Kyiv
Two former law enforcement officers were served suspicion notices for organizing the export and destruction of Berkut's "black company" weapons.
Ukraine and Germany have made progress in discussions on a security guarantee agreement. President Zelenskyy believes that a "powerful agreement" will be signed soon.
On January 29, 1918, about 300 young Ukrainian defenders were killed near Kruty, stopping the Bolshevik offensive on Kyiv. Their sacrifice halted the offensive, allowing the Ukrainian government to sign the Brest Peace Treaty, which recognized Ukrainian statehood.
Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliniak said that the war in Ukraine has no military solution and it is time to start peace talks with the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, the EU and the US. This comes after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that life in Kyiv is "absolutely normal" despite recent Russian missile attacks.
An air alert has been declared in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine due to the threat of a Russian ballistic missile attack. Residents are advised to take shelter and not to ignore the air raid alert.
In 2024, Germany will spend more than 7 billion euros ($7. 6 billion) to help Ukraine. European allies should step up their support for Kyiv.
Ukraine's Navy commander said that Ukraine would have won the war faster if it had been allowed to use Western weapons to hit targets in Russia. Ukraine has managed to destroy more than two dozen Russian ships, but the admiral warned that new methods are needed as the enemy is adapting.
Ukraine's Navy commander says they will gladly accept two British frigates that the UK plans to decommission in 2024 due to a shortage of sailors. The UK Defense Secretary has previously stated that 2024 will be a crucial year for Ukraine's fate and that the UK will continue to support Kyiv.
Russia believes that its growing ties with China and emerging economies allow it to challenge the US-dominated financial system and the West. Russian documents indicate plans to undermine the dollar and create a new financial order that is not dominated by the United States.
According to officials, Washington is developing a new strategy for Ukraine that focuses on helping to repel Russian offensives rather than regaining lost territory. The long-term plan aims to provide support despite funding difficulties, although it does not include Ukraine's attempts to regain control of lost territory.
The number of road accidents in Ukraine increased by 25% in 2023 compared to 2022. This year, more than 3,000 people died in accidents, with speeding causing more than half of the fatal accidents.
German Chancellor Scholz will visit Washington in early February to meet with President Biden and discuss additional assistance to Ukraine. The U.S. has exhausted existing congressional authorizations for Ukraine aid and is seeking to join forces with Germany, Kyiv's main arms and aid supplier, to increase support.
Holiday train rides with Christmas performances have become a popular entertainment for children in Kyiv and Lviv.
The State Bureau of Investigation has uncovered a draft evasion scheme in which the chief of staff of the Kyiv City Military Administration helped members of the city council evade military service by means of fictitious business trips.
Ukraine has expanded the eOselya mortgage program to include houses and townhouses not older than 3 years.
All shelters in Kyiv are to be checked for safety by December 29 after the ceiling collapsed in a school shelter.
School shelter in Kyiv restored after ceiling collapse incident.
Two men in south London steal Banksy's work depicting drones on a stop sign.
Channel 24 journalist Oleksiy Pechiy fled to Europe after the EU summit in Brussels and did not return to Ukraine, which caused shock and disapproval from his employer, the Lux media holding.
Poland's Deputy Infrastructure Minister Pawel Hancharz is optimistic that the Ukrainian cargo blockade will be resolved by Christmas after discussions with Ukrainian officials and planned talks with protesters.
Ukrainian law enforcement officers arrested an official of the Ministry of Defense for a corruption scheme involving more than UAH 1. 5 billion in ammunition purchases. The scheme involved bypassing a more favorable direct contract with the manufacturer, resulting in a 30% overpayment.
The government of Estonia will not force Ukrainian men living in the country to return to Ukraine to serve in the Armed Forces.
Russian troops shelled Nikopol and several settlements in the Dnipropetrovs'k region, damaging infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski to discuss defense cooperation, joint ventures, and peacekeeping efforts. They also discussed the purchase of Polish weapons and preparations for the Global Peace Summit.
In Rivne, a drunk driver drove into oncoming traffic and collided with a Honda Odyssey, injuring two people; a pre-trial investigation is underway. The driver of the Renault Duster had a blood alcohol content of 0.63 ppm.
Ukrainian law enforcement has registered almost 250,000 people in the war crimes database, including Russian soldiers and collaborators, and opened more than 105,000 criminal cases for war crimes.
During an air raid in Kyiv, the ceiling of a shelter with children in it collapsed due to a pipe burst; no one was injured. Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine Timur Tkachenko said that an investigation is underway.
Christoph Heusgen, chairman of the Munich Security Conference, warns that Germany should prepare for a Cold War-like situation and be ready for a potential conflict.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, called for the resumption of fair trade competition with Ukraine.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is set to present a new aid package for Ukraine and reaffirms Poland's commitment to thwarting Putin's military goals in Ukraine.