Ukraine

The first group of Ukrainian Legion volunteers from Poland has arrived in Ukraine. The next volunteers will sign contracts with the Armed Forces of Ukraine on January 10, 2025, and will undergo training at a training ground.

69% of Ukrainians support joining the EU, which is 14% more than in February 2022. Support is highest among young people and residents of the Western and Central regions.

There were 164 combat engagements in the frontline, with the most intense fighting in the Pokrovske, Vremivske and Lyman sectors. The enemy is actively using aviation and artillery, and Ukrainian forces are successfully repelling the attacks.

Emergency power outages have been introduced in several regions of Ukraine since 14:10 due to damage to equipment caused by shelling. Ukrenergo plans to complete the repairs by 17:00.

A new military standard for survival and capture avoidance training with three levels of difficulty has been approved. The program is based on NATO standards and includes survival training in various conditions.

More than 50 war veterans competed in four sports at the Victory of the Unconquered tournament. The event was held in a family format for the first time with the support of MHP and the Ukrainian Strongman Federation.

Russian officials arrived in Tehran to discuss a comprehensive cooperation agreement. The parties plan to sign the document in January, which will include defense cooperation and free trade.

MPs plan to oblige retail chains to indicate two prices on labels: per unit and per standard measure. The bill may come into force in the summer of 2025.

The command of the Khortytsia Operational and Tactical Group denies the information widely reported in the media about the encirclement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces units in Makariv on the Vremivskyi direction. The military continues to hold back the enemy's offensive and destroy its forces.

A selection of recipes for warming drinks for a festive evening from famous chefs. The recipes include spiced broth, non-alcoholic punch, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and eggnog.

The language ombudsman said that the pace of Ukrainization was slowing down due to the influence of Russian-language content on the Internet and social media. He called for tighter control over the media space to protect national security.

Germany has provided Ukraine with a new package of military aid, which includes Patriot systems, Leopard tanks, and other weapons. The package also included drones, MRAP armored vehicles, and various ammunition.

In 9 months of 2024, more than 57 thousand jobs came out of the shadows, bringing UAH 97 million to the Pension Fund. Official employment and timely payment of the unified social contribution are the main factors behind the increase in pensions.

Switzerland has expanded its sanctions list by adding individuals and companies from Russia and Belarus. The new restrictions include asset freezes, travel bans, and restrictions on 52 vessels carrying Russian oil.

The Patrol Police reminds that the use of pyrotechnics during martial law is prohibited. Violations are subject to administrative and criminal liability, ranging from fines to imprisonment.

A UAZ 3303 car was stolen from the garage of a church in the village of Stary Oleksynets and used as a hearse. Three minors aged 15-17 were suspected and face up to 8 years in prison.

DTEK announces emergency power cuts in Kyiv, Kyiv, Dnipro and Donetsk regions. The reason for this is the difficult situation in the power system due to the effects of Russian shelling.

Several regions of Ukraine have introduced schedules of emergency power outages due to high consumption. The outages affected Kyiv, Dnipro, Sumy, Kirovohrad and Poltava regions.

Russian intelligence claims that Moldova is preparing a military operation in Transnistria on the orders of Maia Sandu. Chisinau denies these accusations, calling them another disinformation campaign.

The Head of the All-Ukrainian Chamber of Pharmacy criticizes the adoption of legislative decisions without discussion with the professional community. Experts warn about the risks of simplified registration of medicines and their potential danger to the public.

The budget of the state program “Affordable Loans 5-7-9%” was exhausted in October. Out of 11 banks participating in the program, only 3 are actively lending, and the total amount of loans disbursed amounted to UAH 69 billion.

In December, the Russian Federation launched about 850 drones against Ukraine, three times fewer than in November, which was around 2,300. British intelligence attributes this to weather conditions and forecasts further attacks of over 1,500 UAVs per month.

At the Krakivets checkpoint, border guards found a Russian-made icon of the Kazan Mother of God. A 24-year-old man tried to import it from the Netherlands to Kyiv.

The President of Ukraine had a phone conversation with the British Prime Minister to discuss support for arms production and membership in the JEF. The parties also discussed the preparation of an agreement on long-term partnership between the two countries.

Tomorrow, on December 24, the Ministry of Justice will validate the backups of state registries after a large-scale Russian cyberattack. The registers will be restored in a comprehensive manner, as they are interconnected.

The President of Ukraine commented on the visit of the Slovak Prime Minister to Moscow on the gas issue.

Ukrzaliznytsia is launching non-stop railcars on the Chernihiv-Rakhiv route. The trains will start running on December 26: first, once every 4 days, then every other day.

The information about the murder of a civilian by TCK employees in Odesa turned out to be a fake after verification by the Land Forces Command. The video being circulated as evidence is Russian propaganda.

At the Polish border crossing points Korczowa and Medyka, there is an accumulation of traffic heading to Ukraine. Passenger traffic in Lviv region increased by 25% during the pre-Christmas period.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft law on granting official status to the Unified State Register of War Veterans. The document envisages the creation of a unified system for recording and protecting data on veterans and their families.