War in Ukraine
On December 20, scheduled hourly power outages and power restrictions for industrial consumers will be in effect in most regions of Ukraine. This is due to the consequences of Russian missile and drone attacks on energy facilities.
The Defense Forces conducted a special operation to destroy enemy armored vehicles near Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast. An anti-aircraft missile system, tanks, combat vehicles, and motor transport were destroyed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw. Tusk stated that Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression protects Poland's independence, and Zelenskyy noted that the Kremlin will not defeat Ukraine and Poland if they stand together.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov and Lieutenant General Andriy Hnatov will hold consultations with the American side in Miami. The negotiations are focused on finding long-term solutions for the defense of Ukraine.
EU leaders agreed on a plan to finance Ukraine through joint borrowing after 16 hours of negotiations. Politico named Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever as the main "winners" of the summit.
Representatives of "Plast" handed over the Bethlehem Fire to the chaplains of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The fire will be delivered to the soldiers in the combat zone as a symbol of support and home comfort.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko met with U. S. Chargé d'Affaires Julie Davis and FBI attaché Jamie Volkert, discussing the results of international cooperation. Ukraine satisfied all 5 U.S. requests for extradition and fulfilled 46 American requests for legal assistance.
The Australian Defence Force granted ABC exclusive access to a classified operation to supply M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Dozens of 60-tonne tanks are already in Poland, having been transported halfway across the world on a cargo ship.
The occupation administration of Zaporizhzhia Oblast is "gifting" homes of Ukrainians to families of Russian ZNPP employees. This is happening under the pretext of the New Year, using the homes of Ukrainians who have been killed, deported, or forced to leave.
As of 4:00 PM on December 19, 52 combat engagements were recorded at the front. The enemy is showing the greatest assault activity in Donetsk Oblast, terrorizing the border areas of Sumy Oblast with artillery shelling.
The Cabinet of Ministers has not yet approved the procedure for obtaining a certificate for 150,000 hryvnias for the purchase of a vehicle for military personnel, as provided for by the law on strengthening mobilization. The Ministry of Finance has developed a draft resolution, which is processing comments from interested bodies.
German Chancellor's advisor on Ukraine, Günther Sautter, is heading to Florida for talks between the US and Russia. The talks concern a peaceful settlement of the war, where the US's 20-point plan will be discussed.
Citizens heading to Odesa are informed about restrictions and redirected to alternative routes due to complicated traffic on the Odesa-Reni highway. It is recommended to choose checkpoints in Vinnytsia and Chernivtsi regions.
In temporarily occupied Mariupol, ticket sales have resumed at the drama theater, despite it being destroyed by Russian troops. The first performances, including "Chic Wedding" and "The Scarlet Flower," are scheduled for late December.
Gas prices in Europe have fallen to pre-war levels, but European factories continue to close or relocate. Experts believe that relief came too late, and businesses have lost faith in stability on the continent.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki stated that the joint work of Ukraine and Poland on historical issues deprives Russia of the opportunity to use them for disinformation. He emphasized that all formal and administrative issues will be resolved by the Ukrainian side.
The head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, Vitalii Kim, emphasized the need to create conditions for investments in Ukraine's economy for its recovery.
The global oil market is experiencing an oversupply of "black gold," pushing oil prices down. A record 1.3 billion barrels of crude oil are in transit or awaiting buyers in the world's oceans.
As the source said, this time the “cotton” visited the drilling rig at the Rakushechnoye field (named after Valery Graifer).
Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky commented on the decision of the new commander of the 125th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade to transfer incompetent officers to the infantry. This decision was called a practical implementation of the reforms that Biletsky emphasized in an article for The Economist.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine has provided partners with information on the deployment location of Russia's 'Oreshnik' missile system in Belarus. He noted that this system poses a threat to many European countries and called for sanctions against companies supplying components for its production.
EU leaders have decided to lend 90 billion euros to finance Ukraine's defense, avoiding the use of frozen Russian assets. Investors, experts, and analysts are divided on this issue.
As a result of the Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia, the number of injured reached seven. Four of them received assistance on the spot and will be treated at home.
President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine's independence is a key security factor for all of Europe, including Poland. He emphasized that without Ukraine's independence, Moscow will inevitably move further into Europe, particularly to Poland.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the key deficit in the war is trained pilots, not aircraft. He noted that Ukraine can use Polish MiG-29s, as Ukrainian pilots are already trained on them.
According to the State Emergency Service, "Points of Invincibility" are operating around the clock in Odesa fire stations: light, heat, water, and assistance to those who need it.
The Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council analyzed Putin's speech, noting that Russia is not interested in a real peaceful settlement of the war.
Belarus's economic dependence on Russia is rapidly deepening and already covers key sectors - from foreign trade and finance to investment and the defense industry, significantly narrowing the space for Minsk's independent decisions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his readiness to share with Poland experience in drone defense and cooperate on maritime security issues. The Ukrainian side is ready to provide consultations on repelling all types of drones, as well as to maintain a security dialogue, taking into account threats from Belarus.
The criminal prosecution of Roman Mileshko's group of aviation companies has been ongoing for more than three years without any charges being filed. A number of law enforcement agencies have found no evidence of a crime, which indicates possible pressure from competitors.