Ukraine
As a result of the attack by Ukrainian drones, the Russian submarine sustained significant damage, and a major overhaul could take a long time.
Over the past day, Russian occupation forces' losses increased by 1,730 personnel, reaching approximately 1,192,350 servicemen. Thousands of military equipment units were also destroyed, including 11,427 tanks and 23,758 armored combat vehicles.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the damage to the Slavyansk oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai and the Nikolaevskaya oil depot in Rostov Oblast. A field artillery depot in Luhansk Oblast and a drilling rig in the Caspian Sea were also hit.
Rating agency Fitch has placed Euroclear Bank's ratings on Rating Watch Negative due to EU plans to use frozen Russian assets for a 'reparations' loan to Ukraine. This could lead to increased legal and liquidity risks for Euroclear.
Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, striking Dnipropetrovsk region overnight, where power has already been restored. In Odesa region, about 32,000 consumers remain without electricity, and approximately 400,000 consumers suffer from outages daily.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Putin will sooner or later agree to the deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine. He also spoke about what, in his opinion, should be the West's reaction in the event of new Russian attacks.
The European Commission is trying to persuade Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to support a proposed loan to Ukraine, financed by immobilized Russian assets. De Wever expresses concerns about the risks to the Belgian economy if Russia tries to reclaim the assets.
European leaders support Ukraine, seeking to uphold international law and counter Russian aggression. They fear that a deal in Russia's favor could lead to a wider war on the continent.
In November, Ukrainians bought 5. 5 thousand used passenger cars from the USA, which is 2.2 times more than last year. 53% of them are electric vehicles, with an average age of 5 years.
On December 17, fog is expected on the roads of Kyiv region, Level I danger (yellow) has been announced. The patrol police urge drivers and pedestrians to observe traffic rules.
The EU leaders' summit on Thursday will test whether the bloc can hold together or whether US President Donald Trump can divide it. Officials of the Trump administration have been pushing European governments to reject a plan to use 210 billion euros of Russian assets to finance Ukraine.
Over the past day, 278 battles took place on the front line, which is significantly more than the day before. The largest number of enemy attacks, almost a third, fell on the Pokrovsk direction.
On December 17, cloudy weather with clearings and no significant precipitation is forecast in Ukraine. Fog is expected in the morning in the northern, Cherkasy, Poltava, and Kharkiv regions.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka stated that the end of Russia's war against Ukraine depends on the position of Donald Trump and the USA. He emphasized that Trump is ready to act as a guarantor of a peace agreement that will provide guarantees for Russia.
Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing occupation administrations to confiscate housing from Ukrainians who have left the occupied territories. Real estate can be transferred to residents who have lost their homes or used as official housing for officials.
Oil quotes rose after US President Donald Trump announced a blockade for all sanctioned tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Brent quotes rose by 0.9% to $59.46 per barrel, and American WTI rose by 1% to $55.82.
Hungary has blocked the European Union's enlargement statement, preventing Ukraine from starting EU accession negotiations. 26 EU member states support Ukraine, but Hungary did not support a positive assessment of its efforts.
The US and European allies have prepared two draft documents on supporting Ukraine after a potential "peace agreement," which were discussed with President Zelenskyy in Berlin. The documents outline general principles and detailed provisions for force interaction, and also envisage increasing the number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to 800,000 servicemen.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said that Donald Trump doubts Vladimir Putin's desire for peace. Trump believes that Russia seeks full occupation of Ukraine.
A Care Space for veterans has opened in Bila Tserkva, providing medical, psychological, social, and legal support. The project was implemented by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the Ministry of Health with the support of IOM and the EU, as part of a national network.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz estimates the EU's chances of reaching an agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's defense as "50-50. " EU leaders are expected to agree on the issue of using frozen Russian assets for a "reparation loan" to Ukraine at the summit on December 18-19.
The Swedish Navy and Coast Guard report the presence of Russian military personnel on vessels suspected of transporting Russian oil. An increase in Russian military activity is also being observed near key maritime routes, where 500 to 1,000 such vessels operate.
In Zhytomyr region, a Russian agent was sentenced to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property. He set fire to Ukrzaliznytsia facilities to disrupt logistics on the orders of Russian special services.
In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the situation with teachers' salaries is rapidly deteriorating: salaries are delayed, bonuses are cut, and accruals remain non-transparent. A significant part of payments is tied to loyalty, a refusal of which leads to deprivation of bonuses.
During the day, 255 combat engagements were recorded on the front line, with Russian troops concentrating their efforts on the Pokrovsk and Kupyansk directions. The enemy carried out 55 airstrikes and used almost 2,000 kamikaze drones.
In Slovakia, a bus with 10 passengers and two drivers, all Ukrainian citizens, overturned on the D1 highway. Two female passengers were hospitalized with minor injuries, while the others continued their journey.
In Slovakia, a bus with 10 passengers and two drivers, all citizens of Ukraine, overturned on the D1 highway. Two female passengers were hospitalized with minor injuries, while the others continued their journey.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Ukrainian servicemen undergoing rehabilitation in the Netherlands and presented them with state awards. He thanked the Netherlands for its support and assistance in the rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers.
Alex Kleitman, a Holocaust survivor, died during a terrorist attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney, protecting his wife. The couple had been together for over 60 years; Larisa Kleitman survived.
Russian soldiers of the 1441st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian Federation have begun to massively self-harm due to inadequate orders from the command on the Pokrovsk front. This is the only way to avoid being sent to the front line to perform suicidal tasks.