Ukraine
On December 22, Russian troops lost 1,420 soldiers and 453 UAVs, as well as 2 aircraft in the previous period. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 23.12.25 amount to 1,199,280 personnel.
On December 23, cloudy weather with light wet snow is expected in most of Ukraine, with rain in Odesa region. The air temperature during the day will range from 3°C below zero to 2°C above zero, and up to 5°C above zero in Zakarpattia and the south.
The Kremlin's repeated violation of international law necessitates providing Ukraine with reliable security guarantees to prevent a resurgence of Russian aggression. Russia claims its readiness to legally formalize its intention not to attack EU and NATO countries, but its actions demonstrate the worthlessness of such promises.
There is a split between US President's Special Representative Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the end of the war in Ukraine. Witkoff proposes concessions from Ukraine, while Rubio advocates for increased pressure on Russia.
According to the US President, negotiations on ending Russia's war against Ukraine are proceeding normally. Trump noted that "everyone is tired of this war, it has to stop."
Due to enemy drone activity, passenger trains will run with delays on alternative routes. Restoration work is underway near Korosten, where UAV activity is hindering railway workers.
Russian media are actively disseminating publications about the "reconstruction of the theater" in Mariupol. The goal of the campaign is to create an illusion, particularly in the West, that the occupied Ukrainian territories are actively developing under Russian rule.
Economists say Russia's position is weaker than ever, as the Kremlin has spent most of its cash reserves and borrowed funds. Tough new sanctions against Russia's oil sector could lead to an economic crisis next year.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that only Russian dictator Vladimir Putin can immediately end the war, despite joint efforts for a ceasefire. He also emphasized the importance of negotiations in Berlin and the coordination of positions among European partners, the US, and Ukraine.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk announced that the new law on elections during martial law will be a one-off. The working group is preparing a draft law for safe and democratic elections.
The Milan prosecutor's office concluded that 21 alleged cases of Russian drones flying over the European Joint Research Centre (JRC) were a technical error. The security system of the JRC nuclear site produced false positives due to a common GSM signal booster.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed to prepare proposals for new approaches to holidays. He noted that the war has brought changes, and some dates need to be streamlined.
A cyberattack crippled France's national postal service, La Poste, three days before Christmas, blocking parcel deliveries and online payments. This caused significant difficulties for millions of people in the midst of the holiday season and dealt a blow to the company, which delivered 2.6 billion parcels last year.
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to grant the citizenship service the right to operational-search measures, including the collection of biometric samples, against the backdrop of growing labor migration. This is happening while the personnel deficit in the Ministry of Internal Affairs has doubled since 2022 and interest in Russian citizenship has decreased.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated a shortage of interceptor drones, as manufacturers cannot meet the demand. He noted that the effectiveness of various companies ranges from 60% to 90%.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that there are about 1,100 Russians in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, and about 100 in Kupyansk, Kharkiv region. He noted that Ukrainian troops are holding their positions despite significant pressure from Russia.
The Russian army captured 13 Ukrainian soldiers and 52 civilians in the village of Hrabovske in the Sumy region. President Zelenskyy reported that among the civilians were women and children who had not been evacuated.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is awaiting the return of the Ukrainian negotiating team from Miami to get details of the meeting. He announced the existence of a 20-point peace plan, a framework document on security guarantees between Ukraine, Europe, and the United States, and a separate document between Ukraine and the United States.
The price of Russian Urals oil has fallen to $34 per barrel, while Brent remains at $61. This drop may indicate the impact of US sanctions and negatively affect the Kremlin's revenues.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he does not plan to change the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine neither today, nor tomorrow, nor the day after tomorrow. He emphasized that they work as a team, refuting rumors about personnel changes.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a possible massive Russian strike on Christmas. He emphasized the shortage of air defense and urged Ukrainians to respond to air raid alerts.
The European Commission will investigate Czech state aid for the construction and operation of two new nuclear power units in Dukovany. This initiative aims to accelerate decarbonization and eliminate electricity supply shortages, with planned commissioning in 2036 and 2037.
Ukraine has launched the official 112 application, which allows users to call the police, rescuers, medics, and gas service via the internet. This is a single window for calling all emergency services, which is critically important during blackouts or lack of mobile communication.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a Staff meeting dedicated to the situation at the front, strengthening the air defense of Odesa region, and the strategy of long-range strikes against the Russian Federation. The head of state announced a change in the leadership of the "South" Air Command to increase the effectiveness of air defense.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded specialists in the energy sector on their professional holiday. He emphasized that every operating energy facility is the result of superhuman efforts by repair crews who restore what has been destroyed under the constant threat of shelling.
On December 23, hourly shutdown schedules and power limitation schedules will be applied in most regions of Ukraine. This is a consequence of Russian missile and drone attacks on energy facilities.
Factions and groups of the Verkhovna Rada were invited to delegate two representatives each to the working group. It will be engaged in preparing for elections during a special period and/or post-war elections in Ukraine.
17 young South Africans fell victim to a recruitment scam and ended up on the front lines as part of Russian troops. The South African government officially confirmed that it has been dealing with this case since November 6.
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%.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov announced "slow progress" after talks in Miami on a plan to end the war in Ukraine. Negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and Donald Trump's envoys were productive, but without significant breakthroughs due to contentious issues.