European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent a letter to EU leaders assessing Ukraine's funding needs for 2026-2027. This amount is 135.7 billion euros, based on the assumption that the war will end in 2026.
The number of children and adolescents with mental disorders in Europe has increased by a third in the last 15 years, according to a WHO analysis. Every fourth girl aged 15-19 reports mental health problems.
Finnish troops have begun artillery exercises in Lapland, near the Russian border, involving heavy artillery. Polish troops are also participating.
The Kremlin stated that discussions about a possible prisoner exchange with Ukraine are ongoing, declining to provide details. Earlier, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov reported on agreements regarding the release of 1,200 Ukrainians.
The Ukrainian defense industry has presented 370 new ammunition models, 250 of which are designed for unmanned systems. This was made possible by deregulation and the involvement of 76 new manufacturers in fulfilling state contracts.
The price of Urals oil fell to $36. 61 per barrel, the lowest since March 2023, ahead of US sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil. This drop will reduce tax revenues to the Russian budget, which funds the war against Ukraine.
Prosecutors of specialized defense prosecutor's offices have documented dozens of large-scale abuses, detaining 50 individuals and uncovering over UAH 30 million in illicit gains. Systemic schemes of evasion from military service and illegal departure abroad have been exposed in seven regions and Kyiv.
European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius stated that Ukrainian troops could be deployed to defend the EU's eastern borders from Russia after the end of hostilities. He noted that the Ukrainian army has the most experienced military personnel in Europe.
Ukraine may receive 100 Rafale F4 aircraft and 8 SAMP-T air defense systems according to a declaration between Ukraine and France. President Zelenskyy called the agreement historic.
Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine will be the first country where the new SAMP/T air defense system with improved capabilities will be deployed. France and Ukraine have launched a ten-year bilateral partnership for the acquisition, development, and production of drones, UAV interceptors, and guided bombs.
Historian Yaroslav Hrytsak named Zaluzhnyi, Biletskyi, and Budanov as possible successors to Zelenskyy. He noted that Ukraine is close to the risk of national collapse due to Russian advances, economic crisis, and a corruption scandal.
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that all efforts for a ceasefire have been made, but Russia continues the war. France remains committed to finding ways to end hostilities.
The European Commission has offered Belgium significant guarantees regarding a €140 billion loan to Ukraine to protect it from the legal and financial consequences of using Russian assets. EU countries are ready to assume the risks of Russian retaliation, including those arising from bilateral investment treaties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed details of the declaration with France, which provides for the acquisition of 100 Rafale F4 aircraft by 2035, SAMP/T air defense systems, radars, air-to-air missiles, and aerial bombs. Joint projects for the production of interceptor drones will also begin this year.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, in response to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius' warning about a possible Russian attack on NATO, that Russia "may take measures to ensure security. " But he stressed that Moscow does not seek confrontation with NATO countries.
After Russia's night attack on the port of Izmail, gas pumping equipment caught fire on board a Turkish vessel. An operational headquarters is working on site, and no evacuation of the population is required.
In Odesa region, a border guard inspector has been notified of suspicion for transporting men to the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic. He faces 7–9 years in prison.
Ukrainian intelligence has published OSINT hackathon data on foreign equipment in Russian weapons production, which is already being used for sanctions initiatives. Equipment from Japan, China, and Taiwan has been found at Russian enterprises producing missiles and aerial bombs.
Russian troops shelled Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk region with artillery and an FPV drone. As a result of the attack, a 76-year-old woman and a 51-year-old man were killed, and two more people were injured.
The vessel caught fire in the port of Izmail, Odesa region, after a Russian attack.
The European Union has offered Ukraine €90 billion in funding in the form of a grant or a loan backed by EU debt. This will happen if countries fail to approve the desired plan to use frozen Russian assets.
EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated in Vilnius that Europe is not ready to detect and destroy Russian drones with economically effective means. He emphasized the need to include Ukraine in the common defense.
Russian "Gazprom" is developing detailed design documentation for the "Power of Siberia-2" gas pipeline to China, which will transport 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The cost of design work can reach 5-10% of the total budget, which is estimated at more than 30 billion dollars.
In the village of Vynnyky, Lviv region, an Azov veteran and his wife were beaten due to neighbors' complaints about noise. The police opened two criminal proceedings for intentional minor bodily harm.
Ukraine has placed a historic order for 100 Rafale fighter jets. President Zelenskyy announced this after signing the contract at Villacoublay Air Base.
Law enforcement officers served a notice of suspicion to the deputy head of the Kozelets settlement council in Chernihiv region for extorting a bribe. The official promised an entrepreneur to resolve the issue of land lease for a sorting station for UAH 185,000 and USD 20,000.
The Presidents of Ukraine and France signed a declaration of intent on cooperation in the field of Ukraine's acquisition of defense equipment. This agreement is aimed at strengthening Ukraine.
The 500 kV Veshkayma substation in Russia's Ulyanovsk region, a key element of the Russian energy system, was attacked again. This is confirmed by data from NASA Firms satellites and a statement by Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the damage to a section of the railway line on the Warsaw-Lublin route an act of sabotage. He arrived at the scene of the incident, which occurred on November 16.
Boeing Co. plans to triple deliveries of Patriot missile seekers due to high demand for the air defense system. A 40,000-square-foot production facility has been built for this purpose.
