Ukraine ticker Ukraine destroys Russian submarine: video shows explosion, Kremlin denies it

On February 24, 2022, Russia began its war against Ukraine in violation of international law. There is no end in sight. The developments in the ticker.

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22:34

Trump: "Things seem to be going well"

Following talks with Europeans and Ukraine, US President Donald Trump sees progress in the negotiations on a possible way out of the Russian war of aggression. We are now "closer" to a solution than before, said the Republican in Washington.

He had held talks with European heads of state and government as well as with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky. "It seems to be going well." At the same time, the US President qualified: "We've been saying this for a long time, and it's a difficult issue." Trump pointed out that he had already spoken with Russia several times to resolve the conflict.

Since Sunday, Ukrainians and Americans have been meeting in Berlin to discuss a 20-point peace plan for the country that was attacked by Russia almost four years ago. The US delegation includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Russia was not involved in the talks.

9.17 pm

Ukraine destroys Russian submarine: video shows explosion, Kremlin denies it

The Ukrainian secret service SBU has succeeded for the first time in "practically disabling" a Russian submarine with an underwater drone.(see ticker entry from 18:07). The Russian Black Sea Fleet has since denied the claim. However, there have already been several Ukrainian attacks on ships in the port.

However, the SBU has now published a video that is said to show the attack and an underwater explosion at the Novorossiysk naval base. The footage suggests that a target was hit underwater.

The Russian navy nevertheless denies this. Although there was an attack, it was not successful. "None of the ships or submarines of the Black Sea Fleet stationed in the bay of the Novorossiysk naval base or their crews have been harmed by the sabotage operation, they are performing their duties normally," said the head of the press service of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Alexei Rulyov.

20.06

Europeans propose "multinational force for Ukraine"

Update 8.52 p.m.: Ukraine's European allies have proposed a "multinational force" to secure a possible peace agreement. "Both the US and European leaders expressed support for working together to provide robust security guarantees and economic reconstruction support measures to Ukraine in the context of an agreement to end the war," said a joint statement from several European countries and the EU at a meeting with US envoys in Berlin.

The European-led force, which would be supported by the US, would "assist in the regeneration of Ukraine's armed forces, securing Ukraine's airspace and ensuring safer seas, including through operations within Ukraine".

Russia has so far categorically rejected the deployment of troops to monitor a ceasefire and has stated that troops from NATO states are clearly seen as a military target and will be destroyed. The declaration was signed by Germany, France, Great Britain, Poland, Italy, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden as well as by EU Council President António Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Delegations from the USA and Ukraine have been negotiating the modalities for a ceasefire in the Chancellery since Sunday. Merz had called together European heads of state and government for the evening to discuss the next steps. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj and representatives of the US negotiating delegation also took part in the evening meeting in the Chancellery.

7.49 pm

Merz demands ceasefire from Putin over Christmas

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine over Christmas. "Perhaps the Russian leadership will have some human decency and at least leave the population alone with this terror for a few days over Christmas," said Merz in Berlin at a media conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj.

Apparently in response to Merz's comments on human decency, Selensky added, according to the official translation: "There are no such remnants, but anything is possible."

Merz called the Russian attacks on kindergartens, hospitals and energy supplies "terror against the civilian population". He added that perhaps a ceasefire over Christmas "could also be the start of sensible, constructive talks on how we can achieve lasting peace in Ukraine".

When asked whether he expected a ceasefire by Christmas, the Chancellor was cautious. "That now depends exclusively on the Russian side," he said. During two days of negotiations in Berlin, joint European, Ukrainian and American proposals had been drawn up. These would now be submitted to the Russian side. "It is now only up to Russia whether a ceasefire can be achieved by Christmas," said Merz.

6.36 pm

Putin expropriates Ukrainians who have fled

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has signed a law allowing the nationalization of unused housing in the areas of Ukraine occupied by Russian troops. Article 21 states that "residential houses, apartments and rooms bearing signs of abandoned property shall be recognized as property of the Donetsk People's Republic or its municipalities." There are similar regulations for the Russian-occupied regions of Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

The law also provides for the subsequent reprivatization of the apartments. These could be transferred to citizens who have lost their homes as a result of Ukrainian attacks, for example. In addition, the local authorities are also given the option of using them to provide official housing for civil servants.

Millions of people fled the destruction and violence in eastern Ukraine after the invasion ordered by Putin began. Some have since returned - including to the areas now occupied by Russia. However, many have now settled in other parts of Ukraine or abroad. These people, who often had to leave their privately owned homes behind when they fled, are affected by the regulation.

18:07

SBU: Russian submarine put out of action for the first time

The Ukrainian secret service SBU has reportedly damaged and "practically disabled" a submarine during a special operation against the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The strike was first carried out with an underwater drone of the "Sub Sea Baby" type against the "Varshavyanka" class submarine (NATO classification "Kilo"), the SBU announced on Telegram. The information cannot be independently verified and has not been confirmed by Russia. However, there have already been several Ukrainian attacks on ships in the port.

"On board the submarine were four launchers for Kalibr cruise missiles, which the enemy uses for attacks on Ukrainian territory," the SBU explained the drone operation. It was a joint operation by the 13th Main Department of Military Counterintelligence of the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy.

The construction of such a submarine could cost Russia up to 500 million dollars (around 400 million Swiss francs) today due to Western sanctions, which make everything more expensive, as the SBU also reported. According to the secret service, the blown-up boat had previously been stationed on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia. Like other warships, it had been moved from Sevastopol Bay to Novorossiysk due to earlier attacks by Ukrainian naval drones. According to the Ukrainian armed forces, they had already succeeded in damaging a submarine in Crimea in August 2024.

Ukraine has also recently attacked oil tankers from the so-called Russian shadow fleet several times with its naval drones. Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for almost four years now.

1 p.m.

Kremlin: "Of course, the issue is one of the cornerstones"

According to information from Moscow, a legally binding renunciation of Ukraine's accession to NATO is central to the negotiations: "Of course, the issue is one of the cornerstones, and it is subject to special discussion against the background of the others," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov according to Russian news agencies.

In addition, Russia had previously always demanded that Ukraine cede territories in order to end the war. When asked whether a peace solution could be found by Christmas, Peskov only said that he did not want to give any specific dates.

He once again praised US President Donald Trump for his efforts to end the war in Ukraine ordered by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

Peskov:

"Naturally, this issue [of guarantees that Kyiv will not join NATO] is one of the cornerstones and, of course, deserves special consideration alongside the others."

Russia demands guarantees while only making promises it will break any moment. pic.twitter.com/isxLGBzJVb

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) December 15, 2025

Peskov said that the US had not yet been informed about the ongoing consultations with the Europeans and Ukrainians in Berlin on how to settle the conflict. "Only afterwards, when they have completed their work, will we receive the view that is being discussed today from our American interlocutors."

Peskov reiterated that Moscow would insist on its demands being met before the cessation of hostilities. Putin is ready for peace. "He is absolutely not open to any tricks aimed at stalling for time and creating artificial temporary respites," he said.

Moscow is presenting the ceasefire demanded by Kiev for negotiations as a breathing space for the Ukrainian army, which could then be rearmed and reorganized.

12.15 pm

Ukraine has tens of thousands of drones built in Germany

Ukraine is having self-developed combat drones built in industrial quantities in Germany.

Production is being carried out on behalf of the Kiev Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian drone manufacturer Frontline Robotics and the German arms company Quantum Systems announced at the German-Ukrainian Economic Forum in Berlin.

The head of the joint venture Quantum Frontline Industries, Matthias Lehna, spoke of building tens of thousands of drones a year and a volume in the three-digit million range. The logistics drone Linsa, which has been tried and tested on the battlefield, the reconnaissance drone Zoom and the remote-controlled machine gun and grenade launcher Buria are to be produced.

The cooperation is part of the Ukrainian government's Build with Ukraine initiative. Kiev is attempting to attract the production of Western arms companies to the country, which is under attack from Russia. At the same time, part of Ukraine's arms production is to be relocated to safe European countries.

11.21 a.m.

Russia declares Pussy Riot extremists

A Moscow court has classified the Pussy Riot group as extremist and therefore banned them in the country. This was reported by the Russian state news agency Tass, citing the group's lawyer.

The general prosecutor's office had filed the lawsuit. It was only in September that five members of the collective were sentenced in absentia in Moscow to prison terms of between eight and 13 years. The court found them guilty of allegedly discrediting the Russian armed forces and accused them of deliberately spreading slander and false information about the Russian army.

This was prompted by the clip "Mama, Don't Watch TV" and an appearance in Munich in April 2024, in which they discussed the destruction of the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol by the Russian military.

The loose feminist association repeatedly causes a stir with radical video art. It became known worldwide with a "punk prayer" in Moscow's central Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which denounced the unity of church and state. Three women were punished with two years' imprisonment for this.

10.49 a.m.

Zelensky allegedly renounces NATO membership

What happens next in the Ukraine talks in Berlin? According to various media reports, Volodymyr Zelensky has offered to renounce NATO membership.

READOUT FROM U.S.-UKRAINE TALKS IN BERLIN, GERMANY:

The meeting in Berlin between President Zelenskyy, Special Envoy Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and delegations from the United States and Ukraine lasted over five hours. Representatives held in-depth discussions regarding the… pic.twitter.com/G7breh5Gab

— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) December 14, 2025

Kiev's red line is therefore still a withdrawal from Donetsk. The people share this view: 75 percent of respondents to a survey are against the rearmament of Donetsk.

New KIIS poll: 72% of Ukrainians are ready to support a hard compromise peace plan from Europe, one that freezes the frontlines but includes real security guarantees. At the same time, 75% flatly reject the so-called “Russian” plan that demands withdrawal, disarmament, and surrender.

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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) 15. Dezember 2025 um 09:46

Despite NATO's renunciation - or precisely because of it - Ukraine needs reassurance, says EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels today. "Promises or papers" are not enough, emphasizes the Estonian diplomat. "Real troops" and "real capacities" are needed.

"We must ensure that Donbass is not Putin's final destination," warns the 48-year-old. If Ukraine's NATO membership is no longer being discussed, the EU must offer real security guarantees.

⚡️ We are at a critical moment in the peace talks on Ukraine, Finnish President Stubb says

“I believe we are at a critical moment in the peace negotiations, and at the same time we are probably closer to a peace agreement than at any point over the past four years.

And of… pic.twitter.com/7ENcJBinxH

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 15, 2025

Finland's President Alexander Stubb believes the peace talks have reached a "critical moment": at least they have never been so close to a solution since 2022. What will happen now? "We are now working on three documents," explains the 57-year-old.

"The first is a framework agreement, a 20-point peace plan," continues Stubb. "The second is the security guarantees for Ukraine, and the third is the reconstruction of Ukraine. We are discussing the details together with the Americans, Europeans and Ukraine."

4.35 pm

Intensive Ukraine negotiations continue in Berlin

The diplomatic struggle for a possible end to the war in Ukraine continues today at the highest level in Berlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff want to continue their intensive talks. Selenskyj will also be received by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), followed by a European summit meeting in the evening with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, among others.

On Sunday evening, after several hours of talks with the Ukrainian delegation in the Chancellery, the US side had expressed a positive view. "Much progress" had been made, Witkoff wrote on Platform X. The 20-point peace plan, economic issues and other questions were discussed in depth. They will meet again in the morning. The US delegation also includes the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner.

READOUT FROM U.S.-UKRAINE TALKS IN BERLIN, GERMANY:

The meeting in Berlin between President Zelenskyy, Special Envoy Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and delegations from the United States and Ukraine lasted over five hours. Representatives held in-depth discussions regarding the… pic.twitter.com/G7breh5Gab

— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) December 14, 2025

The details of the proposals negotiated by both sides were not initially made public. Selensky left the Chancellery after around five and a half hours. Both sides stated that the talks would continue today, Monday. The format was initially unclear.

The current talks continue to focus on the central issues of the territorial cessions demanded by Russia, the security guarantees for Kiev and the question of the use of the Russian central bank's assets frozen in the EU, it was said.

Monday, December 15, 2025, 0.38 a.m.

Germany takes in opposition members from Belarus

According to Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, Germany will take in two prominent opposition activists from Belarus who were recently released from prison. They are Maria Kolesnikova and former presidential candidate Viktor Babariko, Dobrindt said on ARD's "Bericht aus Berlin". This was also reported by the "tageschau.de" portal.

"We have a great interest in strengthening this democracy movement, even if it now has to develop further outside Belarus," explained the Federal Minister of the Interior. "And that is why we will be taking in two of the outstanding politicians, opposition politicians who were in prison, today."

A few years ago, Kolesnikova worked for a long time as a cultural manager in Stuttgart and speaks fluent German. In the "Tagesthemen" interview, which was broadcast in the evening, she did not mention a possible long-term stay in Germany. She said that she did not yet have a plan for the future. However, she believes that she will return to Belarus at some point, even if that is difficult to imagine right now. Imprisonment had been difficult for her health-wise, but not for her psyche, because: "I was always free inside".

22:24

US delegation sees progress in talks in Berlin

The US delegation has spoken positively after the talks in Berlin on a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Great progress has been made, according to an assessment of the talks posted on X by US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff also confirmed the continuation of the talks on Monday. The 20-point peace plan, economic issues and other questions were discussed in depth. The meeting in Berlin with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the delegations from the USA and Ukraine lasted more than five hours.

What concrete proposals are currently on the table at the talks is not yet publicly known. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Ukrainian President Selenskyj are expected to attend German-Ukrainian economic talks on Monday afternoon. Merz has invited European heads of state and government to the Chancellery on Monday evening.

21.22 hrs

Selenskyj leaves the Chancellery after talks with US delegation

After talks with a US delegation in Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has left the Chancellery. This was observed by a photographer from the German Press Agency in the evening. German government circles also reported that Zelenskyi left the Chancellery after around five and a half hours. Selensky's communications advisor, Dmytro Lytvyn, told the Ukrainian news agency RBK-Ukrajina that the talks would continue on Monday.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had already left the government headquarters a little earlier, according to German government circles. The format in which the talks will continue on Monday initially remained open. The central issues of the territorial cessions demanded by Russia, the security guarantees for Kiev and the question of the use of the assets of the Russian central bank frozen in the EU were still being discussed, it was said.

14:25

Kremlin expects "hardly anything good" from talks in Berlin

According to the Kremlin, Russia expects "hardly anything good" from the negotiations in Berlin on ending Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine. The contributions of the Europeans and Ukraine to US President Donald Trump's peace plan will "hardly be constructive", as the foreign policy advisor to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, Yuri Ushakov, told Russian state television.

"Therein lies the problem", Ushakov said ahead of the negotiations in Berlin between Ukrainians, Europeans and US representatives. At the same time, he praised the fact that the US side understood the Russian position. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is also taking part in the talks in Berlin.

Ushakov made it clear that Russia would not budge from its territorial demands for a peaceful solution to the conflict. Moscow is demanding that Kiev also withdraw its troops from those areas in the embattled industrial region of Donbass that Russia has not yet been able to conquer and which Ukraine continues to control.

1.40 pm

Selenskyj: Ukrainian-American Day in Berlin today

At his meeting in Berlin with US envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyi will primarily discuss his latest proposals on President Donald Trump's peace plan. According to Ukrainian media, Zelenskyi responded to questions from journalists by saying that he had not yet received any reaction to his latest proposed changes. According to them, it is about a 20-point plan, at the end of which there would be a ceasefire.

Today's negotiations in Berlin will begin with a Ukrainian-American day. He hopes for constructive talks, he said. Meetings with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and other leaders of European countries are also planned, he said. Selensky had previously stated that he saw Ukraine in a strong negotiating position.

10.26 a.m.

First Swiss Ukraine mercenary on trial

A Swiss Ukraine mercenary will stand trial in the district court of Meilen ZH on December 18. The man from Schaffhausen is alleged to have fought in the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine from February 2022 until at least the end of 2024, according to the indictment quoted by SonntagsBlick.

The Swiss national, who has several previous convictions, faces a fine or prison sentence. It is unclear whether Avi Motola will attend the trial. He is currently living in Israel, as CH Media recently reported. Motola speaks fluent Hebrew and also has Israeli citizenship.

The accused sniper and his defense did not wish to comment to "SonntagsBlick". It is the first time that the military justice system has charged a Swiss mercenary from Ukraine, the newspaper wrote. Investigations are currently underway against 15 other suspected mercenaries.

10.07 a.m.

"In just one week" 1500 drones, 900 bombs and 46 missiles

According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, hundreds of thousands of families in Ukraine are still without electricity as a result of Russian drone and missile attacks. "The situation is still difficult," Selenskyj announced on Telegram.

The regions affected by the power cuts are Mykolaiv, Odessa, Kherson, Chernihiv, Donetsk, Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk. There were further Russian attacks during the night. "There are casualties," said Selenskyj. Work was also underway to restore heat and water supplies.

Massive Russian attack on Ukraine last night: Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro under attack. ◾️In Odesa, energy infrastructure was under attack. A large part of the city is without electricity and water. ◾️In Mykolaiv, critical and industry infrastructure was under attack.

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— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) 13. Dezember 2025 um 09:05

Ahead of the negotiations with US representatives and Europeans planned for today in Berlin on ending the war, Zelensky accused Moscow of wanting to "inflict as much damage as possible" on the Ukrainians.

"In total, the Russians have fired more than 1500 attack drones, almost 900 guided aerial bombs and 46 missiles of various types at Ukraine this week. In just one week," he said. He also published another video of the fires and severe damage caused by these attacks.

Selenskyj also wants to meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) in Berlin this Monday to discuss the war. "Ukraine needs peace on reasonable terms, and we are ready to work as constructively as possible," said Selenskyj.

He expects intensive diplomatic efforts in the coming days. "It is very important that they lead to results. I am counting on the support of our partners," he said. The country also continues to need more air defense systems, which have already been promised by the allies.

Sunday, December 14, 9:30 a.m.

Kiev targets Putin's oil industry again

Ukraine has triggered a major fire at the oil depot in the city of Uryupinsk with a drone attack in the Russian region of Volgograd. Governor Andrey Botsharov announced in the morning that neighboring houses had been evacuated. "According to preliminary information, no one was injured."

Uryupinsk, Oil depot! 🔥💥

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) 13. Dezember 2025 um 22:30

According to Bisharov's account, debris from drones that had been shot down triggered the fire. Ukraine repeatedly attacks Russian oil industry facilities with drones because Moscow also uses the revenue from energy sales to finance its war machine.

Ukrainian drones struck the oil depot in Uryupinsk, Volgograd region, in Russia and set the area ablaze.

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— (((Tendar))) (@tendar.bsky.social) 13. Dezember 2025 um 23:30

According to reports on social networks, an oil refinery was attacked in the city of Yaroslavl. There was initially no official statement from the authorities. In the Krasnodar region, the authorities confirmed a drone attack on the village of Afipski. Residents reported explosions at an oil refinery.

Strike moment on oil depot in Uryupinsk, Volgograd region, with NASA FIRMS also confirming fire. https://t.co/W2nzTRkDPm pic.twitter.com/vwffXzbLu1

— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) December 14, 2025

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the air defence destroyed or intercepted 141 Ukrainian drones during the night. As usual, the ministry did not provide any information on damage. The consequences of the Kiev attacks are disproportionate to the massive devastation caused by the Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

5.40 pm

Lukashenko releases 123 political prisoners under US pressure

At the urging of the USA, the ruler of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has released 123 political opponents after years of imprisonment. The opposition and human rights activists announced that they included prominent opposition figures such as Maria Kolesnikova, Viktor Babariko, Maxim Snak and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Belyatsky. The Belarusian opposition in exile in the EU spoke of "incredible news" and a day of joy.

17:29

Czech Republic gives no money for Ukraine funding

The Czech Republic does not want to participate in any future EU funding for Ukraine. This was made clear by the newly appointed head of government Andrej Babis in a video message on Saturday with a view to the EU summit planned for next Thursday. The right-wing populist also clearly rejected Czech participation in EU loan guarantees for the country attacked by Russia.

3.58 pm

German soldiers to help build protective wall on Poland's eastern border

The Bundeswehr is to play an active role in better securing Poland's eastern border with Belarus and Russia and building a protective wall. Several dozen German soldiers are to become part of the Polish "Operation Eastern Shield" from April 2026, which has been running in the border area with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad since May 2024, the Federal Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday. The deployment will initially last until the end of 2027.

The core task of the German soldiers in the north and east of Poland should be "pioneering activities", a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Defense continued. Specifically, this would involve "laying out positions, constructing trenches, laying barbed wire or erecting anti-tank barriers". Activities that go beyond this are not planned. The aim of the measures is apparently to defend against a possible attack by Russia on NATO partner Poland.

3.03 pm

Enlargement Commissioner promotes Ukraine's accession to the EU

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos Marko has called for Ukraine to join the EU - and described this as a contribution to securing peace in Europe. This is all the more true as Ukraine's accession to the NATO military alliance is uncertain: "We don't know what Ukraine's future in NATO will look like, whether it will even be possible," said Marko.

The entire EU could benefit from Ukraine's accession: "I cannot imagine that we can live safely in Europe if war continues in a neighboring country," said the Commissioner.

When Ukraine could actually join the EU would also depend on its progress with reforms, said Marko. The EU Commissioner sees the fight against corruption in Ukraine as one of the greatest challenges. When attempts were made in the summer to undermine the independence of the Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities, she was disappointed, she said. The trust of the member states had also been shaken.

2.27 p.m.

Merz: "If Ukraine falls, Putin will not stop"

In a speech at the CSU party conference in Munich, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz did not speak directly about the ongoing negotiations to end the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. However, he called for the strategy of Russian President Vladimir Putin to be carefully analyzed.

"If Ukraine falls, he will not stop," the Chancellor warned. "And anyone who still believes that he has had enough should please carefully analyze his strategies, papers, speeches and appearances."

Merz tight-lipped on Witkoff visit to meet Zelenskyy/European leaders in Berlin during speech just now.
His crushingly negative outlook on the "tectonic" power shifts that leave Germany and Europe home alone earned him standing ovations at conservative CSU party in Bavaria. pic.twitter.com/5uTS00rQ6V

— Michaela Kuefner (@MKuefner) December 13, 2025

Putin is concerned with "fundamentally changing the borders in Europe, restoring the old Soviet Union within the borders of the old Soviet Union". This goes hand in hand with a massive military threat to the countries that once "belonged to this empire".

It was therefore important to continue to provide Ukraine with assistance. Other key elements include cohesion within the European Union and close ties with the UK, "maintaining the NATO alliance for as long as possible" and massive investment in the country's own defense capabilities.

13:38

USA lifts sanctions against Belarus

The US government of President Donald Trump wants to lift sanctions against authoritarian Belarus. Potassium carbonate is affected, as was announced today. The US special envoy for Belarus, John Coale, met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko yesterday and today in the capital Minsk.

The lifting of the punitive measures shows a rapprochement between the Trump administration and Lukashenko's administration. Belarus is a close ally of Russia, which has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine since 2022. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus in an authoritarian manner for more than three decades.

Western countries have imposed sanctions against Belarus for its repression of human rights and for allowing Russia to invade Ukraine through Belarusian territory.

13:24

Kiev lets the "peregrine falcons" fly

Volodymyr Selensky speaks to journalists about Kiev's long-range weapons: "Ukraine is already using the Neptune, the long-range Neptune, the Palianytsia, the Flamingo. And also the Sapsan, to be honest - we have started to use them," "The War Zone" quotes the president as saying.

"Nobody will see them"Why Ukraine won't let the flamingos fly yet - and Putin should still be worried

The 47-year-old is keeping to himself how often the new missile has been fired at which targets. "Because we don't want the enemy to know all the precedents and all the details."

Ukraine's Sapsan ballistic missile is now in combat, Zelenskyy confirms. Russians often mistake strikes for cruise missiles

480-kg warhead — more than double ATACMS. Speed: 5.2 Mach. Expert verdict: "There's no way they can intercept it" ⤵️

🔗 https://t.co/QE3tKU0Ioy pic.twitter.com/YhOQGJBcBH

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) December 10, 2025

The Sapsan, which means "peregrine falcon", is said to have a 480 kilogram warhead, a range of 300 to 500 kilometers and a speed of up to Mach 5.2 or 6400 km/h. This would make it similarly difficult to intercept. This would make it as difficult to intercept as a Russian Iskander missile.

🇺🇦🚀 Moscow, Minsk, Vitebsk, Tula, and other major cities are now under threat of a Sapsan ballistic strike, according to Russian media.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) 12. Dezember 2025 um 20:13

The new surface-to-surface missile is relatively mobile and does not require any Western parts, which gives Kiev maximum autonomy in deploying the weapon.

12.32 pm

Animal rescuers narrowly escape Russian drone

It happened somewhere in Donetsk Oblast: Hennadi and Vlad are on the road with their van from the animal welfare organization UAnimals. They have apparently evacuated two dogs.

According to a video, one of the men spotted a Russian drone at the last second - and both man and animal fell out of the vehicle. One of the dogs was injured in the Russian attack, which apparently took place near Druzhkivka.

A Russian drone struck a UAnimals rescue van in Donetsk Oblast, injuring a dog inside. The team sheltered in a yard as drones circled overhead for hours.@UAnimalsENG runs weekly missions to evacuate pets from frontline areas - over 9,000 rescued since Russia's full-scale… pic.twitter.com/UyMnZECMh4

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) December 12, 2025

"Our team found shelter with the animals in one of the courtyards," UAnimals continues. The quartet was able to reach safety: The injured dog is being treated at the animal hospital. It is to be hoped that she will survive, according to UAnimals.

📌 Day 1,388 of the full-scale invasion

Yesterday was a heavy day.

A Russian drone struck a UAnimals evacuation vehicle while our team was rescuing animals from the Donetsk region. The people were not injured, but one of the dogs was seriously wounded. She was taken to a… pic.twitter.com/gNpWl84Frz

— UAnimals.ENG 🇺🇦 (@UAnimalsENG) December 13, 2025

The organization claims to have evacuated over 9000 animals since the invasion began. It is already the second attack on one of their transporters - after a first incident in February.

12 p.m.

Selenskyj reports attack with 450 drones and 30 missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has reported new heavy attacks on the country by Russia with more than 450 drones and 30 missiles. "The main strike once again hit our energy supply, the south and the Odessa region," Zelenskyi announced on social media.

Work to restore the electricity and water supply was underway in the communities. According to the authorities, a grain warehouse in the port of Odessa also caught fire. "Two people were injured in the Odessa region," said Selenskyj.

More than a dozen civilian objects were damaged in the country. "Thousands of families in the Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odessa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson and Chernihiv regions are without electricity after the attacks that night," the president said. According to the authorities, five people were injured in the Russian attacks in Mykolaiv.

"It is important that everyone now sees what Russia is doing. Every step they take is terror against our people, all attacks, because it is definitely not about ending the war," said Zelenskyi, referring to the ongoing peace negotiations led by the USA.

A peace agreement is not yet in sight. Parallel to the negotiations, Russia is also exerting massive military pressure with its air strikes in order to force Ukraine to agree to Moscow's conditions for a ceasefire.

Russia wants to destroy Ukraine as a state, said Selenskyj. "That is why we need support in everything that contributes to protecting lives and ending this war: strengthening air defenses and our soldiers on the front line," said the President. The country needs long-range weapons and greater pressure on Russia.

10.49 a.m.

Ukraine meeting tomorrow in Berlin

Tomorrow, Sunday, foreign policy advisors from the USA, Ukraine and Germany, among others, will continue their talks on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine in Berlin.

This was reported to the German Press Agency by government circles in the German capital. The USA had announced that special envoy Steve Witkoff would travel to Berlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj is also expected the day after tomorrow.

10.40 a.m.

Russia hits Ukrainian infrastructure

Grain storage facilities were set on fire in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian port city of Odessa, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olexiy Kuleba. Energy infrastructure in the region was also damaged.

All necessary services are currently working to restore electricity and water supply in our communities affected by Russia’s overnight attack. Once again, the main strike targeted our energy sector, the south of the country, and the Odesa region.

Two people have been wounded in… pic.twitter.com/F6ZhEMsEHy

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 13, 2025

There was also damage to energy facilities in the Chernihiv, Kirovohrad and Mykolaiv regions. According to the regional administration, parts of the Kherson region were also without power today due to Russian attacks.

10 a.m.

Important Russian ammunition factory burns

An important plant for the production of artillery casings in Orsk in the Orenburg region is on fire: As the Telegram channel Astra reports, the plant, which belongs to the armaments giant Rostec, produces more than 50 percent of the casings for Russia's artillery shells. Components for multiple rocket launchers are also produced there.

The local Ministry of Emergency Situations has confirmed the fire: "Firefighting is underway at one of the industrial plants in Orsk. 29 firefighters and 9 units are on site. There are no casualties."

9.18 am

Kiev's drones attack Putin's industry - two dead

According to the authorities, two people have been killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian industrial city of Saratov on the Volga. Several apartments in a house were hit in the course of the attack and two people died, as Governor Roman Bussargin announced on Telegram.

He expressed his condolences to the relatives of the dead. Emergency accommodation has been provided for residents of the house. The damage to the apartments would be repaired as quickly as possible at state expense, said the governor. Saratov has already been attacked several times.

🔥The attack on the Saratov refinery is ongoing!

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) 12. Dezember 2025 um 22:29

There have also been reports of Ukrainian drone attacks from other Russian regions. According to the Ministry of Defense, air defense destroyed a total of 41 Ukrainian drones in the country. The information cannot be independently verified.

In the Voronezh region, debris from a downed drone hit a company that had to temporarily cease operations, as Governor Alexander Gusev reported. He did not say what the company was producing. There were no casualties.

Attack reported overnight on Rossosh fertilizer plant in Voronezh region, owned by Rotenberg's Roskhim, producing ammonia and materials for explosives with 1.2 million ton annual ammonia capacity. pic.twitter.com/T5xhqfWMdR

— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) December 13, 2025

In its defensive campaign against Moscow's war of aggression, Ukraine repeatedly takes aim at targets in the Russian hinterland, where arms factories operate, for example. The damage and casualty figures are usually significantly lower than those caused by Russian attacks in Ukraine.

7 a.m.

Kim Jong-un celebrates Russian returnee

North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un has welcomed soldiers deployed in the Ukraine war back from Russia with a grand welcome ceremony.

In a speech published by the state news agency KCNA, Kim praised the "heroic" behavior of the pioneer unit during their 120-day mission abroad. The ceremony took place in the North Korean capital Pyongyang on Friday.

#KimJongun admits North Korean troops clearing landmines for #Russiahttps://t.co/n1WgqewDrz #Ukraine #Putinswar #NorthKorea

— Andrej Matisak (@matisaksk) December 13, 2025

According to KCNA, the returned military unit was sent to Russia at the beginning of August and supported the Russian army in the Kursk region in the fight against the troops of Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia.

Photos published by the news agency show Head of State Kim kneeling down and laying a white flower in front of a memorial wall with pictures of fallen soldiers. During the ceremony, Kim admitted that nine soldiers from the sapper unit had died in the war. The information cannot be independently verified.

The military cooperation with Russia, which is unprecedented for North Korea, became known last year. According to estimates by the South Korean secret service, around 15,000 soldiers were sent in several waves of mobilization to support Russia in the Ukraine war. North Korea also supplied the Russian army with large quantities of ammunition and artillery.

It is suspected that the internationally largely isolated country is receiving money, military technology and security guarantees from Russia in return. In addition, diplomatic circles point out that North Korea's army is gaining practical combat experience - especially in modern drone warfare - through its deployment in the Ukraine war and wants to test its own weapons systems in practice. It is unclear to what extent North Korean troops are still actively fighting in the Ukraine war.

Saturday, December 13, 2025 - 6:30 a.m.

Witkoff travels to Berlin for Ukraine talks

US special envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling to Berlin this weekend for talks on a peace solution in the Ukraine war. He will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj and European representatives, a high-ranking US official in Washington told the German Press Agency.

The representative of the US government did not initially provide any further details on the exact timing of Witkoff's talks or on the format and participants of the planned meetings.

Selenskyj is expected in the German capital on Monday to meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), a number of European heads of state and government as well as the heads of the EU and NATO.

At the instigation of President Donald Trump, the US government presented a peace plan in November, which has since been negotiated in various rounds. Trump is putting pressure on Ukraine to agree to a peace agreement. He sees the country, which is dependent on Western support, at a military disadvantage against the aggressor Russia.

Trump had recently left open a commitment from the USA for a meeting in Europe, linking it to the fact that he believes there must be a good chance of progress.

11.54 pm

Because of Putin arrest warrant: Russian judiciary sentences ICC staff to prison in absentia

Against the backdrop of an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin in connection with the war of aggression against Ukraine, the judiciary in Russia has sentenced senior judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan to several years in prison. The court in Moscow sentenced Khan in absentia to 15 years in prison. Eight other ICC staff members, including former ICC President Piotr Hofmanski, were sentenced to prison terms of between 3.5 and 15 years.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Khan had "unlawfully indicted Russian citizens in The Hague", the court stated. In addition, the ICC had "instructed the judges of the Chamber to issue arrest warrants that were manifestly unlawful". Russia is not a member of the ICC and none of the defendants were present in court.

Khan had issued an arrest warrant against Putin in 2023 for the "illegal deportation" of thousands of Ukrainian children in the course of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. Russia rejected the accusations and opened proceedings against Khan and other ICC employees. In view of ongoing investigations into alleged sexual misconduct, Khan resigned from his post for the time being in May.

22:49

Paris: Europeans demand US security guarantees ahead of possible territorial negotiations

Ukraine and its European allies have linked possible talks on Ukrainian territorial cessions to security guarantees from the USA. According to the French presidential palace, the Europeans expect a kind of guarantee of support from Washington, similar to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, with which the NATO countries assure each other of support in the event of an attack. "There needs to be full transparency about the security guarantees of the Europeans and the Americans before any adjustments are made to disputed territorial issues," the Elysée Palace continued.

An advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron also emphasized that Ukraine had not agreed to any territorial cessions and was not currently seeking to do so. A demilitarized zone is also out of the question for Kiev.

As part of the diplomatic efforts to end the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Zelensky is expected in Berlin on Monday. Following a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday evening, "numerous European heads of state and government as well as the heads of the EU and NATO will join the talks", said government spokesman Stefan Kornelius.

20.20 hrs

Russian air strike damages ship near Odessa

A Russian missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea coast has damaged a foreign ship in the port of Chornomorsk near Odessa. "Today's Russian strike, like many similar strikes, has no military purpose and can have none," wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi on Telegram. Russia is continuing its war regardless of all peace efforts.

Local media in Chornomorsk published a video showing smoke rising from a cargo ship. The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed that it was the ship of a Turkish owner under a foreign flag. The crew and drivers of the trucks on board had been evacuated. There were no Turkish casualties, it said. The ministry in Ankara warned of dangers to shipping due to the increasing number of attacks in the Black Sea.

The Russian attack followed several Ukrainian naval drone attacks against tankers in the Black Sea that were due to call at ports in Russia. Since the summer of 2023, foreign ships had been able to call at Ukrainian ports largely unhindered to export grain and other goods from the country attacked by Russia. On Friday night, Russian airstrikes also damaged the energy grid in the Odessa region.

18:55

EU freezes Russian assets permanently

Update 7.19 p.m.: The EU has created an important basis for the use of Russian state assets for Ukraine. 25 of the 27 member states voted in favor of an indefinite ban on the retransfer of EU-established funds to Russia. Hungary and Slovakia voted against.

In concrete terms, the main aim of the project is to prevent a country such as Hungary from being able to veto EU sanctions decisions to release the frozen funds. Russian central bank funds are currently frozen by EU sanctions decisions, which must be extended unanimously every six months.

This regulation is seen as an obstacle to the plan to use the funds for long-term loans to Ukraine and only allow repayment to Russia if the country makes reparation payments after the end of its war of aggression against Ukraine.

The decision, which has now been made in a written procedure, was taken by majority vote against the will of Hungary and Slovakia. The two countries argue, among other things, that the EU's action could torpedo US President Donald Trump's efforts to end the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

5.32 pm

Circles: US plan envisages Ukraine joining the EU as early as January 2027

According to negotiating circles, the US plan to end the war in Ukraine envisages the country attacked by Russia joining the EU as early as January 2027. "This is fixed, but it is a matter for negotiation and the Americans are in favor of it," a high-ranking representative of the negotiators told the AFP news agency on Friday.

Ukraine has been a candidate for EU membership since June 2022. The accession process is generally lengthy and is also being opposed by Hungary, among others.

Just over three weeks ago, the USA presented a plan to end the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, which in its original version was considered to be very Moscow-friendly. At the urging of Ukraine and its European allies, key points of the plan were revised.

16:09

Merz receives Selenskyj in Berlin on Monday

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) will receive the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj this Monday for economic talks and an exchange on the status of the peace negotiations for Ukraine. Stefan Kornelius, spokesman for the German government, announced that numerous European heads of state and government as well as the heads of the EU and NATO would be joining the talks in the evening.

3.35 pm

Poland discovers migrant tunnel under border fence with Belarus

Polish border guards have discovered a tunnel through which migrants were able to enter the EU country from Belarus underground.

More than 130 foreign nationals were arrested following the discovery of the underground tunnel, the authorities announced on Friday. Further people are still being sought.

Two suspected smugglers were also arrested. They are a 69-year-old man from Poland and a 49-year-old Lithuanian citizen. Most of the arrested migrants were citizens of Afghanistan and Pakistan, it was reported. However, there were also people from other countries, such as India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

The secret tunnel was several dozen meters long and around 1.5 meters high, according to the statement. The hidden entrance was located in a forest on the Belarusian side, while the exit on the Polish side was only around ten meters away from the border barrier.

The border guards found the tunnel with the help of electronic devices - and were also able to determine that at least 180 people had already entered Poland through the secret passage.

According to the border guards, three other tunnels have already been discovered under the border between Belarus and Poland this year. Poland repeatedly accuses Belarus of bringing migrants from crisis regions to the EU's external border in an organized manner.

3.26 pm

Ukrainian drone destroys An-26 shortly before take-off

An An-26 is parked on a runway at an airport in Crimea: the two engines are running, but the plane does not take off. A Ukrainian FPV drone crashes into the military transport aircraft, which is believed to have been destroyed in the process. Several people are said to have been injured.

The incident, which is said to have taken place at the Katscha military airfield near Sevastopol, was already reported yesterday by pro-Russian bloggers. The An-26 is used to transport troops.

2.56 pm

Merz has "very, very many unanswered questions"

According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, there is still a great need for clarification regarding international efforts to end the Russian war of aggression and security guarantees for Ukraine.

"The talks are being conducted very intensively these days," said the Christian Democrat in Heidelberg. "We are also trying to involve the American government in the talks we are holding with each other, but also with the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian president."

Merz emphasized that the most important element of the security guarantees that have been under discussion for several weeks is the permanent strengthening of the Ukrainian army to be able to defend the country itself in the long term.

"We are prepared to make our own contributions. We will also need contributions from the Americans." The question of how and in what detail this will be integrated into an overall concept remains open.

"In this respect, there are many, many unanswered questions here, and they are all the subject of the talks that are currently being held," said the German head of government.

He emphasized: "We know that we cannot protect Ukraine in the long term without security guarantees." Merz had recently suggested that a meeting in Berlin could take place at the beginning of next week following talks at the weekend.

In Heidelberg, the conservative, who has been in power since May, did not comment on this when asked. Deputy government spokesperson Steffen Meyer explained in Berlin that there is currently a "very high dynamic" in the process.

2.20 p.m.

Russia sentences judges of the World Criminal Court

A Moscow court has sentenced several representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to long prison sentences in absentia. ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, nine years of which in a prison.

The remainder was in a penal colony for serious criminals, according to the Russian General Prosecutor's Office. In addition, eight judges of the World Criminal Court based in The Hague, the Netherlands, received prison sentences of between three and a half and 15 years.

Khan initiated illegal criminal proceedings against Russian citizens from February to March 2022 and the Presidium of the World Criminal Court issued unlawful arrest warrants, the authority claimed.

A Russian court has convicted in absentia the Prosecutor, the two Deputy Prosecutors, and eight #ICC judges for "unlawfully" prosecuting Russian nationals. The Prosecutor received a 15-year sentence; the others received sentences between 3.5 and 15 years. https://t.co/pGy7EfAyL6

— Kevin Jon Heller (@kevinjonheller) December 12, 2025

As Khan is not in Russia, the verdict is likely to have no consequences for the time being. In May, Khan temporarily resigned from his position at the ICC in connection with an investigation into alleged sexual assaults until the investigation is concluded.

After Khan had already initiated investigations in spring 2022, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in March 2023 against Kremlin head Vladimir Putin and Russian child rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

🇺🇸 The US is threatening new sanctions on the International Criminal Court unless it pledges not to prosecute Trump or his top officials, Reuters reports.

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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) 10. Dezember 2025 um 13:22

The ICC has also issued arrest warrants for several high-ranking Russian military officers. Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago. The world criminal court prosecutes suspects for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and aggression. Russia is not a state party to the ICC.

1.07 p.m.

Russia rejects referendum in Donbass

Russia rejects the proposal by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi in Kiev to allow the Ukrainian population to decide in a referendum on the cession of territory in the Donbass. "This area is Russian territory," said Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy advisor to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, according to the Interfax agency, referring to the annexation of 2022.

A few months after the start of its war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia incorporated the Donbass - the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions into its territory in violation of international law by amending the constitution.

Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that Moscow has not yet seen the revised U.S. peace plan for Ukraine following Washington's consultations with Kyiv and European partners. He emphasized that Russia may strongly oppose elements of the updated version.

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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) 12. Dezember 2025 um 10:14

Zelensky explained yesterday that only the Ukrainian people can decide on territorial issues - in a referendum, for example. Ushakov said in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat on the sidelines of Putin's trip that Zelensky's aim was to have proposals that were unacceptable to Russia written into the peace plan with the USA during the negotiations.

The Kremlin official explained that Russia had not yet seen the documents currently being discussed with leading representatives of European states. A new variant could be worse and unacceptable for Russia. Ushakov also reiterated Russian demands that Ukraine must withdraw its troops from the Donbass in order to achieve a ceasefire.

Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy advisor, says Russia hasn't seen the new version of the Trump peace plan after talks with the EU and Ukraine, but senses "we're not going to like a lot of it." pic.twitter.com/lMlqJJobPW

— max seddon (@maxseddon) December 12, 2025

For the first time, there are now also official statements that Russia could envisage a demilitarized zone in the Donbass - under Moscow's administration. "It is quite possible that there will be no direct armed forces there - neither Russian nor Ukrainian. Nevertheless, the National Guard and our police will be there; there will be everything needed to maintain order and organize life," said Ushakov.

However, Russia's National Guard is equipped with weapons systems and military-like powers - and is also deployed in war.

The day before, Kremlin leader Putin had reported new successes in the advance in the Donbass and declared that Russia could also achieve its war aims on the battlefield. The aim is now to push the Ukrainian armed forces out of the part of the region not yet controlled by Moscow.

12.35 p.m.

German government summons Russian ambassador

The German government has attributed a major cyber-attack and a disinformation campaign in the Bundestag election campaign to Russia. The Russian ambassador has therefore been summoned to the Foreign Office, said a ministry spokesman in Berlin.

On the one hand, a cyberattack against German air traffic control in August 2024 could clearly be attributed to the Russian hacker group "Fancy Bear". "Our intelligence findings prove that the Russian military intelligence service GRU is responsible for this attack," the spokesperson added.

On the other hand, it can now be said with certainty that Russia attempted to "influence and destabilize both the last Bundestag election and the internal affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany on an ongoing basis" through the "Storm 1516" campaign. There is reliable information that organizations supported by the GRU secret service are behind this.

Specifically, this concerns the "Storm 1516" campaign, which has been running since 2024 and is primarily aimed at influencing Western elections. Prior to this year's parliamentary elections, the focus was on the leading Green Party candidate Robert Habeck and the then candidate for chancellor of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU and CSU): Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has been in power since May.

Two days before the early election on February 23, 2025, the government of then Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that the German security authorities had indications that fake videos about alleged ballot tampering were part of a Russian disinformation campaign.

The Federal Foreign Office spokesperson said that Russia's actions "very specifically threaten our security, not only through its war of aggression against Ukraine, but also here in Germany". He added that the German government, in coordination with European partners, would "take a series of countermeasures to show Russia a price for its hybrid actions."

11.45 am

Russian drones attack Pavlohrad - dead and injured

A man has been killed in Russian drone attacks in the eastern Ukrainian industrial city of Pavlohrad.

Four people were injured, the acting governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Vladyslav Hajwanenko, announced on Telegram. Five residential buildings also caught fire.

Russian terrorist night attack: homes and infrastructure destroyed in Odessa, casualties in Pavlohrad

As a result of a night attack by Russian terrorists, a residential building and civilian infrastructure in Odessa were damaged. Part of the city is still without electricity,… pic.twitter.com/fQJLYjAtco

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 12, 2025

According to the Ukrainian air force, the Russian military deployed 80 drones of various types. 64 of them were intercepted. Nevertheless, there were twelve strikes in eight locations and drone debris fell in a further three places.

11 a.m.

Seven injured in Russia after Ukrainian drone attack

According to the authorities, seven people were injured when a Ukrainian drone hit a block of flats in the Russian city of Tver.

Tver 💥💥💥

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) 12. Dezember 2025 um 01:28

"People were injured while fending off a drone attack on a residential building in Tver," said acting governor Vitaly Korolyov, according to Russian news agencies. One child was among the injured in the city just under 200 kilometers northwest of Moscow, all of whom were being treated in hospital. The damaged residential building was evacuated.

👀 The moment of drone strike in Tver, which deviated from the course due to the work of electronic warfare.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) 12. Dezember 2025 um 10:19

Ukraine again carried out drone attacks on numerous Russian regions during the night. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow reported the downing of around 90 drones, including several approaching the Russian capital.

According to reports from the independent internet portal Astra, a refinery in the Yaroslavl region north of Moscow once again came under fire.

God morgon! 03.30 fick oljeraffinaderiet Slavneft-Jnos i ryska Jaroslavl drönarpåhälsning och minst 7 explosioner kunde höras varefter en brand utbröt.

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— Fria Ukraina (@friaukraina.bsky.social) 12. Dezember 2025 um 06:39

In its defensive campaign against the Russian invasion, which has been ongoing for almost four years, Ukraine is targeting not only military objects but also oil and gas industry facilities. On the one hand, this is intended to impair the supply of fuel to the Russian military and, on the other, to make it more difficult for Russia to finance the war.

The damage caused by Ukraine in Russia is now considerable, but is disproportionate to the extent of the destruction and the number of victims caused by the Russian military's attacks in the neighboring country.

4.30 a.m.

EU prepares for Ukrainian accession despite Hungary's blockade

Despite Hungary's blockade, the EU Commission and Kiev have agreed on a 10-point plan to bring Ukraine closer to EU accession. It aims to curb corruption and strengthen democracy. Both are central to the path to the EU. Hungary continues to block the formal start of talks. However, the EU and Ukraine are already working on the practical part of accession.

3.37 am

"Free economic zone" as a compromise? Kiev is skeptical

In the struggle to end the Russian war of aggression, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gives an insight into the current state of negotiations. According to him, the USA has put forward the idea of declaring the part of the Donbass region in the east of the country previously controlled by the Ukrainian army a "free economic zone". According to local media reports in Kiev, Zelenskyi said that the compromise proposal consisted of the Russian side not advancing into this area.

However, he added that, in the interests of fairness, the reverse question should be allowed: "If one side withdraws, as the Ukrainians are being asked to do, why doesn't the other warring party withdraw the same distance in the other direction?"

US President Donald Trump's administration recently presented a plan for a peace settlement, which critics described as a "Russian wish list" and a de facto declaration of surrender by Ukraine because it essentially contained familiar demands from Moscow. Ukraine and its European allies attempted to revise the plan at breakneck speed and cross out points that were unacceptable to them. Ukraine then submitted a response on Wednesday.

Will Ukraine agree to a “free economic zone” in the Donetsk region? This question must be answered by the people of Ukraine, Zelensky said.

Other key statements made by the Ukrainian president during the latest press conference:

▪️Ukraine and the United States will sign… pic.twitter.com/4N3evsFB15

— KyivPost (@KyivPost) December 11, 2025

2.39 pm

Trump speaks of Ukraine meeting on Saturday

US President Donald Trump has named Saturday as the date for a possible meeting in Europe to pacify the war in Ukraine.

"There will be a meeting on Saturday, we'll see if we attend or not," Trump said in the White House - without mentioning with whom the talks would be held. He emphasized that US representatives would take part in such a meeting "if we think there is a good chance". Otherwise, no time would be wasted.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had recently stated that it was possible that there would be a meeting in Berlin at the beginning of next week following talks at the weekend. Whether the US government will take part or not is still open.

Trump reiterated that the USA is prepared to provide security guarantees - in the context of the war in Ukraine, this is understood to mean precautions to protect the country from further aggression by Russia after a peace agreement and is also demanded by the Europeans. "We would help with security because I think it's a necessary factor," said Trump. He did not give any further details on this either.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj had previously stated that he and his team were in talks with the US side about security guarantees. "Security guarantees are one of the most important elements for all further steps," Zelenskyi was quoted as saying in a statement. There had to be concrete answers as to what the partners would do if Russia were to attack Ukraine again. Work is continuing on this.

Friday, December 12, 2025, 1:48 a.m.

Trump: Speech with China and Russia on denuclearization

US President Donald Trump has said that he has spoken to China and Russia about denuclearization, i.e. nuclear disarmament. "I talked to China about it. I've talked to Russia about it. And I think it's something that we would like to do, and they would like to do it, and I think Russia would like to do it," Trump said at a meeting in the White House.

When a reporter pointed out that Russia had said it would be impossible to renegotiate the New Start disarmament treaty in time for its expiry in February 2026, Trump replied that he had been told otherwise. The nuclear disarmament treaty concluded between the USA and Russia in 2010 was last extended for five years in 2021. It provides for a reduction in nuclear warheads and delivery systems.

At the end of October, Trump caused a stir with his surprising announcement of an immediate resumption of nuclear weapons tests. But even then, he stated that he was talking to Russia about denuclearization. At the time, Trump said that if anything was done in this direction, China would be consulted.

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