Ukraine

Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated 1,600 Russian soldiers, 4 tanks and 15 armored vehicles. Total Russian losses since the beginning of the war have reached 765,110 soldiers.

Rains with sleet and strong winds with gusts of up to 20 m/s are expected in Ukraine on December 17. The temperature will range from 0 to +12 degrees, and the first level of danger has been declared.

The NYT explains Putin's silence on Russia's military presence in Syria and the possible fall of the Assad regime. Russia is fully focused on the war in Ukraine, believing it is winning on the battlefield.

On the border with Poland, a sniffer dog found drugs and weapons in the suitcase of a 60-year-old British citizen. The luggage contained marijuana, amphetamine, two crossbows with arrows and rubber batons.

The Polish Foreign Minister said that Russia, not Ukraine, should be forced to negotiate peace. He called on the EU and the US to help Ukraine achieve a better negotiating position.

The official set up a charitable foundation in Belgium and raised funds allegedly for Ukrainian equestrian sport. Out of 790 thousand euros of donations, he appropriated 4 million hryvnias for his own needs.

Zelenskyy reported on Russia's attempts to hide the presence of DPRK soldiers in Ukraine by burning their faces after their deaths. Previously, the occupiers forbade them to show their faces during training.

The UK and 11 European countries have agreed to take joint action against Russian ships trying to circumvent sanctions. The participating countries will check the documents of suspicious ships in key sea straits.

Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder confirms DPRK military losses in the fighting in the Kursk region of Russia. The exact number of dead and wounded North Koreans is currently unknown.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry responded to a statement by a Belarusian official about claims to participate in peace talks on Ukraine. The ministry recalled Belarus' complicity in the aggression and pointed to the possibility of bringing it to justice.

Over the last day, 226 combat engagements took place in various sectors of the frontline. The situation was the most intense in the Pokrovsk sector, where the enemy tried to break through the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defenses 46 times, losing over 320 occupants.

The Criminal Court of Cassation of the Supreme Court overturned the ruling of the HACC Appeals Chamber in the case of illegal seizure of an apartment. The case of the ex-head of the Accounting Chamber and two other persons was sent for a new appeal.

The Deputy Energy Minister said that there are no plans to introduce blackout schedules tomorrow. Power engineers are calling for rational electricity consumption due to the dynamic situation in the system.

The President of Ukraine announced that new ambassadorial appointments and changes in the diplomatic corps are being prepared. Foreign policy work next year will be more intense and should lead to the establishment of a lasting peace.

Complex urban battles continue in Toretsk, the city is subjected to massive artillery and air strikes. According to the military, almost nothing is left of the town.

President Zelenskyy announced the receipt of $20 billion from frozen Russian assets to an account at the World Bank. They also discussed cooperation with the EBRD on energy programs.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry called on Hungary to stop manipulating the topic of peace and Christmas, and to refrain from contacts with Russia. The ministry emphasizes that Hungary's actions impede Ukraine's defense capabilities.

Due to strong winds, power supply was cut off in Rivne, Dubno and Sarny districts. Power engineers are working to restore power supply and local authorities are urging people to follow safety rules.

The President of Ukraine reported on the losses of North Korean soldiers fighting on the side of Russia. According to him, the Russians are trying to hide the real losses of Koreans in the fighting.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry expressed its strong protest over the visit of the Pan-African Parliament delegation to the occupied territory of Donetsk region. The delegation from 12 African countries took part in a Russian propaganda campaign.

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to hold talks with Putin and Zelensky to end the war in Ukraine. According to Trump, his team is already working on this issue and there is some progress.

28 MPs submit a resolution to recall Yuriy Boyko from the Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Committee. One of the reasons is that he spread pro-Russian narratives on TikTok.

Prime Minister Shmyhal spoke with his Slovak counterpart about energy security and gas supplies. Ukraine is ready to transit any gas other than Russian gas after the current agreement expires in 2025.

U. S. President-elect Donald Trump said he did not send an invitation to Zelenskyy to attend the inauguration on January 20. However, he expressed his readiness to host the Ukrainian president if he wants to come.

The Ministry of Health is setting up 1348 expert teams to assess the functioning of individuals in 286 hospitals across Ukraine. The new teams will include more than 4,300 doctors of various specializations, which is three times more than in the previous system.

The US president-elect said his team is working to end the war in Ukraine and “there has already been a little progress.

Mykhailo Fedorov announced the launch of Diia. Card, which will transfer all government benefit programs. The card will be used to receive salaries, scholarships, social benefits, and personal funds.

The EU has signed contracts to create an IRIS2 network of 290 satellites by 2030. The €10.6 billion project will be implemented through a public-private partnership involving SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat.

The Diia app has launched the eBook program for 18-year-old Ukrainians. The state provides UAH 908 to buy books in Ukrainian, which must be spent within three months.

Ukraine has become the fifth country in the world to have its own laser weapon. The Tryzub system is capable of shooting down aircraft at an altitude of more than 2 kilometers, said the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.