As a result of the night attack by Russian drones on the port infrastructure of Odesa region on December 25, the head of the guard was killed. Two more people were injured and received medical assistance.
On the night of December 25, Russia attacked Ukraine with 131 drones, mostly Shahed. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 106 enemy UAVs, and hits were recorded in 15 locations.
Over the past day, 151 combat engagements took place on the front, with the hottest spots being the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole directions. The invaders launched 1 missile and 80 air strikes, used 3 missiles and dropped 193 guided aerial bombs.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 130 combat engagements since the beginning of December 24, 28 of which were enemy attacks in the Pokrovsk direction. The enemy launched one missile and 52 air strikes, and used 3274 kamikaze drones.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced the full combat readiness of Estonian services to give armed resistance to any Russian provocations. Tallinn will no longer tolerate the appearance of soldiers without insignia on its territory.
Soldiers of the Rubizh brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine celebrated Christmas Eve at the front line. Hot tea and kutia were on the tables, symbolizing the connection with generations and native homes.
In Sumy region, 5 people were injured in shelling on Christmas Eve. The enemy attacked civilian cars and launched a missile strike on Okhtyrka district.
Cherkasy Mayor Anatoliy Bondarenko reported that Russian troops shelled the local cemetery and the Alley of Heroes. As a result of the attack, monuments were damaged.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the Pope's disappointment over Russia's refusal of a Christmas truce. He noted that Russia not only rejected the proposal to stop the killings but also launched a massive missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian energy system.
The Ministry of Education and Science provided detailed information on "winter admission" and preparation for the main admission for applicants.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that institutions hosting IDPs will receive compensation for utility services. The changes include compensation without IDP status, accounting for the actual period of stay, simplifying expense verification, and increasing the norm for social housing area.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine extended the operational period of large combustion plants until December 31, 2028. This decision was made to ensure energy security and fulfill Ukraine's international obligations.
Ukrposhta presented a new postal issue "Christmas Angel".
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 52 combat engagements on the front as of 4:00 PM on December 24. Russian troops attacked in a number of directions, carried out artillery shelling and airstrikes.
Russia views the US 20-point peace plan as a starting point, demanding more restrictions on Ukraine's military forces and guarantees regarding NATO. Ukraine and the US have disagreements on territorial issues and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, but negotiations are nearing completion.
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.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to withdraw Ukrainian troops from parts of eastern Donetsk Oblast to create a demilitarized zone. This is a potential condition for peace talks, although Russia has not shown willingness to withdraw its troops.
The funds are directed to the energy support fund and are crucial for getting through the heating season.
Units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully struck several enemy targets on the night of December 24, including a synthetic rubber plant in Russia's Tula region. A storage facility for uncrewed boats in Crimea and a logistics depot in Luhansk region were also hit.
Law enforcement officers are investigating at least 6 criminal proceedings against the Odrex clinic for fraud and improper treatment. New cases have been opened based on statements from relatives of deceased patients and injured individuals who consider themselves victims of doctors' actions.
The Ministry of Development has decided on the mandatory evacuation of children from 19 settlements in Donetsk Oblast. About 200 people with limited mobility are also being evacuated from Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
On December 24, two Russian policemen who fought in Ukraine and tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war were eliminated in Moscow. Two more sustained serious injuries from an explosion near a police station.
Today, believers celebrate Christmas Eve according to the Gregorian and New Julian calendars. The OCU spoke about traditions, including 12 Lenten dishes and the central dish - kutia.
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.
Oily slicks have been recorded in the Black Sea waters of the Odesa district due to damage to oil tanks after enemy attacks. Measures are being taken to localize the pollution and monitor the water condition.
Svitlana Onyshchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Military Administration, appealed to law enforcement agencies to check the operation of entertainment venues. This happened after the death of an 18-year-old boy as a result of a fight near one of the venues in Ivano-Frankivsk.
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.
Ukraine and Poland have begun preparations for new search operations, conducting a reconnaissance visit to the Rivne region on December 19, 2025. The research is scheduled for March-April 2026, according to the agreements of the Ukrainian-Polish Working Group.
The United States Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Matthew Whitaker, added that Russia has never been willing to acknowledge the loss of millions of its troops.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War stated that these "attacks" are provocative and accompanied by loud statements from Russian officials and propagandists.
