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Combat Operations
Ukraine
Russia
United States
NATO
United Nations
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Combat Operations

• Russian officials report oil refinery fire after Ukraine targets border regions with dozens of drones VOA 19 Dec 2024 -- Officials in Russia's Rostov region reported a fire Thursday at an oil refinery after a wave of attacks from several dozen Ukrainian aerial drones.
• Russians see North Koreans as a 'burden' over ignorance of drones: South says Radio Free Asia 19 Dec 2024 -- North Korean soldiers are being "consumed" in attacks in Russia's Kursk region because they lack experience of drone warfare, South Korea's spy agency said, adding that Russian forces complained that the North Koreans were a "burden" because of their "ignorance."

Ukraine

• Zelenskiy Says Transatlantic Unity Fundamental To Halt Putin's Aggression RFE/RL 19 Dec 2024 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that only transatlantic unity could eventually stop the war in Ukraine and lead to peace amid a change of administrations in the United States.
• There Can Be No Ceasefire Without Clear and Comprehensible Security Guarantees for Ukraine - President President of Ukraine 19 Dec 2024
• In Brussels, the President of Ukraine Met with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic President of Ukraine 19 Dec 2024
• We Need Coordinated Efforts for Lasting Peace, Not Just a Pause in Fighting - President Addressed the Participants of the European Council Session President of Ukraine 19 Dec 2024
• Europe and America Can Push the War to an End, Fair and Reliable Peace - Speech by the President at the Meeting of the European Council President of Ukraine 19 Dec 2024
• Priorities of the European Commission and Support for Ukraine's Path to EU Membership: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with Ursula von der Leyen President of Ukraine 19 Dec 2024
• Energy Sector Protection, Investment in Ukrainian Weapons Production, and Child Protection: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Met with António Costa President of Ukraine 19 Dec 2024
• Bolstering Air Defense, Equipping Brigades, and Military Support: The President Met with Leaders, Heads of Government, and Other Representatives of European Countries President of Ukraine 19 Dec 2024
• In Brussels, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mark Rutte Discussed Air Defense Strengthening and Security Guarantees for Ukraine President of Ukraine 19 Dec 2024

Russia

• Putin, In Annual Televised Show Of Control, Says Russia Nearing 'Primary Goal' In Ukraine War RFE/RL 19 Dec 2024 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is nearing its primary goal in the war against Ukraine and challenged the United States to a missile "duel" involving Russia's new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile.
• Putin Sends Signals To The West On Ukraine Ahead Of Trump's New Term RFE/RL 19 Dec 2024 -- Vladimir Putin's end-of-year Q&A session with reporters and the public is billed as a chance for Russian citizens to ask the president about the issues that matter to them most. But while much of the televised marathon focuses on domestic affairs, Putin always uses it to send signals to the West and the rest of the world, too.
• Putin says he's ready to compromise with Trump on Ukraine war VOA 19 Dec 2024 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he was ready to compromise over Ukraine in possible talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on ending the war and had no conditions for beginning talks with Kyiv.
• Russian Defence Ministry reports on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (19 December 2024) Russia MoD 19 Dec 2024 -- The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region.
• Air Defense Shot Down 84 Ukrainian Drones Over Russian Regions Last Night - MoD Sputnik 19 Dec 2024 -- Russian air defense systems destroyed 84 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions last night, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

United States

• Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds Press Briefing DoD 19 Dec 2024
• White House: NATO membership necessary for Ukraine security guarantees but invitation decision up to next president VOA 19 Dec 2024 -- As President Joe Biden's administration prepares to transfer power to the incoming team of President-elect Donald Trump, VOA Ukrainian Iuliia Iarmolenko spoke with Michael Carpenter, the National Security Council director for Europe. Carpenter discussed the Biden administration's final efforts to strengthen Ukraine and why it would take more time and resources from Washington to start successful negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

NATO

United Nations

Foreign Reactions

• New donation package to strengthen Ukraine's air defence Danish Ministry of Defence 19 Dec 2024 -- Today the Danish Government informed the Foreign Policy Committee on the 23rd donation package to Ukraine which includes 2.1 billion DKK to strengthen Ukraine's air defence and the capacity for fighter aircrafts. Furthermore, funding will be spent on additional infantry fighting vehicles.
• Continued international support Is crucial to protect Ukraine's energy system Government of Norway 19 Dec 2024 -- On Friday, December 13, Norway participated in the handover of 12 gas piston engines to local authorities in Kharkiv. These engines will benefit 800,000 residents and 47 hospitals this winter and are already in place in the city.
• The President in Brussels: The EU needs to step up military assistance to Ukraine President of the Republic of Lithuania 19 Dec 2024 -- President Gitanas Nausėda is attending the European Council meeting in Brussels. On Thursday, the plenary session opened with a discussion with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who joined the EU leaders.
• German Military Supplies to Ukraine Amounted to $8.4Bln in 2024 Sputnik 19 Dec 2024 -- Germany's arms exports to Ukraine reached 8.13 billion euros ($8.4 billion) between January 1 and December 17, which is almost twice as much as in 2023, the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action said.
• 'Matter for Discussion': Polish President on Possible Deployment of Troops to Ukraine Sputnik 19 Dec 2024 -- The possible deployment of Polish troops to Ukraine is a "matter for discussion," but no such talks are currently underway, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Thursday.
• Latest ODIHR report documents more Russian crimes in Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE UK FCDO 19 Dec 2024 -- Acting Ambassador Deirdre Brown details some of the crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, which are recorded in ODIHR's latest report, including torture and sexual violence.
• UK leadership on Ukraine continues as Defence Secretary announced £225m support package during Kyiv visit UK MOD 19 Dec 2024 -- The Defence Secretary outlined his five principles for supporting Ukraine next year during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday

News Reports

• Uzbek Man Charged With Terrorism In High-Profile Assassination Of Russian General RFE/RL 19 Dec 2024 -- A court in Moscow charged Uzbek citizen Ahmat Qurbanov on December 19 with terrorism and other charges in the high-profile killing of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who headed Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Forces.