Ukraine
The frontline witnessed 234 combat engagements, most of them in the Vremivsky sector. Fighting continues in Kurakhove in the urban area, the enemy carried out 15 air strikes and over 4,200 attacks.
Over the past day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated 1990 Russian occupants and destroyed 29 artillery systems. Total enemy losses since the beginning of the war have reached 776,090 people.
In the Vremivsk sector, Russian troops shot dead four captured Ukrainian defenders. The prosecutor's office opened a war crime investigation.
Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire on all war fronts during Christmas. The pontiff condemned the bombing of schools, hospitals and churches in Ukraine and Gaza.
Olga Kharlan was recognized by the Ukrainian Fencing Association as the greatest athlete of all time. The fencer has 6 Olympic medals, 6 World Championship gold medals and 8 European Championship gold medals.
Michael Carpenter said that Ukraine's membership in NATO could become a reality after the cessation of hostilities. He also supported the idea of creating a European military mission to guarantee Ukraine's security.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico visited Putin in Moscow over Ukraine's refusal to continue transiting Russian gas. Fico discussed with Putin the situation in Ukraine and the possibility of gas supplies after 2025.
There were 207 combat engagements in the frontline, with the largest number of attacks in the Liman and Vremivsk sectors - 36 attacks each. The occupants lost 390 troops in the Pokrovsk sector.
Robert Fico met with Putin in Moscow. The main topic of the talks was the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe after December 2024.
Russian propaganda spreads information about the preparation of a “powerful strike” on Kyiv using North Korean ballistic missiles. The CPJ calls for not to succumb to provocations and to follow safety rules.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports that enemy UAVs are being detected.
In Ivano-Frankivsk region, a Jaguar driver drove into the oncoming lane and collided with a Renault minibus.
In the village of Loieva, an SUV and a minibus collided, sending 13 people to the hospital. Among the victims is a child, and there are patients with severe spinal injuries and internal bleeding.
On December 23, cloudy weather with clearings is forecast in Ukraine, with rains in the east and south and snow in the west. Temperatures will range from -5°C at night to +7°C during the day, and up to +10°C in the south of Odesa region and Crimea.
In the occupied schools, “childhood navigators” have appeared - educational advisors from the Russian Federation for propaganda. They organize events and compile lists of “loyal children” for further manipulation.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz ruled out the possibility of sending Polish troops to Ukraine. He emphasized that such decisions should be made through NATO, not by a group of countries.
Russian troops carried out large-scale attacks in various frontline areas, with a total of 117 combat engagements. The greatest activity was observed in the Liman and Vremivsk sectors, where the enemy attacked 23 times each.
This fire will also be transferred to the Ukrainian military.
Greenhouse tomatoes in Ukraine have risen in price by 20% due to increased demand before the holidays. Imported tomatoes from Turkey are sold at 80-100 UAH/kg, which is 12% more expensive than last year.
The occupation authorities have not paid salaries to the employees of the Berdiansk port for three months. The port is almost non-functional and is used only for the export of looted grain.
Eight dead dolphins were found on the coast of Novorossiysk after a fuel oil spill from tankers. A total of 11 dolphins and 143 birds were killed, and environmentalists predict 1.5 years to clean up the area.
The President of Ukraine has identified key tasks for diplomats for the next year. The priorities include work on NATO, sanctions against Russia and achieving a just peace by 2025.
One of the highest crossing rates in recent years was recorded at the state border - 150 thousand people per day. The largest passenger traffic is observed on the border with Poland, with an even distribution between entry and exit.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a resolution on the provision of paid medical services by state and municipal institutions starting from January 1, 2025. It defines the cases of paid services and peculiarities of payment for services not included in the medical guarantee program.
Donald Trump urged Zelenskyy to think about a ceasefire and abandoning the occupied territories. The elected President of the United States stated that it is inexpedient to return the destroyed cities.
Enemy drones were spotted in the Kyiv region, and air defense forces are working on targets. Earlier, the Ukrainian Air Force reported the movement of two attack UAVs.
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.
Passenger traffic at the Lviv region border increased by 25% before Christmas. The highest load is observed at the Krakivets, Shehyni, Smilnytsia, and Nyzhankovychi checkpoints.
Ukrainian singer Volodymyr Dantes joined DTEK's repair team on the occasion of the Power Engineer's Day. The artist worked with the team and thanked the power engineers for their hard work.
Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 52 of 103 enemy drones launched by Russia from different directions. 44 drones were lost locally, and damage was recorded in several regions.