Units of the Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have completed the fortification of new defensive positions between the settlements Zaitseve and Hladosove near the city of Horlivka, reported the Verkhovna Rada deputy Dmytro Tymchuk.

"In order to increase defense capabilities, the units of the mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Joint Forces took under their control advantageous for future defensive actions natural frontier and, while being in close proximity to the enemy, …

At the moment, Ukraine has two boats and two ships in the Sea of Azov, while the Russian Federation has deployed up to 40 efficient ships and boats into the region, Ihor Voronchenko, the commander of the Ukrainian Navy, said in an interview with DW.

Commenting on the ratio of Ukrainian and Russian forces in the Sea of Azov, he acknowledged that this situation is not in favor of Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, the situation is not in favor of Ukraine both in terms of quality and quantity. The …

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree to establish a working group on the integration of Russia and Belarus, RIA Novosti reports.

 Medvedev also announced that Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin would chair the group.

“Oreshkin will be the head of the group. It will include representatives of all the agencies, not only the government one but also from the State Duma, the Federation Council, and the Chamber of Accounts,” said Medvedev on Friday, December 28th. …

During a press briefing, speaking about the relationship between Moscow and Washington, the Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov stated that there are no regular contacts between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.

“Regular contact between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is not working out, admitted the diplomat. Our proposal for the resumption of the practice of joint meetings between the …

Despite the lifting of martial law, more stringent control over foreigners' entry into Ukrainian territory and firstly Russian citizens will remain. The State Border Service will continue to thoroughly verify the reasons of the trip of each Russian citizen to Ukraine, stated Spokesman for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service Oleh Slobodyan, Radio Svoboda reports. 

“Women can also take part, for example, in destabilizing activities in the territory of Ukraine and carry out other assignments of …

On Friday, December 28th, the commander of the Naval Armed Forces of Ukraine, Igor Voronchenko, stated that Ukraine would receive Island-class patrol boats from the US in 2019.

“In July, they [the ships] should be in Ukraine. The crews are preparing. The steps for equipping these ships and joint training at the base in Baltimore [in the US] have been decided. The final procedures for fast delivery of these ships to Ukraine have also been finalized,” said the Navy Admiral.

Earlier, the …

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron demanded that Russia release the Ukrainian sailors who were on board the Ukrainian ships captured last month in the Kerch Strait.

According to the Ukrainian side, Russia illegally seized two military boats and a tug. Kyiv accused Moscow of military aggression.

“We demand safe, free and unimpeded transit for all ships through the Kerch Strait and the immediate and unconditional release of all illegally detained Ukrainian …

Starting at midnight on December 29th, in the zone of operation of the Ukrainian Joint Forces on the territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions a “Christmas truce” has been enacted.

The ceasefire was agreed upon during a Skype conference of the Trilateral Contact Group on December 27th.

This will be the 18th “Christmas truce” since the start of hostilities in the Donbas.

All previous truces have been systematically violated by pro-Russian militants on the very first day.

At the same …