Travel, property, and local info for Ukraine

24+ min ago (897+ words) As the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches, civilians face almost daily attacks and growing hardship, according to a report released on Tuesday, December 9, by the UN Human Rights Office. Civilian casualties in Ukraine rise amid intensifying fighting " UN report "Our findings establish several worrying trends: rising civilian casualties in both frontline and urban areas, sustained attacks on energy infrastructure, and continued patterns of systematic and widespread torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees," Danielle Bell, who heads the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), said. Thus, it is noted that between June and November 2025, the number of civilian casualties increased significantly in both frontline and urban areas. July became the month with the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries since April 2022. On November 19, a massive combined drone and missile…...

24+ min ago (510+ words) Ukrainian intelligence said it has caught two men from a "neighboring European country" sent by Russia to commit arson and unspecified "enemy missions." Ukraine has arrested two foreigners allegedly committing arson in western Ukraine on behalf of Russian intelligence. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said the two men were aged 27, adding that they are "citizens of a neighboring European country" without specifying where. In its Tuesday press release, the SBU said the first man was recruited abroad after posting pro-invasion messages on social media, drawing the attention of Russia's military intelligence (GRU). The man then enlisted help from his friend, and Russia's GRU sent them to Ukraine. The two were said to be ordered to commit "a series of arson" to "further destabilize the socio-political situation in western Ukraine," first starting with Chernivtsi, a regional capital bordering Romania. "Initially,…...

39+ min ago (147+ words) U.S. President Donald Trump hopes to reach a peace deal on Ukraine by Christmas " Trump's envoys "have given Volodymyr Zelenskyy days" to respond to Washington's proposed peace plan, the Financial Times reports, citing unnamed officials. U.S. President Donald Trump hopes to reach a peace deal on Ukraine by Christmas " Trump's envoys "have given Volodymyr Zelenskyy days" to respond to Washington's proposed peace plan, the Financial Times reports, citing unnamed officials. According to the publication's interlocutors familiar with the negotiations, last Saturday during a call, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the U.S. President's son-in-law Jared Kushner insisted that Zelenskyy quickly make a decision on the peace plan. A journalist's source said that Trump hopes to conclude a deal "before Christmas." Zelenskyy has asked for time to consult with European allies as Kyiv fears Washington's proposal could undermine Western unity, the sources said....

47+ min ago (309+ words) Peace for Ukraine is closer now than at any time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022, Finnish President Alexander Stubb has said, Bloomberg reported "We're quite close to an agreement," Stubb said at an event in Helsinki on Tuesday. The negotiations involve three separate documents, he said. The first is a framework document, which "as of yesterday's conversation" between European leaders "stands as a 20-point plan." "The original 28-point plan included elements of a future European security structure which in my mind were completely unacceptable," Stubb said. After weeks of intense negotiations, Ukraine has managed to soften a 28-point peace plan proposed by the United States, which appeared to be advantageous to Russia because it sought to bar Kyiv from joining NATO and limit the size of its army. A new 20-point framework document has emerged, but…...

57+ min ago (125+ words) Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha, during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Italy, had a telephone conversation with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha, during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Italy, had a telephone conversation with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. He said it is important to finally ensure the possibility of full use of frozen Russian assets, strengthen Ukraine within the framework of the SAFE program, and further increase contributions to the PURL initiative. "We value our partnership with Italy and thank our Italian friends, all the Italian people, for their strong support, including the latest military assistance package. Together, we are defending our shared values and the security and peace in Europe," Sybiha said....

1+ hour, 2+ min ago (267+ words) Voter support for the incumbent President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in November 2025 decreased compared to October 2025. This is stated in the report on the results of the monthly electoral study by the U electoral data project, presented on Tuesday. According to the published data, in response to the question "Who would you vote for in the upcoming presidential elections?" in November 2025, Zelenskyy was named by 20.3% of respondents. For comparison, in October, the incumbent president was supported by 24.3%. At the same time, the rating of former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny increased " from 16.4% in October to 19.1% in November. The same dynamics are observed in the responses regarding the parliamentary elections. The number of respondents ready to support Zelenskyy's party decreased from 16.0% to 11.5%, while support for Valeriy Zaluzhny's party increased from 18.5% to 21.8%. The U electoral data project is…...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (527+ words) President Donald Trump has said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must "start accepting things" in ongoing peace efforts, saying that Russia holds the "upper hand" in the war " remarks that come as Kyiv prepares to submit "refined documents" on a revised peace plan to the United States. In an interview with Politico, Trump said Zelenskyy would need to make concessions as Ukraine faces mounting battlefield losses. "He's going to have to get on the ball and start accepting things, you know, when you're losing," Politico quoted Trump as saying. Asked whether Ukraine had lost the war, he added, "They lost a lot of land" you certainly wouldn't say it's a victory." Trump said Russia had always been negotiating from a position of strength. "It's not easy with Russia, because Russia has the upper, upper hand" They're much bigger. They're much…...

1+ hour, 33+ min ago (250+ words) The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allowed companies with a state share of over 50% to import electricity, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has said. Govt allows companies with state share of over 50% to import electricity The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allowed companies with a state share of over 50% to import electricity, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has said. "The government gives permission to import electricity to state-owned companies and companies with a state share of 50% or more," she said on the Telergam channel on Tuesday evening. Svyrydenko said this will reduce the load on Ukraine's power system and stabilize the load during peak hours. "Imports will be carried out in consultation with Ukrenergo," the prime minister said. Govt instructs to review energy enterprises banned from disconnecting electricity, to reduce outdoor lighting Energy the main target of Russia's strikes last night " Zelenskyy…...

1+ hour, 36+ min ago (348+ words) Although Seoul's sovereign airspace was not violated, nine military aircraft flew into its air defense zone without warning as part of Moscow and Beijing's joint exercises. South Korea said on Tuesday that it had scrambled fighter jets in response to seven Russian and two Chinese military planes entering its air defense zone. The Korea Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) was established the better part of a century ago during the Korean War. Although the KADIZ is monitored by South Korea's military for the early detection of threats to its territorial airspace, it extends beyond it. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said that the Russian and Chinese planes entered the KADIZ (although not its territorial airspace) at around 10 a.m. local time (3 a.m. Kyiv time), as per Reuters. Once the planes were identified, the South Korean jets were deployed "in case of…...

1+ hour, 41+ min ago (209+ words) Industrial dairy farming in Ukraine continued to recover in 2025, and the number of cows in enterprises and private entrepreneurs increased by 2.3%, and raw milk production in 10 months by 7.6%, the Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine reported. "This year, dairy farms will produce 0.2 million tonnes more milk than in 2024, and the milk processed will exceed 3.6 million tonnes (compared to 3.2 million tonnes last year). These results were made possible by the favorable pricing environment of 2023-2024, which stimulated investments in farm construction and expansion," the business association noted. Low raw material costs worldwide can lead to the bankruptcy of small farms, especially in the EU. Ukraine has a certain advantage in this situation because it follows the "American model" with large milk production facilities with an average of 300 or more cows, modern technologies, its own feed base, and a lower credit burden. "After…...