The General Staff refuted the Russian information about the capture of Kupiansk, Yampil, 80% of Vovchansk, and 70% of Pokrovsk. Counter-sabotage measures are ongoing in Kupiansk, and search and assault operations are underway in Pokrovsk.
At the meeting of the "Russian People's" Council, Putin's Patriarch Kirill justified Russian crimes and interpreted the commandment "Thou shalt not kill" in his own way.
The CPD stated that the Russian authorities no longer hide their interference in the communication sphere. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Kremlin fully supports restrictions on mobile internet.
The Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has lost about 2,000 religious communities that have joined the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Support for the Moscow Patriarchate among Ukrainians does not exceed 4–5%, while about 55% of citizens support the OCU.
Metropolitan Yevstratiy (Zorya) stated that imperial-Russian narratives and the influence of special services shaped the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate. He emphasized that the leaders of the Moscow Patriarchate passed through the "KGB sieve," and Metropolitan Onufriy was formed in the 1970s in the Moscow region.
The SBU detained an FSB agent couple in Shostka district, Sumy region, who were directing Russian "Grads" at units of the Defense Forces. The husband and wife received 15 years in prison with confiscation of property for high treason.
Five representatives of the "DPR" occupation administration and three collaborators were served with suspicion notices. They are accused of forcibly removing 367 Ukrainian children from the Donetsk region to Russia in February-March 2022.
Poland has sent a note to Belarus requesting the extradition of two Ukrainian citizens accused of sabotaging railways on behalf of Russia. These acts of terrorism are linked to incidents in the Mika and Golomb areas, where railway tracks were damaged.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that any plan to end the war needs the participation of Ukraine and European countries. She emphasized that the EU supports a lasting, strong, and just peace, and welcomes any efforts to achieve it.
The Main Directorate of Intelligence has published data on ten Russian teachers who have moved to the occupied territories to ideologically re-educate Ukrainian children. They participate in the "Zemsky Teacher" program, receiving compensation and spreading propaganda.
Poland is launching a pilot defense program wReady for civilians, which will last until December 14. It is designed to increase readiness for crisis situations amid threats from Russia.
US President Donald Trump's peace plan envisages territorial concessions from Ukraine and Russia paying rent for Donbas. The plan also provides for Ukraine's legal control over the occupied territories, but without disclosing the amount of rent from Russia.
Lawyers point to the inaccuracy and inconsistency of the suspicion against businessman Timur Mindich, which could lead to the suspect avoiding punishment.
Sergiy Kyslytsya, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, called Donald Trump's plan for peace between Russia and Ukraine an information-psychological special operation.
Vladimir Putin stated that life expectancy could reach 150 years, but that would always be insufficient. He noted that the average human age is constantly increasing, and Russia aims to raise this indicator.
Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has announced his intention to step down in January. His departure means the loss of one of the few consistent supporters of Ukraine in the current Trump administration.
Ukraine has appealed to the Vatican to solidify its mediating role in negotiations for the return of Ukrainian children and civilians illegally taken by Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy handed Pope Leo XIV a letter requesting to formalize this mechanism.
Peskov stated that Russia's contacts with the US continue, but not enough work has been done yet to hold another summit. Moscow remains open to negotiations, but the pause in dialogue arose due to Kyiv's position.
A conflict has arisen among Republicans in the US Congress over a provision in a bill that allows senators to sue the Department of Justice and receive $500,000 each for violations related to the seizure of their phone records. Senator Lindsey Graham has already announced his intention to file a lawsuit for "tens of millions" of dollars.
Hundreds of people took part in a rally in Tbilisi in support of 21-year-old activist Mate Devidze, who was detained a year ago during the dispersal of protests. Law enforcement officers detained 15 participants of the rally, who demanded Devidze's release and called him a "prisoner of conscience."
The court extended the detention of People's Deputy from "OPZZh" Nestor Shufrych until January 17, 2026, without the right to bail. His former assistant will remain under house arrest until January 19, 2026.
The organizer of the forced deportation of 15 pupils from the Novopetrivka special school in occupied Mykolaiv region to Russia has been exposed. The Prosecutor General's Office and the SBU have served a notice of suspicion on a serviceman of the 2nd Airborne Assault Battalion of the Russian Armed Forces.
David Arakhamia stated that the initiative to create a coalition and a government of national resilience is the position of individual deputies, and not of the entire "Servant of the People" faction. He also emphasized support for the fight against corruption and the dismissal of compromised government members.
Political expert Mykhailo Shnaider stated that Ruslan Magamedrasulov, a NABU detective, should not escape criminal liability for trading technical hemp with the Russian Federation. Attempts to use the Mindich case to avoid punishment are groundless, as Magamedrasulov had no connection to it.
The SBU notified Dmytro Vasylenkov, the chief military priest of the Russian Federation, of suspicion in absentia for promoting war and justifying crimes. Since 2014, he has been "blessing" the Rashists for war and involving UOC (MP) priests in justifying the occupation.
Lithuania is reopening two border crossings with Belarus that were temporarily closed due to smuggler weather balloon flights. The government's decision comes after a reduction in airspace incidents, which previously led to the closure of Vilnius Airport.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have agreed to establish a Ukrainian-Polish group to prevent sabotage by Russia. This decision follows discussions about acts of sabotage on Polish railways, organized via Telegram, which point to a Russian trail.
On November 19, the official website of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was hacked. They stated that the information published there was untrue. Work is currently underway to restore the website's operation.
Poland is preparing a response to the railway explosion, which it considers an act of state terrorism. Foreign Minister Sikorski stated that a response would be provided in the coming days.
The Russian Federation prevents the dissemination of truthful information in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine by banning satellite equipment and controlling Telegram channels. This creates an information "bubble" and censors information not controlled by the Kremlin.
