EN
EN
EN
Stay on top of Russia-Ukraine war 12-19-2024 developments on the ground with KyivPost fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated war maps.
The Russians were reportedly attempting to expand the bridgehead near the Oskil River
Newly published video Thursday reportedly shows the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) using deadly drones to wipe out 21 approaching Russian vehicles in Ukraine’s Kupiansk sector the day before.
“On Dec. 18, the enemy attempted to expand the bridgehead near the Oskil River. The enemy moved in two columns of armored vehicles in two directions. However, the units of the Defense Forces did not allow the enemy to advance,” the Khortytsia operational and strategic group of troops announced in a Telegram post.
Putin says he’s open to meeting Trump “any time” to end the war in Ukraine – without mention of Zelensky, adding that he regrets delaying the war amid growing economic woes in Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness for discussions with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, stating he is prepared to meet “any time” while acknowledging regret over not launching Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine earlier.
Speaking during his annual press conference, Putin defended his military campaign in Ukraine but admitted uncertainty over regaining Russian-held territories lost to Kyiv.
The comments followed a statement by Putin, where he said a “high-tech duel” between Russian missiles and Ukraine’s Western-backed air defense would be “interesting”
President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin for his comments at an annual televised press conference.
“People are dying, and he thinks it’s ‘interesting’ ... Dumbass,” Zelensky posted on “X,” sharing a video of Putin discussing Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Oleh Poberezhnyuk of the 211th brigade – allegedly abused his position by forcing troops to build his private home instead of fighting
Ukraine on Thursday detained a platoon commander accused of abusing troops in his brigade and of corruption, in a high-profile case that caused outrage as the war with Russia drags on for almost three years.
The move came after a media report on the commander – identified in the press as Oleh Poberezhnyuk of the 211th brigade – allegedly abusing his position by forcing troops to build his private home instead of fighting.
The Ukrainian President said Putin was “crazy” and “loves to kill”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he wanted to appeal to US President-elect Donald Trump on a human level to win him over against “crazy” Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“Welcome Donald! What can I say?” Zelensky said, when asked by a journalist in Brussels what emotions he’ll feel when Trump is inaugurated next month.
In his yearly press conference, Putin balked at a question asking when fighting in Russia’s Kursk region would end, promising only that Ukrainian forces would eventually leave.
At the annual end-of-year press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, a woman from the Kursk region asked when the Russian army would drive Ukrainian forces out of Russian territory. Putin was unable to answer the question with a specific date.
The 72-year-old Russian autocrat only promised that Ukrainian troops would eventually leave the Kursk region, according to The Moscow Times.
Moscow‘s forces are advancing and aiming to recapture the town of Kupiansk, which was occupied in the first year of the war
A Russian missile strike on Thursday killed three people in the village of Shevchenkove in the eastern Kharkiv region, where Russian troops were advancing, police said.
“A civilian woman died. Another woman died while being transported to a medical facility, and a civilian man was fatally wounded,” the police said.
In the latest of a series of gaffes from senior Russians, its Chief of the General Staff accused the US of deploying a non-existent missile system on a recent NATO exercise.
The military issues website Defense Blog reported that during a briefing for foreign military attachés in Moscow on Wednesday, General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the Russian General Staff, said that during the latest NATO Steadfast Defender exercise deployed a new missile system on the Danish island of Bornholm which he said was called “Dark Typhon.”
However, there is no weapons system of that name in the inventory of any of NATO’s 32 member nations. It seems likely that Gerasimov, or whoever prepared his briefing notes, inadvertently merged the names of two separate US systems – the US Army’s long-range “Dark Eagle” hypersonic long-range missile and the “Typhon” mobile Strategic Mid-range Fires (SMRF) missile launch system.
Ukrainian resistance to Russia has vastly reduced the chances of major armed conflict elsewhere, and thus significantly reduced the chances of a nuclear war.
Debts are awkward, especially debts of gratitude. When we owe others too much, we can find it hard to express our appreciation. If we are not reflective, we might minimize our debt, or simply forget it. If we think highly of ourselves, we might ignore a debt to someone we regard as less important. In the worst case, we can resent the people who have helped us, and portray them in a negative light, just to avoid the feeling that we, too, are vulnerable people who sometimes need a helping hand.
Americans (and many others) owe Ukrainians a huge debt of gratitude for their resistance to Russian aggression. For some mixture of reasons, we have difficulty acknowledging this. To do so, we have to find the words. Seven that might help are: security, freedom, democracy, courage, pluralism, perseverance, and generosity.
During his annual end-of-year conference, Putin proposed targeting Kyiv with Russia’s new “Oreshnik” missile and challenged US and European missile defenses to intercept it.
In a bizarre statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested making Kyiv into an arena for a missile “duel” to test the effectiveness of Western air defense systems.
During his annual end-of-year conference, Putin proposed targeting Ukraine’s capital with Russia’s new “Oreshnik” [Hazel Tree] missile in a challenge to the US and European missile defenses ability to intercept it.
Putin has already named his preconditions for peace talks: Ukraine’s withdrawal from four of its regions and that it abandons its bid for NATO membership - terms Kyiv deems unacceptable.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated Moscow’s readiness for negotiations and compromises on Ukraine but accused Kyiv of “rejecting any dialogue.”
Speaking during his annual end-of-year conference on Thursday, Dec. 19, Putin stated, “Politics is the art of compromise. We have always said that we are ready for negotiations and compromise.”
The legislation is seen as an important step in acknowledging the global and diverse nature of the Ukrainian community and advancing Ukraine’s integration with the European Union.
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) welcomes the introduction of Ukraine’s draft multiple citizenship law. This legislation represents a significant step forward in recognizing the diverse and global nature of the Ukrainian community and Ukraine’s EU integration.
For many years, the UWC has advocated for such legislation, understanding its potential to enhance Ukraine’s global presence and support the rights of Ukrainians living abroad. This law will enable Ukrainians to maintain their heritage and identity while contributing to their countries of residence and Ukraine.
The world in focus, as seen by a Canadian leading global affairs analyst, writer and speaker, in his review of international media.
Turkey looks set to play an outsize role in shaping the new Syria after Assad. Turkey is already visibly active in Syria. The Turkish Embassy in Damascus is up and running. And Turkey’s intelligence chief paid a visit to Damascus last week and met with the leader of HTS, Ahmed al-Sharaa — formerly known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani — who is now the de facto leader of the new Syrian administration. In an interview with Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak on Wednesday, HTS leader Sharaa said there would be “strategic relations” between the two countries. “Of the many countries Syrians sought refuge in, Turkey welcomed them and respected them the most. I hope that Syria won’t forget this kindness,” Sharaa said. experts say the new Syrian leaders will have to rely on Turkey to help them establish public order, form institutions and provide resources, like water and electricity. With much of Syria destroyed, Turkish construction companies are likely to seek a lead role in reconstruction. “We trust that Turkey will transfer its experience in economic development to Syria,” Sharaa told Yeni Safak newspaper. Then there is the matter of the Syrian refugees in Turkey. Many of them now speak Turkish fluently and have business relations and other ties with Turkey, which could provide more means of influence for the Turkish government, should they return to Syria - NPR
British troops may be sent to Ukraine to train up soldiers in its war against Russia, the defence secretary has hinted. John Healey has said Britain needs to “make the training a better fit for what the Ukrainians need” and left the door open to it taking place in the war-torn country. On Wednesday, speaking to The Times during a visit to Kyiv, Mr Healey said: “We [need to] make it easier to the Ukrainians to access and we [need to] work with the Ukrainians to help them motivate and mobilise more recruits,” he said to The Times on a visit to Ukraine. Asked if this meant extending training of Ukrainian recruits inside the UK to Ukraine itself, he said: “We will look wherever we can to respond to what the Ukrainians want. They are the ones fighting.” The Independent
Russia‘s central bank is set to hike interest rates on Friday in its latest attempt to deal with the pace of price rises amid the military offensive on Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday acknowledged concerns over high inflation, but insisted the economy was “stable” in the face of external threats.
Russia’s central bank is set to hike interest rates on Friday in its latest attempt to deal with the pace of price rises amid the military offensive on Ukraine.
Trump’s peace negotiator, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Keith Kellogg criticized the killing of Russia’s chemical weapons commander, Igor Kirillov, allegedly carried out by Ukraine’s SBU.
The assassination of Russian Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov in Moscow was “not a good idea” according to retired US Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, whom Donald Trump plans to appoint as his special envoy on Ukraine and Russia, as stated in a Fox News interview Wednesday.
However, Kellogg stated that the killing of Kirillov does not obstruct “peace talks” between Ukraine and Russia but could potentially violate the rules of warfare.
Despite initial concerns that her links to right-wing populists might lead Giorgia Meloni to waver in her support for Ukraine, she has proven to be a steadfast ally.
When the Politico news outlet declared Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni the “most powerful person in Europe” in 2025, this decision was both a recognition of her political dominance and a statement about the future leadership of the continent. For Ukraine, struggling against brutal and unprovoked Russian aggression, Meloni’s growing influence in Brussels and Washington offers hope. Her evolution from a Eurosceptic nationalist to a pragmatic bridge-builder between Europe and America has made her an indispensable ally to Kyiv at a crucial moment.
Not long ago, many dismissed Meloni as a fervent right-winger unsuitable to lead Italy, let alone shape European geopolitics. However, in just two years since her historic victory as Italy’s first female prime minister, Meloni has exceeded all expectations. Her government remains one of the most stable in the history of post-war Italy, a remarkable achievement given the country’s reputation for political instability.
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was killed on Tuesday in an explosion outside his residence in Moscow. Europe’s press assesses the situation.
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was killed on Tuesday in an explosion outside his residence in Moscow. The day before, the Ukrainian secret service SBU had charged Kirrilov, who is responsible for Russia’s radiation, biological and chemical defence forces, with war crimes and formally opened an investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. Europe’s press assesses the situation.
In the view of gazeta.ua (Ukraine), Kirillov was a legitimate target:
Russian media reported on Wednesday that it had lost another Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopter which, according to pro-Kremlin milbloggers, was the result of fratricide.
Russian social media reported the downing of another one of its Kamov Ka-52 “Alligator” (NATO: Hokum B) attack helicopters in what is strongly suspected to have been a friendly fire incident.
Ilya Tumanov, believed to be a serving officer in the Russian Armed Forces who posts under the pseudonym Fighterbomber on Telegram made another of his now customary announcements after the loss of Russian aircraft that simply said: “Sleep peacefully brothers…”
Ukraine, US themes - dominate meeting of European leaders.
Donald Trump loomed large over EU leaders Thursday at their last summit before he reclaims power in the United States, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying only transatlantic unity can “save” Ukraine.
The upheaval in Syria after the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, and how to deal with the new leadership, was also high-up on the agenda of the gathering.
The Novoshakhtinsky refinery has an annual capacity of 5.6 million tons, making it a vital part of Russia‘s energy infrastructure.
[UPDATES] As of 10:15 a.m., Kyiv Post sources within Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed that the attack on the Novoshakhtinsky Oil Refinery in Russia’s Rostov Region was a joint operation between the SBU and the Ukrainian Naval Forces.
According to the sources, the operation unfolded in two stages. First, SBU drones overwhelmed the Russian air defense systems protecting the refinery, creating a critical “window of opportunity.” This allowed Ukrainian-produced jet-powered missiles, coordinated by the SBU and the Navy, to successfully strike the facility in the next phase.
The new weapons and gear will be ordered at a time when Europe‘s biggest economy seeks to rebuild its long-neglected armed force in the face of Russia’s ongoing Ukraine invasion.
Germany’s military will get more than €20 billion worth of new defense equipment, including four submarines, under a record package approved by the parliamentary budget committee Wednesday.
The new weapons and gear will be ordered at a time when Europe’s biggest economy seeks to rebuild its long-neglected armed forces in the face of high NATO tensions with Russia over the Ukraine war.
The order, worth around $9.4 million, will involve the delivery of tens of thousands of critical necessary propellant charge modules of various types for delivery in January.
The German defense company Rheinmetall, which has become a key defense partner for Ukraine, announced on Wednesday that it has secured a contract from Kyiv’s Ministry of Defense to supply its 155mm artillery modular charge system.
The order, valued at approximately €9 million ($9.4 million) is said to consist of tens of thousands of the propellant charge modules of various types that are scheduled for delivery in January 2025.
Hospital wards are being prioritized for DPRK militants, while wounded Russian soldiers are left in worse conditions, according to a Russian nurse during an intercepted phone conversation.
Over 200 wounded North Korean soldiers were reportedly brought to a Russian hospital near Moscow within a few days, according to an intercepted conversation released by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) via Telegram.
“Ukrainian Defense Forces inflict serious losses on Russian and North Korean units in the Kursk region,” the report said.
Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.
Key Takeaways from the ISW:
UK announces $286M in military aid; Kyiv to receive first tranche of US $20B promised loan; Kremlin calls British journalists “legitimate targets” after op-ed piece on general’s killing.
A few hours after Britain’s The Times ran an editorial on Wednesday describing the assassination of Russian Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov as a “legitimate act of defense” on the part of Ukraine, the Kremlin said that the newspaper should “be careful” and that its senior staff are now “legitimate military targets.”
“All these individuals can and should be considered legitimate military targets for the Russian state,” former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev wrote on social media. “And for all Russian patriots, for that matter.”
North Korea has denounced US-led criticism of the deployment of DPRK troops to Ukraine and defended its alliance with Moscow.
North Korea on Thursday lashed out at “reckless provocation” by the United States and its allies for criticizing Pyongyang’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, including the deployment of troops.
In a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, a foreign ministry spokesman said the 10 nations and the EU were “distorting and slandering” Pyongyang’s “normal cooperative” ties with Moscow.
