Exclusives Russian court jails 65-year-old teacher for "terrorism" after hiding Ukrainian soldier. Occupation authorities accused her of aiding a plot to assassinate an occupation administration's member in occupied Donetsk, but she denied knowing about such activities. EU finally breaks with Russian gas: full ban on LNG set for 2026. With wide support, MEPs pushed through legislation to phase out Russian gas imports by 2027 and committed to ban oil soon after. Ukrainians pour record savings into banks as real returns turn positive (INFOGRAPHIC). Deposits hit a record 1.36 trillion hryvnias in November. In Russia, similar rates are squeezing the civilian economy. Do Ukraine's new assault troops use Russian tactics? We asked their top planner. Is the EU ready to force through the €210 billion Ukraine loan without unanimity?. Summit decision on €210 billion Ukraine loan comes on Thursday. Military
Ukraine hits Russian ammo depot 150 km behind front lines in occupied Luhansk Oblast (VIDEO, MAP)
. A surprise Ukrainian drone attack struck a field ammunition depot just hundreds meters from the Russian border, deep inside the occupied region.
Numbers of war: For every $2 in allied military aid, Ukraine destroys $1 of Russian assets. Ukraine's strikes cost Russia $21.5 billion this year, nearly half of the $45 billion allies are sending Kyiv.
ISW: Kremlin denies trouble in Kupiansk — even Russian milbloggers say otherwise (MAPS). Russian officials are downplaying battlefield losses, yet even pro-Kremlin voices admit things are unraveling in eastern Kharkiv Oblast.
Ukraine retakes 90% of Kupiansk after systematic campaign that disabled Russia's secret pipeline infiltration route. Three tons of explosives destroyed the path to the city.
Ukrainian marines advance deeper into the exposed Russian flank. Ten Russians surrender as Leopard tanks blast fortifications near Novopavlivka
"We won't win without women": Ukraine's military creates female-only combat units. Ukraine's military announced the creation of the Harpies in April, a drone unit where women will exclusively execute lethal strikes, as the country deploys more than 70,000 women across its armed forces—a 40 percent increase since 2021.
Oil refinery hit as drone strike leaves 38,800 without power in Russia's Krasnodar Oblast. Two people were injured and nearly 40,000 lost power after drones hit Sloviansk-on-Kuban in the Krasnodar Krai, with debris scattered across residential areas and an oil refinery identified as a probable target.
Intelligence and technologyTwo Patriots, nine IRIS-T, 200 howitzers: Germany and Ukraine sign €1.2 billion defense deals. Germany will also buy €200 million in Ukrainian drones and send them to Ukraine.
"Another world first": Ukraine's submarine strike signals new era of underwater drone warfare
. Ukraine is writing the future of warfare.
"War may gradually shift into space": Ukrainian drone company founder reveals key 2026 trends in military tech. The Ukrainian defense expert outlines the technologies that will reshape the war next year.
InternationalBelgian PM says Kremlin threatened him personally over frozen assets for Ukraine. Moscow's pressure is clearly paying off. Medvedev says Belgium could "disappear."
"Nuclear weapons to maintain balance of power," Putin says, as Russia plans to deploy ICBM near NATO border amid peace talks. The Kremlin's message is clear: stop supporting Ukraine or face other "means".
Erdoğan asks Putin to take back Russian S-400 SAM systems in move to win Trump's favor. Ankara hopes returning the anti-air system will reset ties with Washington and lift US sanctions on its defense sector, per Bloomberg.
Russian FM Lavrov revives Hitler and Napoleon to sell endless war to Russians. Lavrov claimed that Germany, France, and others are reviving Nazism through their backing of Ukraine during Russia's invasion, ISW reported.
Allies pledge record $45bn for Ukraine in 2025 as 17 nations announce 2026 commitments. Czech Republic alone commits to 760,000 artillery shells
US readies shadow fleet sanctions if Putin rejects peace deal. The Trump administration is preparing sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers if Vladimir Putin rejects a peace agreement with Ukraine, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent briefing European ambassadors on the plans this week
. A far-right party led by Grzegorz Braun has overtaken its rival "Confederation" faction for the first time
"We would act against Russian incursions": Merz details Ukraine protection mechanism. The United States has committed to protecting Ukraine "as if it were NATO territory" under security guarantees being negotiated to accompany a potential ceasefire
Bill on sanctions against Russian oil was submitted to US Senate – Stefanishyna. Four US senators introduced the Decreasing Russian Oil Profits Act on 16 December, creating a mechanism to sanction purchasers and facilitators of Russian oil imports
Humanitarian and social impactRussia "fattens up" tortured prisoners before exchanges to hide years of abuse, freed civilians say. Prisoners washed, fed, and warned not to bruise themselves—then traded back to Ukraine.
100 strikes in eight months: Russia doubles down on Ukraine's railway system. "Russia's desire is obvious: to paralyze Ukrainian logistics," former Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, describing a campaign that has escalated sharply in 2025 with over 100 strikes on railway infrastructure
Political and legal developments"A new low": Ukrainian anti-corruption activist accuses law enforcement of leaking his intimate photos as "retaliation". Earlier, Ukrainian activist accused Zelenskyy of corruption crackdown.
Russia calls world boxing champion Usyk "Nazi supporter" and seizes his Crimean property. Condemn invasion? Nazi. Support your country? Nazi.
Putin signs law to seize Ukrainian homes on occupied territories until 2030. At least 25,000 real estate objects in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories were already declared "ownerless" this fall, Donbas.Realities reported
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