RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kyiv, worldwide reaction, and the plight of civilians and refugees. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Latest Developments At A Glance
- Drones have hit high-rise buildings in Kazan, the capital of Russia's republic of Tatarstan, with the attacks causing the city's airport to temporarily suspend flights.
- An air-raid warning was declared in all regions of Ukraine on December 21 due to possible ballistic missile strikes, Ukrainian military authorities said.
- At least two people were killed and several wounded early on December 20 in a massive wave of Russian air strikes on Ukraine's capital and the southern region of Kherson.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was 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.
- 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, whom Kyiv had accused of being responsible for the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with leaders of the European Union in Brussels on December 19 to seek fresh support amid concerns that President-elect Donald Trump could pull U.S. support for Kyiv after he returns to the White House next month.
- Russian authorities said on December 18 that they had detained an Uzbek citizen who had confessed to planting a explosive device that killed a high-ranking Russian officer.
- The Security Service of Ukraine said it disrupted what it described as the "biggest network" of Russian spies operating within the country who were allegedly collecting intelligence on ally-donated F-16 fighter jets, among other military targets.
- Moscow's forces, bolstered by North Korean troops, have intensified their offensive against Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region, as Kyiv's outnumbered soldiers attempted to resist the onslaught there and elsewhere on December 17.
Putin Says Russia Is Ready For Compromise. But Is It?
In a marathon Q&A session, Putin dangled the prospect of Russian concessions on Ukraine before audiences in Kyiv, Washington, and the West. But he attached numerous caveats to the idea of compromise, suggesting Moscow’s goal of subjugating Ukraine and winning major security guarantees remain in place. Read the analysis by Steve Gutterman here.
What A Ukraine Peace Plan Could Look Like
In European capitals, behind closed doors, diplomats and leaders are spit-balling what a Ukrainian peace plan might actually look like. European peacekeeping troops are one option (don’t expect much enthusiasm from Moscow). Read the article by Mike Eckel here.
Assad's Fall Is A Blow To Russia. What Does It Mean For The War In Ukraine?
Russia's focus on subjugating Ukraine was one of the factors that led to the abrupt demise of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Moscow’s main client in the region. Here's how Moscow’s big Middle East setback could affect Russia's war against Ukraine. Read the article by Roksolana Bychai and Steve Gutterman here.
Ukraine Has A Tough Winter Ahead. What Can NATO Do To Help?
The mood on Ukraine at the NATO foreign affairs ministerial in Brussels on December 3-4 can be described in one word: grim. Read Rikard Jozwiak's report here.
Could A Demilitarized Zone End The Ukraine War?
U.S. Naval War College Professor Lieutenant Colonel Jahara "Franky" Matisek talks about the state of the Russian invasion at the 1,000-day mark. Read the interview by Vazha Tavberidze here.
Steps Too Far As Moscow, Washington Cross 'Red Lines' Over Ukraine?
The United States appears to have done a volte face by allowing Ukraine to fire donated missiles deeper into Russian territory. Russia has significantly loosened its threshold for a nuclear response to even a conventional attack. Why now, 1,000 days into Russia's invasion of Ukraine and just two months before U.S. President Joe Biden leaves office? Read the story by Michael Scollon here.
Could U.S. Long-Range Missiles Tip The Balance In The Ukraine War?
The Biden administration has reportedly given Ukraine permission to strike deep inside Russian territory, opening the door for the U.K., France, and Germany to follow in its steps. Its impact, however, will depend on how many weapons Ukraine is given. Read the story by Todd Prince here.
Peace Talks Brewing, Russia And Ukraine Jockey For Advantage -- On And Off The Battlefield
As Donald Trump’s return to the White House draws closer and talk of a concerted effort to stop the fighting in Ukraine grows, Russia is pressing a monthslong initiative on the battlefield. Ukraine, meanwhile, is struggling. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.
Trump's Win Could Ignite Push For Peace In Ukraine, But On Whose Terms?
Donald Trump’s election to a new term as U.S. president could lead to a push for an end to the war in Ukraine, but the risks and the hurdles are high. Read the story by Steve Gutterman here.
Ukraine's Forces Are Dangerously Stretched. Will North Korean Troops Break Them?
The quality of the North Korean force hired by Russia to deploy to the Ukrainian front is questionable. Their quantity alone, however, may be enough to break beleaguered Ukrainian defenses. Read the story by Mike Eckel here.
What Does Trump's Victory Mean For Ukraine?
Following the U.S. presidential election on November 5, the decision by Americans to return Donald Trump to the White House has reverberated around the world. Ukraine, whose defense against Russia is heavily dependent on U.S. military, financial, and diplomatic support, may feel the effects more than any other foreign country. Read the story by Todd Prince here.
Why Is Ukraine Attacking Russia's Oil Refineries?
Russia said it would protect oil refineries better after several were struck by Ukrainian drones. Ukraine continues to hit the facilities, despite U.S. warnings against such attacks, as it launches larger and larger drone swarms. The strikes have decreased refinery output but beyond a morale boost for Ukraine, the effects are moderate so far. Read the story by Todd Prince here.
Interactive: Occupied, Militarized Crimea
As Ukrainian leaders vow to reclaim all territories seized by Russia, Moscow has prepared extensive defensive measures, particularly in Crimea, a region unlawfully annexed in 2014. This area, now under Russian occupation, has been heavily militarized with an array of air bases and army bases, making it one of the most fortified zones in the war. View the interactive map by Crimea.Realities, Schemes, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Central Newsroom here.
