and 6 IFVs, 6 tanks, an APC, an ATV, and 4 occupiers were hit.
Viktor Trehubov, head of the communications department of the Joint Forces Group, stated that the forced removal of about 50 residents of the village of Hrabovske, Sumy region, is a planned provocation. The occupiers use civilians as a "human shield" for manipulation on the battlefield and in the information space.
The 25th Separate Sicheslav Airborne Brigade of the Air Assault Forces published a video of battles in Pokrovsk, where Ukrainian soldiers repelled a massive attack by Russian FPV drones. Despite almost 20 attack UAVs in two minutes, there were no casualties among personnel.
On December 20, Russian troops lost 1130 soldiers and 116 UAVs. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 21.12.25 amount to 1,196,740 people.
The icon of St. Ilya Muromets of Kyiv-Pechersk, who will become the patron saint of warriors, was handed over to the Special Operations Forces. Ilya Muromets, a real historical figure of the 12th century, was a warrior of the princely retinue, and then a monk of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will not be able to independently finance an 800,000-strong Armed Forces. Partial funding of the army by partners is being considered as a security guarantee.
