Poland has scrambled aircraft in the early hours of this morning after Russia launched airstrikes across Ukraine, including in western regions that border the Nato country.
Russia's major air attack came just hours after Volodymyr Zelensky warned Putin could strike hard over the festive period. Most parts of the war-hit nation were reported to be under air raid alerts.
“Air defence forces are working to eliminate the threat in the sky over the capital," the Kyiv military administration said on Telegram.
Tuesday's attack came after a senior Kremlin official said Europe stands on the "edge of an abyss" with the prospect of an uncontrollable conflict between Russia and Nato looming.
Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov made the comments at a Moscow-based think tank, where he blamed Western countries for threatening the stability of the continent – despite it being Russia who invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
While Ryabkov criticised the West – and the Biden administration in particular – Vladimir Putin's forces stepped up their attacks on Ukraine's key Black Sea port in Odesa, causing major power outages and threatening maritime infrastructure in the region.
Russian general killed by bomb planted under his car in Moscow
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Key Points
- Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa
- Poland scrambles aircraft after Russian strikes on Ukraine
- Russian general killed by bomb planted under his car in Moscow
- Russia launches air attack on Kyiv, Ukraine's military says
- Zelensky says progress in US-led peace talks is 'quite solid'
- Russia developing weapon to hit Musk’s Starlink, Nato suspects
In photos: Major Russian attack on Kyiv region destroys houses and apartments
08:01 , Arpan Rai
Buildings in Kyiv attacked in overnight Russia attack
07:52 , Arpan RaiRussian forces have attacked Kyiv and Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the early hours today, triggering emergency outages, just two days after US-led Miami peace talks ended.
As of 6.20am GMT, air raid alerts covered nearly all of Ukraine, according to the country’s air force.
Debris fell near a residential building in Kyiv’s Sviatoshynskyi district, damaging windows, mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app.
Watch: Senior Russian diplomat warns of Russia-Nato clash
07:32 , Arpan RaiRussia bombards Ukraine hours after Zelensky warns of Christmas strikes
06:47 , Arpan RaiRussia launched a major early morning air attack on Ukraine today, the Ukrainian military said, just hours after Volodymyr Zelensky warned Putin could strike hard over the festive period.
"Air defence forces are working to eliminate the threat in the sky over the capital," the Kyiv military administration said on Telegram.
It urged residents to remain in shelters until the all-clear is given.
Officials did not immediately report casualties or damage. The full-scale of the attack was not immediately known.
Just hours earlier, Zelensky said Ukraine is amping up its intelligence and air defence work ahead of Christmas as Russian forces are expected to carry out massive air strikes.
“We understand that precisely on these days they may – this is in their nature – carry out massive strikes on Christmas. And today we had a Staff meeting on this, and the number one issue was air defence: the protection of our cities, villages, and communities, especially on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th. This needs to be paid attention to,” Zelensky had said.
Hundreds of Russian drones target Ukraine; emergency power outages imposed
06:39 , Arpan RaiSeveral Ukrainian cities are under a major air raid alert as Russian forces launched a large-scale missile and drone attack, including hitting energy sites in the war-hit country’s far western regions.
Ukrainian public broadcaster reported explosions in the western cities of Rivne, in the communities of Burshtyn and Rohatyn in the Ivano-Frankivsk oblast. Explosions were also heard on the outskirts of Cherkasy city.
Ukraine’s Air Force has warned of hundreds of Russian drones and dozens of missiles launched in Ukraine’s direction as air raid alerts were sounded in almost all parts of the country.
Emergency power outages have been imposed in several regions in view of Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure, Ukraine's energy ministry said.
“As soon as the security situation allows, rescue teams and energy specialists will begin addressing the consequences of the attack to restore electricity supply in the regions as quickly as possible," the ministry said.
Poland scrambles aircraft after Russian strikes on Ukraine
06:29 , Arpan RaiPoland has scrambled aircraft in the early hours today after Russia launched airstrikes on Ukraine, the Polish Armed Forces said.
The mobilisation of the Nato nation’s aircraft is to ensure airspace security, the armed forces said.
"Fighter jets were scrambled, and ground-based air-defence and radar reconnaissance systems were put on heightened readiness," the operational command of the armed forces said.
"These measures are preventive in nature and are aimed at securing and protecting the airspace, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened regions,” it said.
Zelensky says negotiations on war settlement 'close to a real result'
06:09 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said negotiations conducted with the US and European nations aimed at ending Moscow's war in Ukraine with Russian officials were "very close to a real result”.
Zelensky had dispatched his team of negotiators, including senior official Rustem Umerov, who along with European representatives, held a series of meetings with US envoys in Florida.
The negotiating teams returned yesterday to report on the outcome of the discussions.
"It all looks quite worthy... And here it is important that this is the work of both us (Ukraine) and the United States of America. This suggests that we are very close to a real result," Zelensky told a gathering devoted to Ukrainian diplomats.
Zelenskiy said the negotiators had been working on a 20-point plan, put forward by US envoys, which has been under discussion for weeks after an initial draft was criticised by Ukrainians and Europeans as being too slanted towards Russia.
"Not everything is ideal with this, but the plan is there," he said.
Kremlin says weekend Ukraine peace talks not breakthrough
05:32 , Arpan RaiThe latest dialogue between Russian and the US officials in Miami on the war in Ukraine should not be seen as a breakthrough, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Calling it a “working process”, Vladimir Putin’s close aide said the discussions were expected to continue in a "meticulous" expert-level format and that Russia’s priority was to obtain from the United States details of Washington’s work with Europeans and Ukrainians on a possible settlement.
He said Moscow would then judge how far those ideas matched what he called the “spirit of Anchorage”.
Earlier, Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said the talks were “productive and constructive”.
Zelensky warns Ukraine to expect 'massive strikes on Christmas' after Putin rejects festive truce
05:25 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is amping up its intelligence and air defence work ahead of Christmas as Russian forces are expected to carry out massive air strikes.
“When the Germans and the Americans proposed a Christmas ceasefire, there was nothing new in the fact that the Russians immediately jumped in and said: no, we do not want anything like that. The problem is that when Russia says there will be no Christmas ceasefire, that is, in principle, always what they say – they deliberately underscore such statements,” he said in a post on X.
“After these signals from them, I instructed our intelligence services to significantly step up their work and get a clear picture of where we stand,” he said.
“We understand that precisely on these days they may – this is in their nature – carry out massive strikes on Christmas. And today we had a Staff meeting on this, and the number one issue was air defense: the protection of our cities, villages, and communities, especially on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th. This needs to be paid attention to,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president said the military “must pay attention directly, ensure protection as much as they can”.
“Everything is very difficult, because there is, unfortunately, a shortage of air defence systems,” Zelensky said as he urged people to be careful as nothing is “sacred” for Russians.
Ukrainian drone attack sparks fire in Russia's Stavropol region
05:08 , Arpan RaiAn industrial facility is on fire in Russia’s southern Stavropol region after an overnight Ukrainian drone attack, officials said.
Regional governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed the attack but did not specify the details of the facility set ablaze in the attack. He said no injuries were reported.
Russian oil major Lukoil runs the Stavrolen petrochemical complex at Budyonnovsk in Stavropol and the region also hosts gas pipeline infrastructure and fuel storage sites that make it part of Russia’s broader energy and chemicals system.
Ukraine has previously carried out attacks on the Stavrolen plant before and said its attacks inside Russia are aimed at weakening Russia’s military effort in the ongoing war.
Russia launches air attack on Kyiv, Ukraine's military says
04:52 , Arpan RaiRussia launched an early morning air attack on Kyiv, the head of the military administration of the Ukrainian capital, Timur Tkachenko, said this morning.
"Please stay in shelters until the all-clear is given!" Tkachenko said on his Telegram channel.
Kremlin says Europe on 'edge of an abyss'
04:21 , Arpan RaiA senior Kremlin official has said Europe stands on the "edge of an abyss" with the prospect of an uncontrollable conflict between Russia and Nato looming.
Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov made the comments at a Moscow-based think tank, where he blamed Western countries for threatening the stability of the continent – despite it being Russia who invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Ryabkov said Russia did not intend to attack Europe and "pursue the aggressive goals attributed to our country", but that it could not ignore the risk of a head-on military conflict between nuclear powers, warning of potentially catastrophic consequences.
Even with what he said was a more "balanced" US policy since Donald Trump entered office, Ryabkov said the risk of a Russia–Nato clash remains due to “hostile actions” by European countries.
Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa
03:48 , Arpan RaiRussian forces have increased their attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea port in Odesa, causing major power outages and threatening maritime infrastructure in the region.
Late on Monday night, Russian forces struck the port, and damaged port facilities and a ship, the regional governor said, confirming the second attack on the region in less than 24 hours.
Governor Oleh Kiper said emergency crews were tackling the aftermath of the latest attack but provided no further details. He said no casualties were reported.
An earlier overnight attack hit port and energy infrastructure in the region, causing a fire at a major port and disrupting electricity supplies to tens of thousands of people.
Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said Russia was carrying out "systematic" attacks on Odesa.
"Russia is attempting to disrupt maritime logistics by launching systematic attacks on port and energy infrastructure," he said.
In the past few weeks, Russia has increased attacks on Odesa port and the surrounding region, trying to limit Ukraine's access to the Black Sea and disrupt critical logistics routes to the border with Moldova, Ukrainian officials said.
Zelensky says progress in US-led peace talks is 'quite solid'
03:07 , Arpan RaiThe current draft of a US proposal for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia meets many of Kyiv's demands, Volodymyr Zelensky said, calling it “quite solid”.
“Overall, it looks quite solid at this stage," the Ukrainian leader said after the latest round of talks with US officials, who are trying to steer the neighbouring countries toward compromises.
Zelensky suggested that neither side in the almost four-year war is likely to get everything it wants in talks on reaching a settlement.
“There are some things we are probably not ready for, and I'm sure there are things the Russians are not ready for either," Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv yesterday.
US president Donald Trump has for months been pushing for a peace agreement, but the negotiations have run into sharply conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv.
Watch: Russian general killed by bomb under his car in Moscow
02:00 , Bryony GoochRussia developing weapon to hit Musk’s Starlink, Nato suspects
01:01 , Bryony Gooch
Russia developing weapon to hit Musk’s Starlink satellites, Nato suspects
Zelensky says progress in US-led peace talks 'quite solid'
00:00 , Bryony GoochInitial drafts of US proposals for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia meet many of Kyiv's demands, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
But he suggested that neither side in the almost four-year war is likely to get everything it wants in talks on reaching a settlement.
"Overall, it looks quite solid at this stage," the Ukrainian leader said of recent talks with US officials who are trying to steer the neighbouring countries toward compromises.
"There are some things we are probably not ready for, and I'm sure there are things the Russians are not ready for either," Mr Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv.
Italian prosecutors move to drop probe into suspected Russian drone flyovers
Monday 22 December 2025 23:00 , James ReynoldsItalian prosecutors investigating suspected Russian drone flights over an EU space research centre have concluded their suspicions were unfounded and have requested the case be dropped, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.
Milan prosecutors found that 21 alleged overflights between March and May 2025 were actually caused by interference from a private GSM phone signal booster near the European Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra, near Italy's Lake Maggiore.
Russian general killed by bomb planted under his car in Moscow
Monday 22 December 2025 22:00 , James ReynoldsA senior Russian official was killed when a car blew up in Moscow on Monday.
Investigators have identified the victim as Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov.
He was a 56-year-old veteran of Russia’s 21st-century military campaigns, having served in Chechnya, Syria and most recently Ukraine.
In Ukraine he was responsible for the military’s combat training and readiness. Vladimir Putin was reportedly told immediately of the death of such a senior official.
Tass reports that Sarvarov was decorated with the Order of Courage, the Medal of Suvorov, the Order of Merit for Services to the Fatherland (I and II Class), and the Order of Military Merit.
Read the full story:
Russian general killed by bomb planted under his car in Moscow
Zelensky reveals 'solid and dignified' 20 point plan has been drafted
Monday 22 December 2025 21:00 , Bryony GoochKyiv’s negotiating team is returning from Miami after initial drafts have been detailed over an “imperfect” 20 point plan for freedom, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
“There are 20 points of the plan,” he explained on X. “Not everything is perfect so far, but this plan is in place. There are security guarantees - between us, the Europeans, and the United States. A framework paper. There is a separate document between us and the United States – bilateral security guarantees.
“This is what we see: they must be reviewed by the U.S. Congress, with certain details and annexes remaining classified. As of today, this all looks quite solid and dignified. For now, however, these are working drafts prepared by our military. Importantly, they have been developed by us and by the United States of America.
“This indicates that we are very close to a real outcome. We are also developing the first draft of the agreement on Ukraine’s recovery. Economic strategy. The core of all documents is ready. The core one. There are certain things we are not prepared to accept. And there are things – of that I am sure – that the Russians are not prepared to accept either.
“The Americans are currently continuing negotiations with Russian representatives. They will hold talks, and then we will receive feedback from them. From our side, they have received all the information.”
Our negotiating team is now returning from Miami. They will arrive at night, and I will have the details in the morning. In my view, everything possible that we needed to do for the initial drafts had already been done. There are 20 points of the plan. Not everything is perfect…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 22, 2025
Watch: Scene of the explosion that killed Russian general in Moscow
Monday 22 December 2025 20:00 , James ReynoldsStarlink satellites could be targeted by new Russian weapon, Nato suspects
Monday 22 December 2025 19:00 , James ReynoldsRussia is reportedly developing a new anti-satellite weapon specifically designed to target Elon Musk’s Starlink constellation, according to intelligence findings from two Nato nations.
Starlink has played a crucial role in aiding Ukraine on the battlefield. Here’s how:
Russia developing weapon to hit Musk’s Starlink satellites, Nato suspects
How Ukraine is escalating its pushback against Russia
Monday 22 December 2025 18:00 , James ReynoldsUkrainian forces have ramped up their campaign to disrupt the Russian war effort as negotiators push for leverage in peace talks:
Monday: Kyiv claimed to have hit an oil terminal, a pipeline, two parked jet fighters and two ships in Krasnodar in a series of strikes on Russian soil.
A Russian launch site for attack drones was also hit.
Ukraine was also accused of involvement in the death of a Russian general in Moscow, but is yet to comment.
Saturday: Ukraine claimed attacks on a Russian oil rig, the military patrol ship Okhotnik and other facilities.
Ukrainian drones also struck a radar system in the Krasnosilske area of Crimea.
Friday: Ukraine claimed drone strikes on a ‘shadow fleet’ tanker in neutral waters off the coast of Libya.
Lithuania joins in condemning alleged abductions from Ukraine
Monday 22 December 2025 17:00 , James ReynoldsLithuania today joined in condemning the alleged abductions of civilians from a Ukrainian border village.
Ukraine yesterday alleged that Russian forces had taken more than 50 civilians, many of them elderly, from Hrabovske village as Ukrainian troops withdrew.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys on Monday called the alleged kidnappings ‘cynical’.
“This targeting of mostly elderly residents once again exposes Russia’s utter cynicism and shows that it has no limits,” he said.
“This is a war crime - and Russia will not escape responsibility for this and all the other crimes it has committed against Ukraine.”
Italian prosecutors move to drop probe into suspected Russian drone flyovers
Monday 22 December 2025 16:43 , James ReynoldsItalian prosecutors investigating suspected Russian drone flights over an EU space research centre have concluded their suspicions were unfounded and have requested the case be dropped, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.
Milan prosecutors found that 21 alleged overflights between March and May 2025 were actually caused by interference from a private GSM phone signal booster near the European Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra, near Italy's Lake Maggiore.
Who was the Russian general killed in an explosion in Moscow today?
Monday 22 December 2025 16:31 , James ReynoldsA senior Russian official was killed when a car blew up in Moscow on Monday.
Investigators have identified the victim as Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov.
He was a 56-year-old veteran of Russia’s 21st-century military campaigns, having served in Chechnya, Syria and most recently Ukraine.
In Ukraine he was responsible for the military’s combat training and readiness. Vladimir Putin was reportedly told immediately of the death of such a senior official.
Tass reports that Sarvarov was decorated with the Order of Courage, the Medal of Suvorov, the Order of Merit for Services to the Fatherland (I and II Class), and the Order of Military Merit.
Read the full story:
Russian general killed by bomb planted under his car in Moscow
More on major Ukrainian air attack on Russia
Monday 22 December 2025 15:59 , Alex CroftWe can bring you more now on the large Ukrainian air attack overnight, which officials said on Monday targeted an oil terminal, a pipeline, two parked jet fighters and two ships.
The attacks are part of an ongoing campaign to disrupt the Russian war effort and sow fear behind the front line, where outnumbered Ukrainian troops are straining to hold back Russia’s bigger army after almost four years of war.
The strikes also seek to undermine president Vladimir Putin’s attempt to portray Russia as negotiating from a position of military strength in US-led peace efforts, which have yet to make a breakthrough on key points.
The killing of a top Russian general by a car bomb in Moscow on Monday, with investigators suspecting Ukraine was behind it, could be another instance of Kyiv picking surprise targets.
Ukrainian forces struck the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal, an ammunition depot and a launch site for attack drones inside Russian territory and Russian-held Ukrainian territory, Ukraine’s General Staff said in a statement Monday.
A pipeline, two docks and two ships were damaged in the southern Krasnodar region, and a large blaze broke out, the statement said, without specifying what kind of weapons were used in the attack.
It added that a Ukrainian-made missile also hit a temporary base for Russia's 92nd River Boat Brigade in Olenivka, in the occupied Crimean Peninsula.
A separate strike targeted an ammunition depot in a Russian-controlled portion of the Donetsk region, aiming to slow the Russian advance there, the General Staff said. A Russian launch site for attack drones was also hit.
Czech security council to decide on ammunition scheme for Ukraine in January
Monday 22 December 2025 15:33 , Alex CroftThe Czech Republic's security council will debate the future of a Czech-led, Western-financed scheme organising artillery ammunition supplies for Ukraine on January 7, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Monday.
The scheme brings together foreign donors including Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands with Czech defence officials and arms traders and producers who purchase ammunition around the world and deliver it to Ukraine to reduce its disadvantage on the battlefield against Russia.
Babis, who took power last week and has vowed to cut Czech financial aid to Ukraine, has criticised what he calls the scheme's lack of transparency. But he has not taken a clear stance on its future since his populist ANO party won an election in October.
Czech President Petr Pavel, Prague's NATO allies and Ukraine have all praised the scheme, while Babis' pro-Russian coalition allies oppose it.
"In principle, the ammunition initiative has certainly been a good thing, the question is whether it has occurred without corruption," Babis told a news conference after a government meeting on Monday.
Ukraine strikes oil terminal in Russia's Krasnodar region
Monday 22 December 2025 15:09 , Alex CroftUkraine's military hit a Tamanneftegaz oil terminal in Russia's Krasnodar region in an overnight attack, causing explosions and a fire, the Ukrainian General Staff said on Monday.
It said in a statement on the Telegram app that the oil terminal was part of Russia's energy infrastructure that supported financing and logistics of Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.
French presidency welcomes Kremlin's willingness to hold talks
Monday 22 December 2025 14:43 , Alex CroftThe French presidency has welcomed Russia’s willingness to hold talks with Emmanuel Macron.
Russian president Vladimir Putin’s willingness to speak with Macron is “welcome”, the Elysee Palace said, adding that Paris will decide on the details “in the coming days”, reported French broadcaster BFMTV.
The remarks came shortly after Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Saturday said Putin is ready to engage in dialogue with Macron.
On Friday, Macron had said it would “become useful again” for him and the Europeans to speak with Putin.
"I think that we, Europeans and Ukrainians, have an interest in finding a framework to re-engage in these discussions properly. Otherwise, we end up talking among ourselves, with negotiators who go off on their own to talk with the Russians, which is not optimal," Macron said.
Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites could be targeted by new Russian weapon, Nato suspects
Monday 22 December 2025 14:15 , Alex CroftRussia is reportedly developing a new anti-satellite weapon specifically designed to target Elon Musk’s Starlink constellation, according to intelligence findings from two Nato nations.
These reports, seen by The Associated Press, indicate the so-called "zone-effect" weapon aims to flood Starlink orbits with hundreds of thousands of high-density pellets.
Such a weapon could potentially disable multiple satellites at once, but also carries the risk of catastrophic collateral damage to other orbiting systems. The alleged objective behind this development is to curb Western space superiority, which has played a crucial role in aiding Ukraine on the battlefield.
Read more here:
Russia developing weapon to hit Musk’s Starlink satellites, Nato suspects
Russian pipeline gas exports to China rise by 25 per cent in 2025
Monday 22 December 2025 13:51 , Alex CroftRussia's pipeline exports of natural gas to China are expected to have risen by a quarter this year, a source familiar with the data told Reuters news agency on Monday, as Moscow ramps up sales to Asia and cements ties with the world's largest energy consumer.
However, this will not offset the fall in revenue from the loss of the European gas market, Reuters calculations showed.
Russia has re-routed most of its oil to India and China since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022 as Moscow and Europe - once its main commodity export market and source of revenue - severed ties.
It's proven harder to divert gas flows eastwards and painstaking talks to bring more Russian gas to China have yielded limited results.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to media, said Russian energy giant Gazprom GAZP.MM expects gas exports to China via the Power of Siberia Pipeline to reach around 38.6-38.7 billion cubic metres this year, up from 31 bcm in 2024 and exceeding the pipeline's planned annual capacity of 38 bcm.
In photos: Russian general killed in car bomb in Moscow
Monday 22 December 2025 13:25 , Alex Croft
Russia ready to legally confirm it will not attack the EU or Nato states
Monday 22 December 2025 12:59 , Alex CroftRussia is ready to confirm in a legal agreement that it has no intention of attacking either the European Union or the US-led NATO military alliance, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Monday, the state RIA news agency reported.
It comes after reports that US intelligence had concluded Russia’s ultimate goal was to take over the entirety of Ukraine and parts of other neighbouring countries which were once part of the Soviet Union.
World of Trouble: ‘I was a British POW tortured by Russia; this is how Ukraine can win this war’
Monday 22 December 2025 12:07 , Alex CroftRussia attacks ports and energy infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa region overnight
Monday 22 December 2025 11:44 , Alex CroftRussian troops hit port and energy infrastructure in an overnight attack on Ukraine's Odesa region, a senior Ukrainian official said on Monday.
The strikes caused a fire at a major port and disrupting electricity supplies to tens of thousands of people, he added.
Ukraine's Black Sea ports are crucial for its export-driven economy and their security and functionality have been vital for the country's economic survival.
"Russia is attempting to disrupt maritime logistics by launching systematic attacks on port and energy infrastructure, deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on the Telegram app. "Last night, ports and energy facilities were targeted again."
Mr Kuleba said that following the attacks, a fire had broken out in the port of Pivdennyi and about 30 containers of flour and vegetable oil were on fire. Port workers and emergency services were tackling the blaze.
Because of damage to the energy infrastructure, electricity supplies were disrupted to more than 120,000 customers in the Odesa region, he said. One person had been hurt in the attack, the interior ministry said.
Ukraine is leveraging its powerful – and cheap – new drone killers for air defence
Monday 22 December 2025 10:59 , Alex CroftThe icy ground crackling under their feet, members of an elite Ukrainian drone-hunting team set up for a long night.
Antennas and sensors are clipped to a light stand. Monitors and controls are pulled from hard cases, and a game-changing new weapon is readied for deployment.
The Sting, shaped like a flying thermos, is one of Ukraine’s new homegrown interceptors.
The unit’s commander says the interceptors can effectively counter Russia’s fast-evolving suicide drones, which are now flying faster and at higher altitudes.
“Every destroyed target is something that did not hit our homes, our families, our power plants,” said the officer, known only by the call sign “Loi”, in line with Ukrainian military protocol.
“The enemy does not sleep, and neither do we.”
Read the full report:
Ukraine is leveraging its powerful – and cheap – new drone killers for air defence
Moscow claims it has captured village in northeastern Kharkiv region
Monday 22 December 2025 10:36 , Alex CroftRussia's Defence Ministry said it had captured Vilcha in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Monday.
The Independent could not immediately verify the report.
Sweden releases Russian ship boarded over weekend in sanctions investigation
Monday 22 December 2025 10:04 , Alex CroftSwedish customs has released a Russian ship it boarded over the weekend to investigate a suspected violation of sanctions.
The customs service said on Sunday that authorities had boarded the Adler, a Russian freighter, that anchored in Swedish waters near Hoganas in south-west Sweden on Friday after developing engine problems.
But trackers show on Monday that the ship is on the move again, travelling north up the west coast of Sweden.
"The prosecutor has decided not to open an investigation into suspected violation of sanctions," a spokesperson for the customs service said. "The ship has therefore been allowed to go on its way."
In addition to the Adler being on a European Union sanctions list, the vessel and its owners M Leasing LLC are both subject to U.S. sanctions, suspected of involvement in weapons transport, according to OpenSanctions, a database of sanctioned companies and individuals, persons of interest and government watchlists.
The customs service declined to say what cargo the Adler, which left St Petersburg on December 15 for an unknown destination, had been carrying.
Kremlin denies US intelligence claim it wants to capture all of Ukraine
Monday 22 December 2025 09:31 , Alex CroftThe Kremlin has denied that Vladimir Putin wants to capture all of Ukraine, following reports that that was the current assessment of US intelligence.
The US intelligence reports warn that Putin has not abandoned his aim of capturing the country and reclaiming parts of Europe that were once part of the Soviet Union, including current Nato members, according to reporting by Reuters.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Moscow is not sure how reliable the Reuters report is - but that if it is true, the US intelligence assessment is wrong.
"This is absolutely not true," Peskov said of the US’ conclusions.
Train derails after Russian drone attack
Monday 22 December 2025 09:09 , Alex CroftSeveral have been injured after a goods train has derailed near the city of Korosten in the Zhytomyr region, reportedly after coming under Russian drone attack, Ukraine’s public railway service has said.
"The locomotive crew of passenger train No. 45/46 Kharkiv-Uzhhorod made an emergency stop due to an 'oversized object' on the adjacent track, and its locomotive also derailed," Ukrzaliznytsia said in a statement.
The incident took place shortly after 5am local time (3am GMT).
A woman suffered a cut from broken glass, while the train driver and assistant driver were also injured.
