On December 4, hourly power outages will be applied to household consumers and power limitations to industrial consumers throughout Ukraine. The reason is the consequences of massive Russian attacks on energy facilities.
The government has decided to terminate the powers of the supervisory boards of a number of state energy companies. New members will be elected by the end of December, and the supervisory boards of defense sector enterprises will also be rebooted.
Putin will pay a state visit to India on December 4-5 for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting takes place against the backdrop of India continuing to massively buy discounted Russian oil, despite warnings from Washington.
This year, the price of silver has risen by 100%, outperforming gold, thanks to supply shortages and high industrial demand. Metal reserves are close to historical lows, exacerbating the risk of scarcity.
Hungary and Slovakia will appeal to the EU's highest court to challenge the agreement to phase out Russian gas by September next year. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that the new restrictions are unacceptable, as Hungary cannot ensure energy supply without Russian sources.
Since May 2025, Naftogaz has imported 4. 4 billion cubic meters of gas and plans to reach 5 billion cubic meters by the end of the year. In December, daily import volumes increased by 25%, reaching 26 million cubic meters.
President Zelenskyy discussed personnel reshuffle in the energy sector with Prime Minister Svyrydenko. Today, the powers of some supervisory board members of state energy companies are being terminated, and new members will be appointed in December.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU pays Russia 1. 5 billion euros monthly for fossil fuels. She emphasized that this amount has significantly decreased since the beginning of the war, but is still too high.
Norway, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, and Canada announced funding for support packages for American weapons for Ukraine totaling over a billion dollars. Canada and Great Britain are also providing additional practical assistance.
Ukraine's foreign partners have coordinated further steps to restore the New Safe Confinement Arch over the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, damaged by a Russian drone in February 2025. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is considering mechanisms to attract new donors.
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Budget voted the State Budget for 2026 for the second reading. Proposed changes include an increase in the personal income tax percentage for local budgets and additional funds for arms procurement.
On the first night of winter, an explosion occurred on a section of the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia. The attack was carried out near the settlement of Kazinskiye Vyselki, on the Taganrog-Lipetsk oil pipeline section.
A record 3,339 amendments were submitted to the draft State Budget for 2026, and three more Ukrainian budgets would have been needed to accommodate them. Local budgets were left with 64% of personal income tax, and UAH 58 billion was allocated for teachers' salaries.
As of December 3, 99% of the heating season has been launched in Ukraine in the residential and social sectors. This includes 70.5 thousand buildings and 24.5 thousand social facilities, including kindergartens, schools, and healthcare institutions.
As a result of Russia's night attack on energy facilities, over 22,000 subscribers in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions were left without power. Electricity consumption remains high, and blackout schedules are in effect around the clock throughout Ukraine.
A security company employee has been exposed in Kyiv for providing Russian special services with information about the consequences of strikes, air defense, and military facilities. He also publicly denied Russian aggression and justified the occupation.
Russia is struggling to deliver oil under US sanctions, which has led to a 21% increase in oil volumes at sea in three months. The average voyage time for the flagship ESPO crude to Chinese ports has increased to over 12 days.
During the night, drones attacked the Odesa district, causing a fire at an energy infrastructure facility and damaging equipment. A worker was hospitalized in serious condition, and efforts to eliminate the consequences are ongoing.
On the night of December 3, drones attacked an oil depot in Russia's Tambov region, causing a fire. Russian authorities claimed to have destroyed 102 Ukrainian aircraft over seven regions, but the Tambov region was not mentioned in the report.
The European Union has agreed on final rules that provide for a gradual cessation of Russian natural gas imports. A full embargo on supplies will come into force by the end of 2027 after approval by the EU Council and the European Parliament.
5,000 subscribers were left without electricity due to a Russian strike on the Zaporizhzhia district. Energy workers will begin restoration work after the security situation improves.
On December 3, electricity outage schedules will be in effect for all regions of Ukraine, with 0. 5 to 3 queues without power. The restrictions are due to the consequences of Russian attacks on energy facilities.
The US has denied Serbia a license to operate the Russian-owned NIS refinery in Pančevo, blocking crude oil supplies. This jeopardizes the stability of the country's fuel market and leads to daily losses of 370,000 euros.
The profits of the Russian oil giant Rosneft collapsed by almost 70% due to sanctions. The CPD reports a crisis in Russia's energy sector.
Sweden has allocated a winter support package to Ukraine worth over 100 million euros, aimed at energy supply, infrastructure repair, reforms, and healthcare. The total aid amounts to 1.112 billion Swedish kronor.
Exxon Mobil is in talks with Iraq to acquire Lukoil's controlling stake in the West Qurna-2 field. This field accounts for 9% of Iraq's oil production, and potential buyers can negotiate until December 13.
On the night of December 2, Ukrainian Armed Forces drones attacked the building of the FSB of the Russian Federation in the Achkhoy-Martanovsky district of Chechnya, as a result of which the building completely burned down. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the downing of four drones over Chechnya.
Russian drones attacked civilian gas infrastructure facilities, which provide gas production and storage, on December 1 and 2. Destruction was recorded, there were no casualties.
The Ministry of Education and Science has submitted a resolution on co-financing joint scientific projects of higher education institutions, scientific institutions, and businesses for public discussion. The state will cover 40% to 60% of the costs, depending on the size of the enterprise.
The European defense sector grew by 13. 8% in 2024, reaching a turnover of €183.4 billion. This growth is a result of increased defense budgets following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
