Category: World

Ukraine's defence forces have struck an oil refinery in Russia's Yaroslavl Oblast in addition to plenty of targets within the briefly occupied territories of Ukraine.

Supply: Normal Workers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Fb

Quote: "As a part of lowering the enemy's offensive potential and complicating the provision of gas and ammunition to the occupiers' navy items, items of Ukraine's defence forces have struck the services of the Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery in Russia's Yaroslavl Oblast."

Particulars: The Normal Workers added that that is one in every of Russia's largest oil refineries, able to processing as much as 15 million tonnes of crude oil and gasoline condensate per yr. It’s concerned in supplying the Russian forces.

Explosions and a big fireplace had been recorded within the goal space. The extent of the harm is being confirmed.

Quote: "Moreover, with the intention of lowering the enemy's offensive potential, an ammunition storage level was struck close to the village of Avdiivske (previously Pervomaiske), and concentrations of enemy personnel within the areas of Myrnohrad and Rodynske in Donetsk Oblast."

Background: On the evening of 11-12 December, drones attacked the Russian metropolis of Yaroslavl, positioned north-east of Moscow, greater than 700 km from the state border with Ukraine. The strike induced a fireplace on the native oil refinery.

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Ukraine will obtain round US$5 billion value of navy gear through the Prioritised Ukraine Necessities Record (PURL) initiative by the top of 2025.

Supply: NATO Deputy Secretary Normal Radmila Shekerinska in an interview with Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne

Particulars: Air defence methods, ammunition and important spare elements can be equipped from US navy stockpiles. Shekerinska mentioned that PURL logistics function across the clock by hubs in Poland and Romania. She additionally famous that Ukraine all the time wants extra air defence, and that the defence industries in NATO nations are rising manufacturing to cowl this shortfall.

Shekerinska identified that the lion's share of air defence belongings reaches Ukraine by PURL. "That is actually the distinction between life and dying," she mentioned.

For reference: PURL is an initiative of the USA and NATO that’s designed to quickly ship US weapons bought by accomplice nations for Ukraine. It turned operational in the summertime of 2025. As of early December, 21 nations worldwide have joined the initiative. Funding for weapons procurement has been supplied by, amongst others, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Germany, in addition to Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Background: Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that Ukraine's objective is to safe US$1 billion monthly for weapons beneath PURL.

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Bryan Lanza, a senior adviser in Donald Trump's 2024 US presidential marketing campaign, has been employed as a advisor to the worldwide division of the Russian oil big Lukoil, which is looking for consumers for its belongings.

Supply: Politico, citing its personal sources

Particulars: Lanza started working for Lukoil in the previous couple of weeks. Politico reviews that the previous Trump adviser and his agency, Mercury Public Affairs, are interacting with the US authorities over the sale of belongings belonging to Lukoil.

Politico says Lanza was amongst those that helped safe an extension from the US Treasury Division for the sale of Lukoil's worldwide belongings.

The deadline for the sale is 17 January 2026. Reuters beforehand reported that the US financial institution Xtellus Companions is the main contender to amass these belongings.

Lukoil's worldwide division, which is predicated in Austria, owns oil refineries, oil fields and a pair of,000 petrol stations worldwide, together with greater than 200 in the USA.

Background: In November 2024, Lanza stated the brand new US administration would give attention to attaining peace in Ukraine reasonably than enabling the nation to regain territories occupied by Russia.

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The Safety Service of Ukraine (SSU) has launched a second drone assault on Russian oil rigs within the Caspian Sea, forcing manufacturing processes to be suspended.

Supply: Ukrainska Pravda sources within the SSU

Quote: "Lengthy-range drones operated by the SSU's Particular Group Alpha have efficiently attacked the Filanovsky oil manufacturing platform for the second time this week. One other platform, the Korchagin, was additionally hit. Each amenities belong to Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft and function within the Caspian Sea."

Particulars: Early stories point out that the SSU drones broken vital tools on each ice-resistant rigs, shutting down manufacturing.

The SSU added that the Filanovsky area is among the largest explored fields in Russia and the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea, with reserves estimated at 129 million tonnes of oil and 30 billion cubic metres of gasoline.

Background:

• On 11 December, it was reported that long-range drones from the SSU's Particular Group Alpha struck the Filanovsky oil rig owned by Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft.
• This was Ukraine's first strike on Russian oil manufacturing infrastructure within the Caspian Sea.
• On 10 December, SSU Sea Child naval drones struck the Dashan, an oil tanker belonging to the Russian shadow fleet, within the Black Sea.

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Rustem Umierov, Secretary of the Nationwide Safety and Defence Council of Ukraine, has held secret conferences with the management of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation which, media reviews say, have added a brand new layer of uncertainty to the peace settlement course of over the struggle launched by Russia.

Supply: The Washington Submit, citing sources, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: The Washington Submit says that over the past a number of weeks, Umierov flew to Miami a minimum of thrice for talks with members of US President Donald Trump's group, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Nevertheless, sources say that in his time in the USA, Umierov additionally held closed-door conferences with FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino.

This brought on concern amongst Western officers, who nonetheless have no idea the intentions or aims behind these conferences.

A few of them stated they consider Umierov and different Ukrainian officers approached Patel and Bongino within the hope of securing amnesty from any potential corruption fees that Ukrainian officers may face.

Others worry that the newly created communication channel might be used to stress Zelenskyy's authorities into accepting a "peace deal" proposed by the Trump administration that features severe concessions for Kyiv.

Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Ambassador to the USA, confirmed that Umierov met with the FBI management and advised The Washington Submit that he "solely coated nationwide safety associated points" that can not be made public.

An FBI official stated that conferences with Umierov addressed issues associated to the 2 nations' shared pursuits in regulation enforcement and nationwide safety.

The problem of corruption amongst senior Ukrainian officers was raised at one of many conferences however was not the principle subject, the FBI official famous.

A White Home official stated that "US officers often talk with world leaders about nationwide safety problems with shared curiosity".

Quote: "The official added that Trump's nationwide safety group has been 'talking with each the Russians and the Ukrainians to facilitate a deal to finish the struggle' and that anybody elevating issues in regards to the FBI conferences 'usually are not privy to those diplomatic conversations and do not know what they’re speaking about'."

Learn extra: Security at a crossroads. How US and Russia push for a new European order through "peace" in Ukraine

Background:

• Just lately, Umierov and Witkoff held a gathering on a "peace plan".
• A earlier such assembly between the USA and Ukraine befell on 4 December in Florida. The Ukrainian delegation was invited after US-Russia talks in Moscow on 2 December with the intention to be briefed on them.

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Russian forces have attacked the cities of Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast. Two individuals have been killed and 7 extra injured because of the strikes.

Supply: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Navy Administration, on social media

Particulars: In accordance with Filashkin, the Russians attacked civilian transport in Druzhkivka with FPV drones, injuring six individuals and damaging three vehicles.

The Russians dropped an aerial bomb on Kostiantynivka. Consequently, two individuals have been killed, one was injured, a high-rise constructing and a automotive have been broken.

Filashkin mentioned that the related companies are already coping with the aftermath of the assaults, and the injured are receiving medical help.

Background: Ukraine's defence forces posted photographs and video footage of life within the metropolis of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, which Russian occupation forces are methodically razing to the bottom.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has deliberate to go to the German capital on Monday 15 December 2025.

Supply: Bild, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: The German authorities has not confirmed Zelenskyy's go to. Nonetheless, unusually tight safety measures are already in place within the authorities quarter and within the airspace over Berlin, which suggests such a go to is being ready.

Members of the Bundestag (German parliament) have been knowledgeable of "police measures in reference to a state go to to the Reichstag constructing and the Chancellery" and of restricted entry on Monday.

Already on Thursday, Berlin police notified airports within the Berlin space of the upcoming state go to.

Quote from the Berlin police: "In reference to the go to of an individual who enjoys the best stage of safety, a restricted flight zone will likely be launched over Berlin on 15 December 2025 to be able to shield the state visitor."

Extra particulars: Such measures are taken just for state company who face the best stage of menace, such because the presidents of the US or Ukraine.

Background:

• It has been reported earlier {that a} assembly on a attainable ceasefire in Ukraine is deliberate in Berlin at the start of subsequent week.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited representatives of the US to affix the talks.
• The invitation got here after a tense cellphone name on 10 December between Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, throughout which the events tried to bridge variations over the route of peace efforts.
• Trump has later acknowledged the disagreements, saying that "fairly robust phrases" had been used in the course of the name, underlining the hole over the strategy backed by the US.

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The Servant of the Individuals faction has scheduled a congress for 17 December 2025 to elect a brand new celebration chief.

Supply: Ukrainska Pravda sources throughout the Servant of the Individuals faction

Particulars: Present chair Olena Shuliak has accomplished her second time period of workplace. The celebration plans to decide on a brand new chief on the 17 December congress. Servant of the Individuals has not but settled on a candidate.

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US President Donald Trump has mentioned he’s nonetheless unsure whether or not his nation will attend the assembly in France to debate the US "peace plan".

Supply: Trump whereas talking to journalists, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: As reported, a gathering shall be held in Paris on Saturday 13 December between senior US officers and representatives of Ukraine, France, Germany and the UK to debate Trump's "peace plan".

"There’s a assembly on Saturday. We'll see whether or not or not we attend the assembly. We mentioned we'll attend the assembly in the event that they assume there’s a good likelihood," Trump mentioned.

He burdened that European leaders need the US to participate.

"We'll be attending the assembly on Saturday in Europe if we expect there’s a good likelihood. We don't need to waste lots of time. We predict it's unfavorable. We would like it to get settled," the US president added.

Background:

• On Thursday 11 December, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that the USA' "compromise imaginative and prescient" concerning management over the Donbas areas at the moment below Ukrainian management is that Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territory of Donetsk Oblast and Russian troops don’t enter it.
• Zelenskyy additionally mentioned that the US aspect had not put ahead a strict deadline by which the US president needs to see an settlement reached to finish Russia's battle in opposition to Ukraine.
• In the meantime, Trump claimed that his Ukrainian counterpart is the one one who doesn’t like Washington's proposed plan to finish the battle.

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The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) has really useful permitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in worldwide competitions on the youth degree.

Supply: IOC press service

Particulars: The advice was adopted on Thursday 11 December throughout an IOC summit in Lausanne, Switzerland. The summit supported the IOC Government Board's advice that younger athletes from Russia and Belarus ought to not be restricted of their entry to worldwide competitions in both particular person or crew sports activities.

In apply, the choice on admission will rely upon the laws of the worldwide federation for every particular person sport. The IOC itself plans to implement its advice on the 2026 Youth Olympic Video games in Dakar, Senegal.

The IOC justified its determination by saying that younger athletes shouldn’t be held accountable for the actions of their governments. Nevertheless, athletes who act towards the peace mission of the Olympic Motion could also be suspended.

The IOC additionally said that worldwide federations ought to proceed to chorus from organising or supporting worldwide sporting occasions on the territory of Russia. This advice, nonetheless, not applies to Belarus.

Background: Earlier, Russia filed an enchantment with the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne towards the choice to droop Russian biathletes from worldwide competitions.

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