Donetsk
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga visits Damascus and meets with Syria's new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa. Ukraine is ready to restore diplomatic relations and expand cooperation with the new Syrian government.
Three groups of enemy drones were detected: on the border of Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia regions, in northern Donetsk region, and moving from Donetsk to Dnipro region.
4 telecommunication equipment facilities of the Phoenix operator were destroyed in the occupied Donetsk region.
Over the last day, the occupants fired 6 times at the settlements of Donetsk region, damaging residential buildings and infrastructure. 231 people, including 30 children, were evacuated from the danger zone.
In the temporarily occupied Rozdolne, Russians have set up a base for the accumulation of infantry. The enemy is trying to advance towards the village of Novyi Komar and in the area of Zelenivka with the support of equipment.
Two suspects in the terrorist attack near the shopping center were detained in Berdychiv. According to the investigation, they manufactured and detonated an explosive device on the instructions of Russian handlers.
russian troops seized Ukrainka village in Pokrovsk district of Donetsk region. The occupiers' advance was also recorded in several other settlements in the region.
A Russian drone strike on a multi-story building in Chasovyi Yar killed two men. Two more local residents were injured in the limbs, one of them was hospitalized.
A platoon commander of the 211th Pontoon and Bridge Brigade has been notified of being suspected of abusing three soldiers. The suspect, who was beating and humiliating his subordinates from February to May, is currently hiding from the investigation.
Fighting continues in Chasovyi Yar in the city's urban area, although no clashes were recorded over the past day. Russian troops are amassing reserves near the city for further assault operations, in particular, targeting the refractory materials plant.
On December 26, it will be cloudy in most regions of Ukraine, but without precipitation. Snow with rain is expected in Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and rain in Crimea.
The occupiers created a special program called “university changes” to recruit Ukrainian schoolchildren from the TOT. In 2024, about 3,700 children from the occupied Donetsk region were taken for excursions and consultations on admission to Russian universities.
While performing a mission near Pokrovsk, rescuers from Kyiv region came under artillery fire. The operational vehicle was damaged, but the personnel were not injured.
Access to YouTube has been severely restricted in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and popular VPN services have stopped working. Lantern and NTHLink are completely blocked, and only some paid VPNs are available.
A representative office of the temporarily occupied Donetsk region was opened in St. Petersburg. The structure will organize trade missions and propaganda activities to “legalize” the occupation.
Ukrposhta has presented the final stamp issue of the year, the five-stamp New Joy Has Come. The issue was created based on a carving by artist Natalia Aksenenko and is dedicated to Ukrainian Christmas traditions.
Russian troops shelled 4 settlements in Donetsk region, killing one person. In the village of Udachne, rescuers came under repeated fire while fighting a fire.
Law enforcement units performed "Shchedryk" near Pokrovsk, where composer Mykola Leontovych once lived. The legendary melody was played by representatives of various law enforcement agencies serving in the Donetsk region.
The occupants intensified their assaults and started using equipment in the Toretsk, Kramatorsk and Siversk directions. In Toretsk, 11 assaults took place overnight, and the fight is on for every house.
Ukrainian defense forces are actively defending Makarivka in Donetsk region, trying to regain their positions and preserve logistics routes. Over the past day, 252 combat engagements took place, with the hottest spots in the Kursk and Vremivsk sectors.
The Avdiivka Humanitarian Hub “VPOraisemo” has been launched in Brovary to help IDPs from Donetsk region. The hub will provide humanitarian and counseling assistance, including social protection, pensions and legal services.
The occupiers launched the Zemsky Cultural Worker program to attract 1,100 russians to the TOT. They offer 2 million rubles for moving, but there are few people willing to do so because of the hostile attitude of the locals.
There were 164 combat engagements in the frontline, with the most intense fighting in the Pokrovske, Vremivske and Lyman sectors. The enemy is actively using aviation and artillery, and Ukrainian forces are successfully repelling the attacks.
Fighting continues in Kurakhove, Toretsk and Chasovyi Yar in the urban areas. The occupiers have changed their tactics and are trying to block the logistics of Ukrainian defenders instead of frontal assaults.
In the Vremivsk sector, Russian troops shot dead four captured Ukrainian defenders. The prosecutor's office opened a war crime investigation.
Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets informs the UN and ICRC of a new case of shooting five Ukrainian prisoners of war. 110 Ombudsman's Office publishes video of the Russian military's crime.
Paratroopers set up a Christmas tree made of military materials near a stele at the entrance to Donetsk region. The tree was decorated with patriotic ribbons and the chevron of the airborne brigade.
Russia launched a large-scale drone attack, launching 113 drones from different directions. Air defense forces destroyed 57 attack UAVs and spotted 56 imitator drones in 11 regions of Ukraine.
On December 21, cloudy weather with clearings is expected in Ukraine, with rains possible in the east and south. The air temperature will range from +1°C to +14°C, with an average daytime temperature of +5...+7°C.
The occupiers intensified their activities in the Kherson sector, firing about 1,000 shells at the city and trying to force the Dnipro River.