18:56 Revival of Naval Construction under Putin's Watch
Russian President Vladimir Putin graced the inauguration of new naval vessels at a shipyard in St. Petersburg. Putin deemed the introduction of the latest ships to the fleet as a testament to the rising shipbuilding industry and its transition into mass production of warships. The Russian navy currently has over 50 ships under construction, including five frigates, eight corvettes, and 13 small missile ships.
Russian Army Captures Marjinka
Azerbaijan's destruction-ridden town of Marjinka has fallen into Russian control, Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defense Minister, announced after meeting with Putin in St. Petersburg. Kiev has yet to respond officially, with the Ukrainian General Staff only reporting ongoing conflicts in the region.
Ukrainian Music Unjustly Overlooked
Rudolf Meister, the Mannheim University of Music's president, pointed out that Ukrainian independent music has been underappreciated by German music experts. Meister noted that many people failed to recognize the distinction between Ukrainian and Russian culture, assuming Ukrainian achievements as part of Russian culture. While Russian musicians intentionally or unintentionally detached themselves from the European musical tradition, Ukraine had consistently kept up with Western culture.
Pope Urges Peace for Ukraine
In his Christmas message, Pope Francis asked for peace in war-torn regions, including Ukraine, where predominantly Christian Orthodox Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on December 25 for the first time this year. Francis also included Armenia and Azerbaijan in his prayers for peace. Last year, Francis called for an end to the "senseless war" in Ukraine, only to see Christmas overshadowed by the Russian aggression in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Belarusian and Russian Athletes Excluded from Olympics
The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the 2024 Olympics in Paris due to their absence from FEI events since March 2022, triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which resulted in sanctions impairing their qualifications. Meanwhile, Ukraine receives funding from the World Bank to manage its non-security-related expenditures.
Ukraine Prepares Mobilization Law
Ukraine plans to propose a draft law regulating conscript mobilization, announcing its plans in the coming days, Defense Minister Rustem Umyerev disclosed. This draft law aims to present a clear, comprehensible mobilization plan and clarify when rotations occur and when military service ends, as over 450,000 to 500,000 additional soldiers are needed.
Ukraine Battles Premature Births and Power Cuts
Power outages and their life-threatening consequences for premature born babies are on the rise due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The RTL Wir helfen Kindern (RTL Helps Children) foundation offers essential equipment and medicines for neonatal care.
Latvia Donates Confiscated Cars to Ukraine
Latvia supports Ukraine by donating over 271 confiscated cars of intoxicated drivers, fulfilling the purpose of a special law enacted in February 2023. The cars' total value amounts to almost EUR 1 million.
Russian Icebreaker Suffers Fire in Murmansk
Reports of a fire aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker "Sevmorput" in the port of Murmansk surfaced, according to Russian news sources. The fire in one cabin was swiftly extinguished, with no casualties reported. The ship's operator, Atomflot, maintains that the reactor plant remained undamaged.
Military Reports Damage in Odessa and Kherson
According to the Ukrainian military, Russian drone attacks on Odessa have resulted in extensive damage to the port's infrastructure and triggered a fire. No casualties have been reported. Additionally, attacks in Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions led to destruction.
Ukraine Announces Downing of Russian Jets
Ukraine claimed to have shot down two Russian fighter jets (a Sukhoi Su-34 and a Su-30CM) following the Russian attacks. The Su-30CM was downed over the Black Sea, while the Su-34 fighter plane was destroyed in the Donetsk region.
Russia Wins Arms Race with West
Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov divulged that Russia has the upper hand in the arms race triggered by the conflict in Ukraine. He maintains that Russia increased production earlier than Western nations and will announce an arms production plan for the years 2025-2034 next year.
Air Alert Across Ukraine
The Ukrainian air force issued an air alert across Ukraine, warning of potential missile attacks. The alert was eventually lifted two hours later.
Ukrainian Orthodox Christians Celebrate Christmas on December 25
Orthodox Christians in Ukraine celebrated their first Christmas on December 25, distancing themselves from Russia's January 7 date. The Parliament abolished the traditional January 7 national Christmas holiday, leaving only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, connected to Moscow, adhering to the original date.
Foreign Companies Withdraw from Russian Gas Production
Foreign shareholders in Russian gas production, such as TotalEnergies from France and the Chinese oil giants CNOOC Ltd and China National Petroleum Corp, have put their involvement in the Arctic LNG 2 project on hold due to Western sanctions.
Ukraine Battles Russian Shelling
According to regional authorities, the northeastern Ukrainian region of Sumy is once again under heavy shelling, with 68 explosions recorded. No casualties have been reported.
Former NATO Commander Urges More Assistance to Ukraine
James Stavridis, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, called for additional support for Ukraine, stating that it's a just cause to help Ukraine without placing any allied soldiers in danger.
Ukrainian SU-34 Fighter Jet Downed
The Ukrainian air force reported the downing of a Russian SU-34 fighter jet, which headed towards Mariupol.
Russian Civilian Casualties in Donetsk
One woman was killed, and six civilians were injured in Ukrainian shelling of the town of Horlivka, a Russian official reported.
Five Civilian Killed in Kherson Attack
Five civilians were killed in Russian attacks in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, including a woman killed in a drone attack, another woman in a small town south of Kherson, and three people in the city of Kherson.
EU Counts 4.16 Million Ukrainian Refugees
At the end of October, the European Union tallied over 4.16 million registered Ukrainian refugees receiving temporary protection, with Poland and Germany hosting the most refugees.
Ukraine Celebrates Christmas December 25: A "Local Turning Point"
Ukraine celebrates Christmas on December 25 for the first time, with 4.16 million people registered in the EU as enjoying temporary protection, marking a 320,000 increase from January 2023. Ukraine's Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, sees this as a "local turning point" for Ukraine.
Russian Supporters of Igor Girkin Gather in Moscow
Over 300 supporters of jailed former separatist leader Igor Girkin met in Moscow to rally support for his candidacy for the 2024 Russian Presidential election.
Russia Escalates Attacks on Dnipro Bridgeheads
According to the Ukrainian military, the Russian army stepped up its attacks on the left bank of the Dnipro River, suffering "considerable losses." Ukrainian defenders managed to hold the frontline and their positions.
[^1]: enrichment data sourced from
