Ukraine_UA

The Russian occupiers have once again rejected a request from the IAEA mission at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) for access to a nearby thermal power plant to assess the external backup power supply.

Original Reuters article with interactive graphical explanations.

Military skirmishes were reported near Russia’s Terebreno village on the border with Ukraine, Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence wrote on Dec. 17.

The man was allegedly remotely recruited by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in October and subsequently formed his own group of informants to scour Zaporizhzhia in search of the positions of Ukrainian troops and defenses.

"I can confidently say that it wasn't Ukrainian air defense," Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said on Dec. 17.

Russia says 35 Ukrainian drones shot down overnight as Ukraine reports 20 Russian; Putin vows to make Russia a ‘sovereign, self-sufficient power’

The Security Service of Ukraine has issued a statement confirming the discovery of a recording device in a location potentially used by Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the device was uncovered during a routine inspection of new premises intended for use by the commander-in-chief.

In his evening address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the European Commission will soon begin assessing Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU laws. The screening will be the first step in Ukraine's soon-to-start accession talks with the EU.

The Center said that Russian occupation forces were increasing "counter-sabotage" efforts throughout the region to intimidate residents who passed information on to the Ukrainian military.

Ukraine's economy could likely withstand a funding delay of "a couple of months," but a longer gap would put the nation's path to economic recovery at serious risk, IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva said.

Reflecting on his time in the Russian prison, Mazák expressed his empathy for Ukrainian prisoners, believing that they must suffer greatly. He criticized the treatment they receive, describing it as barbaric, highlighting that it applies to both Russians and non-Russians.

GOP senators came out of a meeting with Zelenskyy unconvinced on supporting more aid to Ukraine. They called for more stringent immigration measures.