The European Commission will investigate Czech state aid for the construction and operation of two new nuclear power units in Dukovany. This initiative aims to accelerate decarbonization and eliminate electricity supply shortages, with planned commissioning in 2036 and 2037.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a Staff meeting dedicated to the situation at the front, strengthening the air defense of Odesa region, and the strategy of long-range strikes against the Russian Federation. The head of state announced a change in the leadership of the "South" Air Command to increase the effectiveness of air defense.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded specialists in the energy sector on their professional holiday. He emphasized that every operating energy facility is the result of superhuman efforts by repair crews who restore what has been destroyed under the constant threat of shelling.
Several citizens of Belarus, Russia, and Lithuania are suspected of transferring EU-funded technologies to Russia's military industry. Five individuals and one company have been notified of suspicion, and more than ten searches have been conducted in various cities of Lithuania.
On December 23, hourly shutdown schedules and power limitation schedules will be applied in most regions of Ukraine. This is a consequence of Russian missile and drone attacks on energy facilities.
Factions and groups of the Verkhovna Rada were invited to delegate two representatives each to the working group. It will be engaged in preparing for elections during a special period and/or post-war elections in Ukraine.
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%.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov announced "slow progress" after talks in Miami on a plan to end the war in Ukraine. Negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and Donald Trump's envoys were productive, but without significant breakthroughs due to contentious issues.
The Czech Republic's Security Council will discuss the future of the initiative to supply artillery ammunition to Ukraine on January 7. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš expressed concerns about the transparency of the initiative.
Russian natural gas exports to China via pipeline are expected to grow by a quarter this year, reaching 38. 6-38.7 billion cubic meters. However, this will not compensate for the drop in revenues from the loss of the European gas market.
J. D. Vance stated that there is progress in negotiations regarding Ukraine, but he is not confident about achieving a peaceful resolution. Issues such as the territories of Donbas, the South, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and the fate of ethnic Ukrainians and Russians in both countries are being discussed.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, called the state's inability to effectively encourage the population to mobilize the biggest failure of the information front. He noted that Ukraine demonstrates daily progress at the technological and intelligence levels.
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.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that Russia is preparing for an open conflict with Europe, moving the possible attack date from 2030 to 2027. Moscow considers the European community "weak and divided."
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, joined negotiations with the American Trump delegation, expressing optimism. He spoke of positive shifts and a focus on strong security guarantees.
The total number of combat engagements on the front reached 100, 33 of which were in the Pokrovsk direction. The enemy was also active in the Kostiantynivka and Orikhiv directions.
Gold and silver prices soared to all-time highs, surpassing previous records. This surge is driven by escalating geopolitical tensions and expectations of interest rate cuts in the US.
Over 2000 veterans have already applied for car insurance compensation in Diia for a total of over UAH 4 million. The service is available to combatants and persons with disabilities due to war who concluded a contract after January 1, 2025.
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 European Commission has successfully transferred a thermal power plant from Lithuania to Ukraine. This will provide electricity to approximately 1 million Ukrainians, restoring critical energy capacities.
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.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal in the Krasnodar Krai and a naval base in Crimea. An enemy ammunition depot and a UAV launch site in Donetsk Oblast were also hit.
As a result of the strikes, equipment elements of the oil loading terminal, the liquefied hydrocarbon gas pier, and the port infrastructure were damaged, causing a large-scale fire.
The "Army+" application has been updated, adding a digital ID for defenders and a "Pulse" feed. The expanded Army ID allows confirming the status of a serviceman/servicewoman via QR code, and the "Pulse" feed provides information about rights and opportunities. The application's design and navigation have also been updated.
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.
Restoration work continues near Korosten after a locomotive was hit by an enemy UAV. A number of passenger trains are running on a bypass route with delays of up to 7 hours.
As a result of a special operation at a military airfield near Lipetsk on the night of December 20-21, 2025, two enemy Su-30s were successfully hit. Earlier, it was reported that an Su-30 and an Su-27 were hit.
Ukraine received 2. 3 billion euros from the EU under the Ukraine Facility, of which 2.1 billion euros are loan funds and 200 million euros are a grant. This is the sixth regular tranche intended to finance the state's priority social and humanitarian expenditures.
The Miami talks between the US, Ukraine, and Russia on ending the war were productive but without clear breakthroughs. The gap between the parties remains huge, and Zelenskyy calls for increased pressure on Moscow.
