The Yemeni government and the Houthis have agreed to release 2,900 prisoners, the largest exchange in 11 years of civil war. The agreement, signed in Muscat with the support of the UN and the Red Cross, includes citizens of Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
Ukrainian defenders withdrew from Siversk in Donetsk region due to the enemy's superiority in manpower and equipment. The city remains under the fire control of the Defense Forces, which allows blocking the enemy's advance and inflicting damage on them.
During the day, 67 combat engagements took place on the front, of which 27 enemy attempts to advance were recorded in the Pokrovsk direction. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, battles continue in several directions, including the Northern-Slobozhansky, Kupyansk, and Huliaipole directions.
Zhytomyr region has been under enemy air attacks for the second consecutive day. Several hits have been recorded, damaging homes and businesses, with 6 people injured, including two children.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 205 combat engagements over the past day, 58 of them in the Pokrovsk direction and 31 in the Kostiantynivka direction. The enemy launched 14 airstrikes, used 4563 drones, and carried out 3857 shellings.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will visit the US next week to meet with Donald Trump. The main topics will be Iran's nuclear activity in light of its recent missile exercises, as well as the transition to the next stage of Trump's "Plan" for Gaza.
Over the past day, 190 combat engagements took place, the enemy is actively using equipment and aviation. The most difficult situation is in the Pokrovsk direction, where 56 attacks have been recorded.
On December 22, soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine repelled a Russian assault in the Dobropillia area. 4 tanks were destroyed and 6 IFVs, 6 tanks, an APC, an ATV, and 4 occupiers were hit.
The DevDroid TW 12. 7 ground robotic complex performed tasks on the front line for a month and a half. The robot thwarted attempts by the occupiers to break through, allowing the soldiers of the Third Army Corps to hold their positions without losses.
Russia has sent weapons to Madagascar's military government, which came to power in an October coup. On December 20, a Russian Air Force plane delivered 40 servicemen and 43 crates of weapons to an international airport near Antananarivo.
Thailand and Cambodia will resume talks this week to develop detailed measures for lasting peace after border clashes. The Thai Foreign Minister criticized the October agreement, calling it vague and concluded for the sake of the American leader's presence.
On December 21, a scuffle involving a group of teenagers occurred in a shopping center in Vinnytsia, as a result of which a 16-year-old boy was injured. The police are investigating criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article 296 (Hooliganism) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
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%.
In Lviv, a driver drove into Znesinnia Park, ignoring prohibitory signs, and hit a Municipal Guard employee. The injured person was hospitalized, and the driver was detained and a criminal case was opened.
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.
Clashes erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo between the M23 group and a pro-government militia near Uvira. This happened a few days after M23 promised to withdraw troops from the city, but its members reportedly remained in civilian clothes.
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.
Law enforcement officers detained a 28-year-old man who was shooting during a fight near Bessarabska Square. He faces up to seven years in prison for hooliganism with the use of firearms.
Over the past day, 223 combat engagements took place on the front, more than a third of which were in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions. The enemy launched missile and air strikes, used kamikaze drones, and carried out numerous shellings.
The Parliament of New South Wales convened an urgent session to adopt radical changes to gun legislation after the terror attack on Bondi Beach, where 15 people died. The new bill will limit the number of firearms to four or ten for farmers.
ASEAN foreign ministers are meeting in Malaysia to stop the fighting between Thailand and Cambodia, which has claimed 40 lives and displaced more than 500,000 people. Malaysia and the Donald Trump administration are trying to restore the July truce using US satellite monitoring.
Thousands of activists in the Serbian city of Novi Pazar are protesting against government pressure on state universities. The reason for the rally was university administration repression: 200 students were stripped of their status, and dozens of teachers were fired.
US President Donald Trump is preparing to tighten immigration policies in 2026, anticipating billions of dollars in new funding. This comes amid growing public opposition and declining approval ratings for his policies.
Since the beginning of the day, 93 combat engagements have taken place at the front, with the enemy being most active in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions. In the Siversk-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk directions, one enemy attack occurred, and the enemy carried out 49 shellings, four of which were from MLRS.
A brawl with shooting occurred between two groups near Bessarabska Square in Kyiv. Police have opened a criminal case on charges of hooliganism and are establishing the circumstances of the incident.
Ukrainian forces advanced in the central part of Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast, as confirmed by geolocated video footage from December 20. Russian forces intensified activity in Sumy Oblast but did not achieve confirmed progress.
At least nine people have died and ten others were injured in a mass shooting at a tavern near Johannesburg. South African police are searching for about 12 suspects who opened fire on patrons.
An incident occurred in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast involving MP Dmytro Kysylevskyi and servicemen from the recruitment center.
British heavyweight Anthony Joshua secured his 29th career victory, knocking out Jake Paul in the sixth round. The fight was broadcast on Netflix, earning Joshua £210 million.
The Defense Forces conducted a special operation near Pokrovsk, destroying tanks, Osa SAM systems, and armored fighting vehicles. The enemy planned to use this equipment for assault operations in the Pokrovsk direction.
