Ukraine
The FSB conducts checks on the correspondence of relatives of the AFU military in the occupied territories. If contacts are found, people are offered either to cooperate with the occupiers or to be deported to Russia within hours.
The Ministry of Culture has declared the construction of a five-story hotel near the grave of Tzadik Nachman in Uman illegal. The construction violates the rules of cultural heritage protection and was officially rejected by the Ministry.
Electricity consumption remains high due to lower temperatures. Due to weather conditions, two settlements in Kyiv region are without power, and energy is imported from five countries.
Over the past day, Russia attacked Ukraine with 60 attack UAVs from the directions of Bryansk, Millerovo and Prymorsko-Akhtarsk. The defense forces destroyed 36 drones over 8 regions and neutralized 23 imitator drones.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine found a notebook of a North Korean mercenary in the Kursk region with a greeting to a friend. In the note, soldier Gyong Hong-jong congratulates his friend on his birthday while on the territory of the Russian Federation.
According to the results of the voting on the UAF social networks, the match against Iceland in the Euro 2024 playoff final was named the "Match of the Year". The victory over the Icelanders received 48.5% of the fans' votes.
The SBU and the National Police detained a group of people involved in the illegal sale of weapons and ammunition. The SBU seized improvised explosive devices, plastid, TNT and combat grenades from the suspects.
Border guards have recorded the highest number of border crossings during martial law - 150-154 thousand people per day. In the morning, there are no queues to leave Ukraine, and the border with Moldova is the least busy.
A 43-year-old drunken Kyiv resident was launching fireworks from the window of a house on Porik Avenue. The police detained the offender and seized material evidence, and criminal proceedings for hooliganism were initiated.
27% of Ukrainian individual entrepreneurs plan to close their businesses in the near future, according to a survey of 32,000 entrepreneurs. The main reason for closing down 62% of them cited tax increases, including the introduction of the military tax.
The wounded paratroopers of the 80th Brigade made the largest Trident in Ukraine out of didukhs under the guidance of a 91-year-old craftswoman. The symbol was installed near the monument to Shevchenko as part of a rehabilitation program for the military.
The NBU has set the official hryvnia exchange rate at 41. 9910 UAH/USD, which resulted in a devaluation of 12 kopecks. On the interbank market, the dollar is trading at UAH 42.03-42.05, and the euro at UAH 43.69.
The pharmaceutical community opposed the amendments to the draft law No. 11493 because of the risks to the industry. Experts warn of possible problems with the availability of medicines and a significant increase in the price of drugs.
Over the past day, 252 combat engagements took place, the enemy carried out 13 air strikes and over 4,000 attacks. The most intense fighting took place in the Kursk region - 46 attacks and in the Vremya sector - 35 attacks.
Over the past day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated 1,630 Russian servicemen and destroyed 9 tanks and 30 armored vehicles. The total losses of the occupiers since the beginning of the invasion have exceeded 777 thousand personnel.
ISW reports on a change in russian tactics in Donbas, where Putin has ordered to focus on capturing territory instead of cities. Russian troops are 10 km from the border of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
On December 24, Ukraine is expected to have cloudy weather with rains and sleet in the west and north. Temperatures will range from -2 to +14 degrees, with the warmest temperatures in Crimea.
There are no Russian ships carrying Kalibr cruise missiles in the Black and Azov Seas. There are 8 Russian ships in the Mediterranean, 3 of which have up to 25 Kalibr missiles on board.
The Pentagon has signed a contract with Williams International to expand production of gas turbine engines for missiles. The project includes the production of Harpoon, JASSM, LRASM and Tomahawk for the needs of the United States and Ukraine.
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.
The Polish Trade Inspection banned 22 tons of Ukrainian wheat due to low protein content. The import of 200 tons of rice from Myanmar was also banned due to the presence of pests.
“Ukrenergo has received EUR 86 million from the EIB to install anti-drone protection at key substations. This is the first part of the Support Plan for Ukraine's Energy Sector to overcome infrastructure damage.
Bill Clinton, 78, was hospitalized at Georgetown Medical Center due to high fever and infection. The former US president's condition is stable, there is no threat to his life.
Ukraine is working on a new Trembita missile with a range to moscow. The basic version has a speed of 400 km/h and a range of 200 km, and production is planned after the completion of tests.
The Italian government approves a decree-law extending the authorization for the transfer of military equipment to Ukraine.
Anzhelika Terliuga, the silver medalist of the 2020 Olympics, became a mother. On December 21, the athlete gave birth to a daughter named Nicole.
The Ministry of Defense is introducing a unified payment mechanism and a simplified procedure for providing meals to military personnel in civilian medical facilities. More than UAH 2.1 billion will be allocated for this purpose in 2025.
The 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade has announced a call for foreign volunteers. The brigade promises to provide recruits with modern weapons, quality training and motivated brotherhood.
The President of Ukraine met with representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations on the eve of Christmas and Hanukkah. He thanked them for their support of the Ukrainian people and discussed countering Russian influence through the church.
The National Bank of Ukraine has presented a commemorative 5-hryvnia coin “Barrier-Free” with a mintage of 30,000 pieces. The coin symbolizes equal opportunities for all citizens and is dedicated to building an inclusive society.