War in Ukraine
The General Staff stated that servicemen who returned after AWOL are sent to all combat brigades, and not only to the Air Assault Forces and assault units. The mechanism for transferring military personnel between units and appointing them to positions after AWOL has also been simplified.
Cyprus and Malta warn that strengthening sanctions against Russia should not harm the legitimate EU maritime sector. They oppose a complete ban on the provision of maritime services, fearing the relocation of business outside the EU.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with representatives of the largest scout organizations, who handed him the Bethlehem Peace Light. The children spoke about helping displaced persons, raising funds for the military, and promoting Ukrainian culture.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that it is difficult to name the timeline for a peace agreement regarding the war in Ukraine. He noted that there are complex issues regarding reconstruction, security guarantees, and territory.
Yuriy Duchenko, President of the All-Ukrainian Bakers' Association, said that the Ukrainian bakery market is entering 2026 with high uncertainty. The price of simple bread will remain relatively stable, while high-margin products may rise in price by 10-15% or more than 20% in case of escalation of hostilities or significant power supply disruptions.
An anonymous group of hackers broke into the infrastructure of the company "Micord", which develops the military registration register in Russia. This led to the destruction of data and the disruption of the Register's development for several months.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that "we are Russia's next target" and called for an immediate increase in defense spending. He emphasized that Putin is engaged in empire-building, and China, North Korea, and Iran support his aggressive stance.
The Government of Ukraine has adopted a decision that will allow mobilized military personnel to apply for a mortgage under the "eOselia" program at 3% per annum. This creates equal opportunities for all military personnel, with limits set on housing area.
An explosion occurred in the Darnytskyi district of the capital, presumably due to the detonation of an unknown device. One person died, and another was injured.
Russia's missile and drone attacks, which lead to a shortage of medicines and medical supplies, are an element of pressure on Ukrainians. And they fit into the logic of actions that international documents interpret as signs of a policy of national destruction.
The SBU counterintelligence exposed an agent of the Russian special services who was preparing to kill a Ukrainian serviceman with a homemade bomb in Chernihiv. The FSB created a fake female account on a dating site to lure the serviceman to the scene of the terrorist attack.
The UAF has decided on the venue for the potential two play-off matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Ukrainian national team will play its home games in Valencia, Spain, at the "Ciutat de València" stadium.
A draft resolution on the resignation of Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi was registered in the Verkhovna Rada. The document appeared on the website on December 9, but the text has not yet been published.
The family farm "Soloviine" in Kyiv region, destroyed by a missile strike, has resumed operations and supplies products to Ukrainian companies. The enterprise grows corn for popcorn, pumpkins, and potatoes for "Lux" chips, having increased its land bank to 300 hectares.
The enemy is trying to infiltrate Siversk in small groups, taking advantage of unfavorable weather conditions. Most of these units are destroyed on the approaches, but some assault troops manage to hide in the basements of apartment buildings.
Deputy Head of the Central Election Commission Serhiy Dubovyk said that Ukraine needs six months to prepare for free and safe elections. This is due to the large number of refugees, damaged infrastructure, and military personnel at the front.
Armored blankets provide ballistic protection against fragments, have a fragment resistance class of F5, and retain their properties at extreme temperatures.
Kadyrov organized the invasion of units subordinate to the Russian National Guard, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Chechen Republic, and the Russian Ministry of Defense into the territory of Ukraine to wage an aggressive war and seize Ukrainian territories.
Police are investigating an attempted murder after a drone hit a house near Lviv, identifying the type of UAV and those involved. The National Police are initiating legislative changes to control the UAV sector, including their registration and responsibility for violations.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced an expected reduction in the duration of power outages in Ukraine this weekend. This is due to the coordination of efforts to restore the energy system and ensure reserves after the shelling.
People's deputies Fedir Venislavskyi and Volodymyr Vatras confirmed work on draft laws regarding post-war elections, but Oleksandr Korniienko denies the existence of ready legislative initiatives. The main obstacles to holding elections are the constitutional ban during martial law and the inability to guarantee security.
Russian troops dropped a guided aerial bomb on a store in the Velyka Pysarivka community of Sumy region. A saleswoman and a local resident were killed, and two more people were injured.
Fighters of the 'Skelya' assault regiment raised the Ukrainian flag in the center of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. At the same time, the situation in the region remains difficult. Battles are also ongoing for Myrnohrad.
As a result of the Russian strike on Fastiv on the night of December 6, 27 suburban train cars were destroyed, with damages estimated at UAH 300 million. The depot and station were destroyed, and UAH 100 million is needed for reconstruction.
In the Huliaipole direction, saboteurs in civilian clothes tried to penetrate the rear of Ukrainian troops. A group of two men was eliminated after their radio station revealed their affiliation with the occupation forces.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that the European side has submitted proposals for a peace plan for Ukraine to the United States. Negotiations with the American side could take place this weekend and continue next week in Berlin.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had a "constructive" conversation with US President Donald Trump, where they discussed Ukraine and a possible meeting in Berlin. Merz emphasized that Ukraine must decide on concessions, and also criticized Putin and supported the use of frozen Russian assets.
SAP and NABU exposed a criminal scheme to seize over UAH 102 million during the procurement of dynamic protection for tanks. Three participants in the scheme, including the former general director of the state enterprise, have been notified of suspicion.
First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Kornienko stated the impossibility of parliamentary elections during martial law, citing the Constitution and the security situation. He emphasized the lack of a legal framework and difficulties with security, military participation, and voting abroad.
The European Union is developing strategies to persuade Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to support the allocation of 210 billion euros to Ukraine. If Belgium continues to block the plan, it may be ignored at the EU level, similar to Hungary.