Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with European counterparts on enhancing Ukraine's air defense systems to better protect cities and critical infrastructure.

During discussions in Brussels, President Zelensky underscored Ukraine's determination to strengthen its defense capabilities and readiness for diplomacy next year. The meeting with European leaders and officials aimed at bolstering Ukraine's positions both on the battlefield and diplomatically, as highlighted by the press …

Germany has delivered the sixth IRIS-T SLM air defense system to the country. Along with this, new Gepard anti-aircraft systems have been handed over to the Ukrainian military, complete with necessary ammunition. Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed the deliveries at a briefing following the European Council meeting, as covered by the monitoring project German Aid to Ukraine on December 20.

"The delivery of another IRIS-T system is underway, probably today, along with Gepard SPAAG, which we …

Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, has issued a stern warning to Ukraine, threatening "retaliatory measures" should Kyiv decide to stop the transit of Russian natural gas to Europe. Fico, whose country remains heavily reliant on Russian energy, expressed concern over the potential material damage to Slovakia's economy.

Official Bratislava will consider "retaliatory measures" if Kyiv ceases the flow of natural gas from Russia to Europe, as reported by Bloomberg, citing a statement …

The Russian city of Rylsk, located in the Kursk region, was battered by a heavy missile attack, with residents hearing explosions that sparked ensuing fires, according to various Russian media outlets. Local officials claimed these attacks involved ATACMS missiles originating from the Chernihiv region. The Russian media outlet Mash reported an attack by Ukrainian forces on Rylsk with MGM-140B ATACMS Block 1A missiles, reportedly equipped with cluster warheads. Each cluster carrier has a blast …

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sternly criticized Vladimir Putin, going as far as using an expletive against the Russian leader in response to comments about the "Oreshnik" missile. Zelensky's remarks came after Putin's statement suggesting a "technological duel of the 21st century" due to the alleged undetectable nature of the missile.

Zelensky's colorful language, used on social media, was deemed relatable by Ukrainians according to political analyst Igor Reiterovych.

He …

Russian assault groups from Oleshky attempted to break through to the Antonivsky Bridge, a move that Ukrainian Defense Forces were well-prepared for, according to local sources. Kherson's Regional State Administration confirmed the increased activity of Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in the area.

Last night, Russian forces launched extensive artillery strikes on the city of Kherson and its suburbs, reportedly in conjunction with attempts to storm nearby localities. The "Nikolaevsky …

Ukrainian forces have captured a new group of Russian prisoners near Maksymivka, located between Kurakhove and Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region, according to a report by Ukrainian military journalist Andriy Tsaplienko.

In the video, the POWs introduce themselves and provide personal information, including their places of origin. "It's simple, there seems to be no one left to send forward—they're scraping together whoever they can," said one of the captured soldiers on video. He further …

Russian president Vladimir Putin has extended an offer to the United States to engage in a "high-tech duel of the 21st century." Putin suggested testing the prowess of Russia's "Oreshnik" missile system by targeting Kyiv. During a live session combined with a press conference on December 19, he confidently claimed that Western air defense systems stand no chance against such an attack. For those skeptical of his assertion, Putin proposed a "technological experiment":

"If Western experts …