Russian propaganda
In Germany, representatives of centrist parties accused the right-wing Alternative for Germany party of collecting data that is of interest to Russian special services.
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 Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a package of decisions to strengthen the country's defense industry at the submission of the Ministry of Defense. A new experimental project is being launched for the Motor Sich enterprise, accelerating the design of new facilities and providing them with water, gas, heat, and electricity through a simplified procedure.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, stated that Russia's economy allows it to produce weapons and hire mercenaries, which enables the Kremlin to continue the war. He emphasized that Putin and his elites do not see Russia's future without Ukraine.
The occupation authorities of Crimea have restricted mobile internet until the end of the full-scale war in Ukraine. This decision, according to the occupation head of the peninsula, Aksyonov, is necessary to ensure the security of the peninsula.
In occupied Mariupol, a systemic scheme is operating to redistribute property that Russian entrepreneurs restored at their own expense after 2022. After the completion of the work, the legal status of the objects remains undefined, and the property is transferred to loyal structures.
Antony Blinken also noted that Donald Trump's approach to pressuring Ukraine is flawed.
Russian generals regularly submit reports to Putin with inflated Ukrainian losses and downplayed Russian failures. Chief of the General Staff Gerasimov has strengthened his position despite criticism.
Russian media are actively disseminating publications about the "reconstruction of the theater" in Mariupol. The goal of the campaign is to create an illusion, particularly in the West, that the occupied Ukrainian territories are actively developing under Russian rule.
A cyberattack crippled France's national postal service, La Poste, three days before Christmas, blocking parcel deliveries and online payments. This caused significant difficulties for millions of people in the midst of the holiday season and dealt a blow to the company, which delivered 2.6 billion parcels last year.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a possible massive Russian strike on Christmas. He emphasized the shortage of air defense and urged Ukrainians to respond to air raid alerts.
17 young South Africans fell victim to a recruitment scam and ended up on the front lines as part of Russian troops. The South African government officially confirmed that it has been dealing with this case since November 6.
The atmosphere for Ukrainians in Poland is deteriorating, as reflected in incidents and surveys. Support for Ukrainian refugees has fallen from 94% to 48%, and support for Ukraine's accession to the EU has dropped to 35%.
Vice Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba is lobbying for the appointment of Ihor Zelinsky to the post of head of the State Aviation Service, despite his involvement in decisions that could have harmed Ukrainian aviation and effectively played into the hands of the Russian Federation. Zelinsky's appointment could become a strategic mistake for the state and obviously carries risks for national security in wartime.
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.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that Russia is ready to sign a legal agreement on non-aggression against Western countries. This includes no intentions to attack the European Union and NATO.
Russians have massively encountered problems using the WhatsApp messenger, with reports of a 70-80% slowdown in its operation by Roskomnadzor. In less than a full day on December 22, over 2,100 complaints about the app's performance were received from 20 regions of Russia.
By the end of the year, Ukraine is preparing a number of sanction decisions against Russian entities and those who assist in the aggression, including individuals from China. It is also planned to synchronize sanctions with partners, in particular regarding the 20th package of EU sanctions and a new package from Canada.
The European Union has extended economic sanctions against Russia for another six months, until July 31, 2026. These measures, introduced in 2014 and expanded since February 2022, cover trade, finance, energy, and other sectors.
The SBU has completed its investigation into a 41-year-old resident of Pustomyty who was preparing a terrorist attack in Lviv on the orders of the FSB. The indictment has been sent to court, and the perpetrator faces life imprisonment.
Security guarantees for Ukraine are not only in the hands of the United States but also the Russian dictator. This is due to the failure of the Budapest Memorandum and ongoing negotiations.
Witkoff held parallel meetings with Ukrainian and Russian delegations. Four key documents were discussed, including the updated "20-point plan" and a framework agreement on security guarantees.
The Russian "shadow fleet" tanker, which was attacked by drones on December 18, is slowly sinking. New photos that have appeared online show the vessel partially submerged.
In Russia, they plan to introduce fines for distributing films that allegedly "discredit traditional values. " The bill provides for financial liability for audiovisual services, social networks, and private individuals.
Over the past day, seven civilians were injured in shelling in the de-occupied territories of Kherson region. Russian troops used artillery, mortars, MLRS, and drones, damaging houses, transport, and infrastructure.
Kremlin aide Yuriy Ushakov stated that no one seriously discussed the initiative for a trilateral meeting of experts from Russia, the US, and Ukraine. He also noted that the changes to the peace plan, introduced by Ukrainians and Europeans, do not contribute to reaching agreements.
Ukrainian forces advanced in the central part of Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast, as confirmed by geolocated video footage from December 20. Russian forces intensified activity in Sumy Oblast but did not achieve confirmed progress.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Vladimir Putin's schedule does not include a phone call with Donald Trump until the end of the year. Putin will hold bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenka.
The United Kingdom has cut funding for countering Russian propaganda in the Western Balkans from £40 million to £24 million for 2025-26. This funding is aimed at combating national security threats and strengthening democratic institutions.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced discussions on replacing the commander of the Air Command "South", Dmytro Karpenko. This decision is related to the need to strengthen air defense and timely response, especially in the Odesa region.