Ukraine

Ukraine and Russia have not reached an agreement on continuing gas transit to Europe through Azerbaijan. Zelenskiy said that transit is possible only if Moscow does not receive payment until the end of the war.

The Ukrainian Air Force has warned of the threat of enemy ballistic missile attacks across Ukraine. This was preceded by a nighttime attack by 113 drones, of which 57 were destroyed in 11 regions.

The Serbian president announces that the Slovak prime minister is scheduled to visit Moscow over the gas issue. Slovakia is looking for a solution after Ukraine announced that it would stop transiting Russian gas from January 1, 2025.

On Ukraine's western borders, there are queues at all checkpoints, with the longest at Krakivets-Korchova. Over the past day, 102,000 people crossed the border, 55,000 of whom left Ukraine.

According to the UN, more than 12,340 civilians have been killed and 27,836 injured since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. In November, 42% of the casualties were caused by Russian long-range weapons.

The Ukrainian military successfully attacked Russian positions near Liptsi using unmanned ground vehicles and FPV drones. Ukraine is also developing new types of EW-resistant drones.

Russia launched a large-scale drone attack, launching 113 drones from different directions. Air defense forces destroyed 57 attack UAVs and spotted 56 imitator drones in 11 regions of Ukraine.

Over the past day, 211 combat engagements took place, 50 of them in the Kursk sector. The enemy launched 6 missile and 34 air strikes, firing about 5,000 times.

A fire and damage to a gas pipe occurred in the Kyiv district of Kharkiv after a drone attack. Two women suffered an acute stress reaction, and emergency services quickly extinguished the fire.

Enemy troops shelled numerous settlements in the Kherson region, damaging 63 buildings. The attacks killed three people and injured 11.

The Slovak prime minister said that Zelenskyy offered him €500 million from Russian assets for supporting Ukraine's accession to NATO. Fico also warned of possible measures against Ukraine over gas transit.

On December 21, cloudy weather with clearings is expected in Ukraine, with rains possible in the east and south. The air temperature will range from +1°C to +14°C, with an average daytime temperature of +5...+7°C.

Over the past day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated 1860 Russian occupants. Also, 10 tanks, 18 infantry fighting vehicles, 32 artillery systems and 85 enemy UAVs were destroyed.

Lloyd Austin and Rustem Umerov discussed the situation at the frontline and U. S. military assistance. The parties also agreed on preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's defense.

In total, 191 combat engagements were registered in the frontline, with the most intense fighting taking place in the Pokrovsk sector - 41 hostile attacks. The occupants are actively attacking in the Vremivske and Kurakhove directions.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Umerov meets with Lithuania's newly appointed Defense Minister Šakalienė in Kyiv. The two sides discussed military cooperation for 2025, including the supply of drones and electronic warfare equipment.

A drone attack on a 9-storey building in the Saltovsky district of Kharkiv injured 6 people, including a child. Rescuers localized the fire and rescued three people.

The Ukrainian Air Force reports the massive use of attack UAVs in various regions of Ukraine. Enemy drones were spotted in Sumy, Poltava, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kyiv, and Cherkasy regions.

At the official weigh-in, Usyk weighed the most in his career - 102. 5 kg, while Fury weighed 127.4 kg. The Ukrainian boxer brought a flag to the ceremony in support of Azovstal's defenders.

Ukraine will receive another tranche of $1. 1 billion from the IMF. The funds will be used to finance state budget expenditures, and the total amount of payments under the program will reach $9.8 billion.

President of Ukraine meets with Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Palutskas on military cooperation. Lithuania annually allocates 0.25% of GDP to Ukraine's defense needs.

The first hearing in the case of MP Tyshchenko regarding the illegal imprisonment of a war veteran has begun in Dnipro.

The government has adopted a new decree on subventions for free meals for primary school students. The document expands the list of educational institutions and improves funding mechanisms with mandatory 70/30 co-financing.

A group of 56 MPs filed a petition with the Constitutional Court to review the constitutionality of involving foreigners in competitions for government jobs. The petition concerns the participation of international experts in the formation of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies.

The occupiers intensified their activities in the Kherson sector, firing about 1,000 shells at the city and trying to force the Dnipro River.

Russian troops continue their offensive in Vovchansk, but are not successful due to the complete destruction of the city. The enemy is forced to move in small infantry groups, as the use of armored vehicles is impossible.

The German chancellor has reiterated his intention to continue dialog with the russian president. The Estonian prime minister believes that only military support for Ukraine will force russia to start negotiations.

The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution to simplify the provision of consular services through the Diia portal. Ukrainians will be able to issue ID cards, passports, driver's licenses and other documents with a minimum number of visits to consulates.

On the western border of Ukraine, outbound passenger traffic has increased by 15% compared to the usual level. Smilnytsia and Uhryniv checkpoints remain the least busy.

Famous Kharkiv director Svitlana Oleshko has passed away in Warsaw. The founder of the Arabesque Theater and initiator of the Kharkiv Theater Institute, she left a significant mark on Ukrainian culture.