Ukraine December 2024

Ukraine forces a halt to flow of natural gas from Russia to Europe: A transnational pipeline was shut down after Kyiv refused to renew an agreement that allowed for the transit of Russian gas through its territory. — 31 December 2024 (LINK)

Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine hits multiple targets, including Kyiv — 31 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 76 media reports (LINK)

Ukraine day 1,038: Nato on 26 December condemns possible sabotage of Baltic Sea cables.Putin says Slovakia has offered to be 'platform' for any peace talks. — 27 December 2024 (LINK)

Russia says Christmas Day attack on Ukraine was a success, as Zelensky calls strikes 'inhumane': Ukraine's air force detects 184 missiles and drones in attack. — 25 December 2024 (LINK)

Four killed by Ukrainian shelling in Kursk, says Russian governor

Russia confirms attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, claiming the 'goal was achieved'

At least 3,000 North Korean troops killed or wounded in Russia's war with Ukraine, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says. — 23 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 62 media reports (LINK)

Russia is executing more and more Ukrainian prisoners of war. — 22 December 2024 (LINK)

Ukraine drones hit Russian hideout in war's first unmanned ground attack. — 21 December 2024 (LINK)

— The head of a Ukrainian brigade said that the attack on an unspecified date had destroyed Russian positions near Lyptsi, a village in the Kharkiv region.

Russian official says a Ukrainian strike with US-supplied missiles kills 6 in Kursk region: Ukrainian sources suggested that the target of the attack was a military barracks housing Russian officers.. — 21 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 128 media reports (LINK)

Zelensky admits Kyiv is too weak to reclaim land from Russia. — 18 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 43 media reports (LINK)

US issues fresh sanctions on Russia related to Nord Stream 2 pipeline. — 18 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 11 media reports (LINK)

Ukraine claims it's behind Moscow blast that killed head of Russia's nuclear defense forces: bomb hidden in a scooter outside his apartment building. — 17 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 558 media reports (LINK)

EU slaps sanctions on dozens more Russian officials and targets its shadow oil and gas fleet. — 16 December 2024 (LINK)

— Sanctions cover two top North Korean defense officials, a military unit blamed for an attack on a Kyiv children's hospital and the heads of companies in the energy sector.

US unveils $500m military aid for Ukraine as Russia closes in on key city. — 13 December 2024 (LINK)

Russian forces edge closer to Pokrovsk, a key eastern Ukraine city, in intense fighting, officials say. — 13 December 2024 (LINK)

!Ukraine downs 161 of 287 Russian missiles, drones in mass aerial attack! — 13 December 2024 (LINK)

Ukraine to legalize cryptocurrency in first quarter 2025 with no tax breaks and digital assets regulation. — 12 December 2024 (LINK)

Trump calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Ukraine after meeting Zelenskyy in Paris, claiming Kyiv "would like to make a deal" to end the more than 1,000-day war. — 8 December 2024 (LINK)

— In a separate social media update Sunday, Zelenskyy asserted that Kyiv has so far lost 43,000 soldiers since Moscow's all-out invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, while a further 370,000 have been wounded.

Russians resume offensive to capture Donetsk Oblast's Pokrovsk from south. — 8 December 2024 (LINK)

Zelenskyy and Trump hold first post-reelection meeting with Macron in Paris. — 7 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 526 media reports (LINK)

— newsfactnetwork: Macron reportedly persuaded Trump to hold the trilateral meeting during Trump's visit to Paris for Notre-Dame Cathedral's reopening. Initially hesitant, Trump agreed, and the 45-minute meeting was described as "good and fruitful" by sources. Zelensky called the talks "productive," emphasizing collaboration toward "a just peace." He expressed optimism, stating, "Peace through strength is possible," on X (formerly Twitter).

U.S. Defense secretary announces nearly $1 billion in Ukraine aid as he forcefully argues for global US leadership. — 7 December 2024 (LINK)

— The package, which includes more drones and ammunition for a critical rocket system, brings the total US security assistance to Ukraine to $62 billion since the war started nearly three years ago, a key component of keeping Kyiv in the fight. Russia has suffered more than 700,000 battlefield casualties since the war began, Austin said, and "squandered" more than $200 billion.

Ukraine rejects calls by Washington to lower draft age to 18. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

— Earlier this year, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reduced the minimum age at which soldiers could be drafted from 27 to 25.

Stolen Ukrainian children put up for adoption on websites funded by Putin: Landmark report identifies 314 youngsters forcibly placed in Russia's programme of coerced adoption and fostering. — 3 December 2024 (LINK)

Russia loses almost 46,000 troops, over $3 billion worth of military equipment in November, Defence Ministry says. — 1 December 2024 (LINK)

Zelensky meets with new president of European Council Antonio Costa and top EU diplomat in Kyiv on surprise visit. — 1 December 2024 (LINK)

— During a joint press conference with Zelensky, Costa said the European Union would open two accession negotiating clusters with Ukraine in the first half of 2025.

Putin signs off record Russian defence spending as top EU officials visit Kyiv. — 1 December 2024 (LINK)