Kaja Kallas, EU Excessive Consultant for International Affairs and Safety Coverage, has stated that the European Union has fulfilled its dedication to produce Ukraine with two million artillery shells by the tip of 2025.
Supply: European Pravda
Particulars: Kallas stated the EU has offered Ukraine with €27 billion in navy help this yr.
Quote: "Our priorities are twofold: placing extra strain on Moscow and producing extra assist for Kyiv. Europe is offering Ukraine with a file €27 billion of navy assist this yr. Now we have additionally met our pledge of offering 2 million rounds of artillery shells, however it’s also clear that it's no time to decelerate. Now we have to do extra to strengthen Ukraine's defence and its hand in negotiations whereas Russia retains rejecting peace."
Background:
In September 2025, Kallas stated EU international locations had meant to produce Ukraine with two million artillery shells by October, noting that at the moment, member states had delivered 80% of the ammunition pledged.
In early December, Kallas stated it was regrettable that the plan to offer Ukraine with two million shells in 2025 had not but been carried out in full.
Czechia has equipped Ukraine with 1.8 million rounds of large-calibre ammunition this yr.
Czech President Petr Pavel stated that Czech authorities have already begun making ready ammunition provides for Ukraine for 2026.
US President Donald Trump plans to carry a sequence of cellphone calls with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and plenty of European leaders as we speak that may deal with the progress of negotiations on Ukraine.
Supply: German outlet Welt, citing a senior US official, as reported by European Pravda
Quote: "Sources in Washington say US President Donald Trump will as we speak maintain cellphone talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and different European leaders on the state of play concerning the negotiations on Ukraine."
Particulars: The official additionally mentioned that the settlement being mentioned in Berlin contains "very sturdy" US safety ensures for Ukraine, modelled on NATO's mutual defence pact, in addition to "potent deterrence" by means of US weapons. The US expects that Russia will approve the settlement.
Background:
An nameless US official instructed Sky Information that "90% of points" between Ukraine and Russia had been resolved through the Ukraine-US talks in Berlin.
Rustem Umierov, Secretary of Ukraine's Nationwide Safety and Defence Council, has mentioned he expects that Kyiv and Washington may have agreed on frequent positions by the top of the day, bringing peace nearer.
Türkiye's Ministry of Nationwide Defence has stated that its fighter jets shot down an "out-of-control" drone flying from the Black Sea.
Supply: Turkish newspaper Each day Sabah, as reported by European Pravda
Particulars: The ministry stated that the drone approaching Türkiye's airspace over the Black Sea "was detected and tracked as a part of routine procedures".
Quote from the ministry: "Our F-16 fighter jets below NATO and nationwide command have been scrambled to make sure airspace safety.
It was decided that the air monitor belonged to an unmanned aerial car that had gone uncontrolled; with a purpose to keep away from detrimental penalties, it was shot down in a protected space exterior populated areas."
Particulars: Turkish media reported that the drone was shot down over land and that its identification might be decided solely after wreckage is recovered.
The incident occurred amid intensified assaults between Russia and Ukraine within the Black Sea.
Background:
On 28 November, two sanctioned tankers have been reported to have caught hearth within the Black Sea off the coast of Türkiye on account of exterior strikes. Sources informed Ukrainska Pravda that it was a particular operation by the Safety Service of Ukraine.
On 2 December, it turned recognized that one other Russian tanker was attacked close to Türkiye's shores.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has described the assaults as an "alarming escalation".
On 4 December, the Turkish Overseas Ministry summoned representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian embassies to convey its considerations over a sequence of assaults on vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet within the Black Sea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mentioned he has seen a draft doc on safety ensures for Ukraine, which "seems respectable, regardless that that is solely the primary draft".
Supply: Zelenskyy at a press convention with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, as reported by European Pravda
Particulars: Zelenskyy famous that discussions with the US on the draft safety ensures for Ukraine are ongoing.
Quote from Zelenskyy: "It's vital that the US perceives [security guarantees for Ukraine] as being equal to NATO's Article 5. We're presently working to get the whole lot written down. And we’re making progress. I've seen the small print from the navy people who find themselves engaged on them. They appear respectable, regardless that that is solely the primary draft."
Extra particulars: On this context, Zelenskyy highlighted the significance of figuring out who would monitor the ceasefire, if established, and what sanctions there could be for any violations.
"It's vital for us all to agree that we should work on this," he added.
Background:
An nameless US official beforehand instructed Sky Information that "90% of points" between Ukraine and Russia had been resolved throughout the Ukraine-US talks in Berlin.
The official mentioned progress has been made on safety ensures for Ukraine primarily based on NATO's Article 5, however cautioned that these ensures wouldn’t be everlasting.
Rustem Umierov, Secretary of Ukraine's Nationwide Safety and Defence Council, mentioned he expects that Kyiv and Washington could have agreed on widespread positions by the top of the day, bringing peace nearer.
Lengthy-range drones operated by the Particular Operations Centre Alpha of the Safety Service of Ukraine (SSU) have struck a facility belonging to Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft within the Caspian Sea for the third time prior to now week.
Supply: Ukrainska Pravda supply within the SSU
Particulars: The supply informed Ukrainska Pravda that the drones attacked an oil rig on the Korchagin oil and gasoline condensate subject on 15 December. The strikes have broken critically necessary gear on the facility, bringing manufacturing processes to a halt.
On 11 and 12 December, SSU drones had already struck the Filanovsky and Korchagin oil extraction platforms. The Filanovsky subject is without doubt one of the largest explored fields in Russia and within the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea. Its reserves are estimated at 129 million tonnes of oil and 30 billion cubic metres of gasoline.
The European Union has expanded the scope of its sanctions regime towards Belarus to cowl hybrid unfriendly actions by Belarus towards its European neighbours.
Supply: press service for the Council of the EU, as reported by European Pravda
Particulars: On 15 December, the Council launched a brand new criterion for imposing sanctions on firms and people who "profit from, are concerned in or facilitated actions or insurance policies attributable to the Republic of Belarus, which undermine or threaten democracy, the rule of regulation, stability or safety within the EU and its member states".
It’s famous that the choice is primarily linked to systematic incursions of climate balloons carrying contraband from Belarus into Lithuania.
The brand new criterion permits the EU to use sanctions to these concerned additionally in data manipulation and interference.
These linked to "actions focused on the functioning of democratic establishments, financial actions or companies of public curiosity of the EU and its member states" could fall underneath the sanctions regime.
The brand new criterion additionally covers interference with, injury to or destruction of essential infrastructure, or systemic actions resulting in disruptions within the operation of such infrastructure – this wording consists of, particularly, the state of affairs confronted by Vilnius airport due to climate balloons from Belarus.
In describing the issue Lithuania has confronted, it’s emphasised that climate balloons from Belarus have already affected a whole bunch of flights and 1000’s of passengers and prompted main losses for airways.
"They purpose to destabilise an EU member state and to intimidate European residents by means of direct threats posed to civilian aviation. The usage of these balloons happens within the context of a broader focused hybrid marketing campaign, together with different actions that additionally embody state-sponsored migrant smuggling," the communiqué notes.
Background:
EU ambassadors agreed on 10 December to increase sanctions towards Belarus in reference to the incursions of balloons into Lithuanian airspace.
Vilnius has mentioned that Alexander Lukashenko mustn’t count on any easing of EU sanctions, following the instance of the US, which did so in change for the discharge of greater than 120 political prisoners.
Russian forces are searching Ukrainian uncrewed floor vessels at sea and from the air. In the meantime, US and European actors are scrambling to get their palms on the know-how, as evidenced by discussions in places of work, at exhibitions and through trials.
The drive behind this success are Ukrainian-made unmanned Magura boats – inconspicuous, quick, manoeuvrable and lethal to the enemy. In simply two years, they’ve rewritten the foundations of contemporary naval warfare.
The looks of those vessels took the Russian Black Sea Fleet unexpectedly. Russia may hardly have imagined that Ukraine, with nearly no ships of its personal, may push its forces from Zmiinyi (Snake) Island and Odesa all the best way to Novorossiysk. Even there, Russian warships are struggling relentless assaults.
The success of every mission rests with engineers and army personnel who’ve honed their abilities to a degree that allows them to inflict the heaviest losses on the Russians. These specialists have been assembled in "Group 13", a specialised unit inside the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU).
The particular unit is led by an officer who goes by the alias "13". 13's particular forces unit has destroyed two dozen Russian property at sea and within the air.
13, Commander of Group 13 Picture: Ukrainska Pravda
Just lately, DIU showcased its modernised naval drones to Ukrainian and international journalists. 13 outlined the fight historical past and the way techniques for deploying Magura drones have developed over the previous two years.
Ukrainska Pravda attended the briefing and highlighted the important thing factors from the commander's account.
The Magura household adapts to new duties
These kamikaze marine drones have been first used within the western Black Sea, the place the Ukrainian particular forces struck Russia's reconnaissance ship, Ivan Khurs. Strikes on Russian warships have regularly pushed eastward since then.
In February 2024, Group 13 ambushed and sank the Russian missile boat Ivanovets because it patrolled the waters of Donuzlav, Crimea's deepest lake.
In simply 13 days, the particular forces destroyed the massive touchdown ship Tsezar Kunikov close to Alupka. 13 recollects that the unit had a very completely different goal that night time, however new intelligence revealed a Russian ship shifting proper right into a flock of Magura drones. Operators rapidly redirected the drones, and the Tsezar Kunikov got here inside vary of the Ukrainian boats by itself.
A Magura V5 kamikaze sea drone Picture Ukrainska Pravda
13 stated that some of the emotional operations of the struggle was the destruction of the corvette Sergei Kotov within the Kerch Strait in early March 2024. The Russian ship had been manoeuvring between civilian vessels in an try and evade pursuit. This proved futile, as 5 kamikaze boats first immobilised the corvette after which sank it.
Over its few years of use, the Magura V5 has undergone quite a few enhancements. Group 13's commander stated this mannequin has been completely examined and is nearly fail-safe for particular forces operations.
Group 13 specialists analyse every goal intimately earlier than missions. Modular design permits the unmanned boats to be quickly tailored for any job.
The market value of a Magura V5 boat is round US$250,000. 13 emphasises, nevertheless, that his unit acquires them at a considerably decrease price.
A Magura V5 maritime kamikaze drone Picture: Ukrainska Pravda
In 2024, Russian forces started utilizing helicopters and warplanes to detect, observe, and destroy maritime drones. This revolutionised the struggle in opposition to the unmanned vessels at sea and disrupted Ukrainian missions.
Group 13 specialists have been then tasked not solely with destroying ships but additionally with searching down Russian plane.
To counter the aerial menace, the unit developed techniques utilizing swarms of multi-purpose drones. Ukrainian engineers mounted a machine-gun turret on a catamaran-style hull, creating the Magura V6 to destroy helicopters. The hull design enhances stabilisation for the fight module and permits correct short-burst fireplace.
An exhibition mannequin of the Magura V6 unmanned drone outfitted with a fight module Picture: Ukrainska Pravda
Shortly after, engineers started integrating air-to-air missiles, giving rise to a drone armed with R-73 missiles. On 31 December 2024, naval drones outfitted with these missiles shot down two Mi-8 helicopters and broken a 3rd.
In Might, the brand new Magura V7 drone, armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, made its sea debut, taking pictures down two Russian Su-30 fighters.
"At first, helicopters posed a essential menace and made our work troublesome", stated 13. "However to counter them, boats armed with turrets and missiles have been developed. After that, the enemy stopped utilizing helicopters in opposition to us altogether, realising they’d develop into straightforward targets for our missiles.
We set the situations of engagement, forcing them to adapt and deploy plane as a substitute. However these too proved unsuccessful."
A Magura V7 marine drone armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles Picture: Ukrainska Pravda
13 emphasises that right now, Magura is a flexible platform, able to extra than simply fight. For instance, it might probably function the idea for boats designed to extinguish fires in ports or deal with burning ships within the roadstead.
How are the Russians responding?
The best option to detect uncrewed floor vessels is from the air. To realize this, Russian forces are deploying almost all their aviation platforms in Crimea. Transport planes, maritime plane and fighter jets are actively trying to find drones, however pilots are actually hesitant to fly shut sufficient to interact them.
"In the present day, planes now not strategy our boats immediately as a result of they know there's a critical danger of being shot down," 13 stated. "Typically they try strikes from a distance, however normally, bombs and missiles miss their targets. They usually run out of ammunition and return to base empty-handed."
As an alternative choice to manned aviation, Russian forces have begun deploying reconnaissance UAVs and first-person view drones. 13 describes this as an efficient measure, however one that’s not posing a essential menace to the Ukrainian army.
Chevron of Group 13 Picture: Ukrainska Pravda
Brothers-in-arms from "Prymary" (Phantoms), one other DIU unit, contribute considerably to the success of Group 13's missions. Though every unit plans its operations independently, Prymary's systematic raids on Crimean airfields destroy Be-12 naval plane, An-26 transport planes and fighter jets, additional limiting Russian makes an attempt to trace the deployment and numbers of uncrewed floor vessels.
In early December, Prymary destroyed a Russian Orion reconnaissance drone that had been patrolling the Black Sea.
The uncrewed vessels also can help Prymary operatives in putting floor targets. At the least two fashions of unmanned floor vessels (USVs) able to carrying quadcopters and fixed-wing UAVs are documented in Sea Battle: The Age of Drones, a movie by Ukrainian serviceman and journalist Artem Shevchenko.
Radars can detect Magura, however solely when it's too late
Their small measurement and smooth design make Magura drones extraordinarily exhausting to detect with ship or ground-based radars.
13 emphasises that shipborne radar methods sometimes detect drones just a few kilometres away. From that second on, the clock begins ticking for Russian sailors.
Floor-based radars additionally lack adequate sensitivity, forcing Russian forces to depend on passive defence methods at their bases. Chief amongst these are growth obstacles – floats fitted with chains and nets positioned throughout bay entrances to dam entry. Drone operators, nevertheless, have realized to beat such obstacles: particular forces establish the weakest factors in these obstacles and soar over them at pace.
Typically, the Russians ship barges and outdated ships out to sea as a part of their passive defence methods. If the operator determines {that a} drone can not move by way of such a barrier, they command the primary drone within the attacking group to detonate, thereby clearing a path for the others.
Probably the most putting examples of bypassing bodily obstacles got here throughout a Black Sea operation in temporarily-occupied Crimea, the place DIU drones leapt over the buoy barrier in Vuzka Bay earlier than focusing on and destroying a number of Russian speedboats on the berths.
"The Russians use digital warfare to guard their amenities, however we’re growing countermeasures", stated 13. "We analyse every facility to evaluate the threats and equip the drone for the precise job accordingly."
13 at a console for controlling a Magura drone Picture: Ukrainska Pravda
Requested by the journalists whether or not the Russians are utilizing unmanned boats, 13 stated they’ve carried out a number of profitable operations. Nonetheless, marine drones will not be widespread amongst Russian forces, as it’s far harder for them to search out appropriate targets.
Group 13 is already coping with an identical problem. With nearly no Russian warships at sea, the primary forces of the Black Sea Fleet have been confined to Novorossiysk or the Sea of Azov, areas which are troublesome to succeed in. In consequence, DIU is now specializing in different key Russian targets and limiting its fleet's capacity to enterprise far into the ocean.
"Throughout one in every of our current assaults on Novorossiysk, the Russians shot up a bunch of their very own buildings in an try and destroy our boats. For us, this reveals that the lack of new ships within the Black Sea is extremely essential for them", stated 13.
13 famous {that a} new stage of naval fight is imminent: clashes between unmanned boats outfitted with several types of weapons. Ukrainian engineers and Group 13 operators are already gearing up for it.
The Russians proceed to push alongside your complete line of contact. A complete of 158 fight clashes have occurred on the battlefield over the previous day, with the Pokrovsk entrance remaining probably the most intense.
Supply: Normal Workers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Fb, info as of 08:00 on 15 December
Quote: "The enemy performed 66 airstrikes on Ukrainian positions and settlements, utilizing 5 missiles and 166 guided bombs, and fired 4,286 instances, together with 133 instances from multiple-launch rocket programs, and deployed 6,447 kamikaze drones."
Particulars: On the North Slobozhanshchyna entrance and in Russia's Kursk Oblast, one fight conflict was recorded. The Russians performed 3 airstrikes, dropping 6 guided bombs, and fired 152 instances, together with 6 instances from multiple-launch rocket programs.
On the South Slobozhanshchyna entrance, 11 fight clashes had been recorded close to the settlements of Synelnykove, Prylipka and Vovchansk and in the direction of Kolodiazne.
On the Kupiansk entrance, three Russian assaults occurred. Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian assaults in the direction of the settlements of Petropavlivka and Pishchane.
On the Lyman entrance, the Russians performed 13 assaults, making an attempt to advance close to the settlements of Novoiehorivka, Kolodiazi, Novoselivka, Serednie and Zarichne.
On the Sloviansk entrance, Ukrainian forces repelled seven Russian assaults close to the settlements of Yampil, Serebrianka and Pereizne.
On the Kramatorsk entrance, one fight conflict was recorded close to the town of Chasiv Yar.
On the Kostiantynivka entrance, the Russians performed 24 assaults close to the settlements of Oleksandro-Shultyne, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, Ivanopillia and Yablunivka and in the direction of Sofiivka.
On the Pokrovsk entrance, Ukrainian forces repelled 47 Russian assault and offensive actions close to the settlements of Shakhove, Nykanorivka, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske and Dachne and in the direction of Novopavlivka.
On the Oleksandrivka entrance, Ukrainian forces repelled 17 Russian assaults close to the settlements of Oleksandrohrad, Novoselivka, Sosnivka, Verbove, Krasnohirske, Pryvilne, Zlahoda and Rybne.
On the Huliaipole entrance, the Russians performed 13 assaults close to the settlements of Solodke and Huliaipole and in the direction of Varvarivka.
On the Orikhiv entrance, one Russian assault was recorded in the direction of the village of Prymorske.
On the Prydniprovske entrance, Russian forces performed one unsuccessful try to method Ukrainian positions close to the Antonivka Bridge.
"Ukraine's Air Power and models from Rocket Forces and Artillery struck three clusters of enemy navy personnel, 5 command posts, six artillery programs and yet one more necessary goal belonging to the Russians," the Normal Workers famous.
US President Donald Trump's Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff has stated that vital progress was made throughout talks between the US and Ukrainian delegations in Berlin on Sunday 14 December.
Supply: Witkoff on X (Twitter)
Talks in Berlin on 14 December Photograph: Witkoff on X
Quote: "The assembly in Berlin between President Zelenskyy, Particular Envoy Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and delegations from america and Ukraine lasted over 5 hours.
Representatives held in-depth discussions concerning the 20-point plan for peace, financial agendas, and extra. Numerous progress was made, and they’ll meet once more tomorrow morning."
Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Friedrich Merz in Berlin on 14 December Photograph: Witkoff on X (Twitter)
Background:
At 17:23 Kyiv time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced that he had begun a gathering in Berlin with representatives of the US and Germany on peace in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy posted pictures exhibiting that the assembly had been attended by members of the Ukrainian delegation in addition to US Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Late within the night, Zelenskyy's adviser Dmytro Lytvyn stated that the talks on 14 December had lasted greater than 5 hours and can proceed on the morning of 15 December.
A tweet by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticising the EU's determination to indefinitely freeze Russian property has sparked a public spat between Polish International Minister Radosław Sikorski and his Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó.
Supply: European Pravda
Particulars: Orbán had written: "Bypassing Hungary and raping European regulation in broad daylight, the Brusselians are making strikes to grab frozen Russian property – a declaration of warfare. In the meantime, they demand €135 billion extra from member states to gasoline the battle. Hungary is not going to play alongside on this twisted Brusselian scheme."
Sikorski retweeted this with the remark "Viktor has earned his Order of Lenin."
Szijjártó responded to Sikorski's comment by tweeting: "We perceive you actually desire a Russia vs. Europe warfare! We is not going to let ourselves be dragged into your warfare!!"
Sikorski replied: "Until Russia invades once more there received't be such a warfare however we perceive that this time you’d be on her facet."
Commenting on Orbán's tweet, Ukrainian International Minister Andrii Sybiha known as him "Russia's most dear frozen asset in Europe".
Background:
On 12 December, European Union ambassadors accepted a call to freeze Russian property held in Europe for an indefinite interval.
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová stated that following Friday's determination by the European Union, Russia wouldn’t have entry to frozen Russian Central Financial institution property held in Europe, even by way of "again doorways".
