Travel, property, and local info for Ukraine

43+ min ago (82+ words) Kyiv Post Delivers Exclusive and In-Depth News and Opinions on Politics, Economics " Get Your Daily News Brief Direct from Ukraine Today! Heavy Strikes, High-Stakes Talks, and Deepening Global Rifts Welcome to "Summary of the Week" " your fast and reliable recap of the biggest headlines from Ukraine and around the world. Here's what happened this week: - Europe reacts to gas ban and internal fractures - Conflicting reports on the return of Ukrainian children - US says Europe must lead NATO by 2027...

49+ min ago (188+ words) The US State Department released a press statement regarding the recent meeting between Special Envoy for Peace Steven Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, and Chief of the General Staff General Andriy Hnatov. It is noted that over two days, Special Envoy for Peace Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Ukrainian Secretary of National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov and Chief of General Staff General Andriy Hnatov "for constructive discussions on advancing a credible pathway toward a durable and just peace in Ukraine." It is noted that both parties agreed that real progress toward any agreement depends on Russia's readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace, including steps toward de-escalation and cessation of killings. It is noted that American and Ukrainian parties underscored that an end to the…...

53+ min ago (452+ words) Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine overnight into Saturday, firing 653 drones and 51 missiles across the country as it marked Armed Forces Day, Ukraine's air force said KYIV, Ukraine -- Russia unleashed a major missile and drone barrage on Ukraine overnight into Saturday, after U.S. and Ukrainian officials said they'll meet for a third day of talks on Saturday. Russia used 653 drones and 51 missiles in the wide-reaching attack, which triggered air raid alerts across the country and came as Ukraine marked Armed Forces Day, the country's air force said Saturday morning. Ukrainian forces shot down and neutralized 585 drones and 30 missiles, the air force said, adding that 29 locations were struck. At least three people were wounded in the Kyiv region, according to local officials. Drone sightings were reported as far west as Ukraine's Lviv region. Russia carried out a "massive missile-drone attack" on…...

1+ hour, 10+ min ago (398+ words) The United States cannot pretend to be partners with NATO members " the European Union " while those nations allow the unelected, undemocratic, and unrepresentative EU bureaucracy in Brussels to pursue a policy of civilizational suicide, said US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. "When these countries wear their NATO hats, they insist that Transatlantic cooperation is the cornerstone of our mutual security," Landau wrote on the social network X on Saturday after this week's meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, where he attended instead of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "But when these countries wear their EU hats, they pursue all sorts of agendas that are often utterly adverse to US interests and security'including censorship, economic suicide/climate fanaticism, open borders, disdain for national sovereignty/promotion of multilateral governance and taxation, support for Communist Cuba, etc," the US Deputy…...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (172+ words) Specialists from the Main Intelligence Agency (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, together with BO Team, launched a cyberattack on the information and communications infrastructure of the Eltrans+ group of companies on the night of December 6. Intelligence sources told Interfax-Ukraine that the attack resulted in more than 700 computers and servers being deactivated, more than a thousand company users being deleted, and 165 terabytes of critical data being destroyed or encrypted. Furthermore, the access control system, video surveillance, data storage, and backup systems were damaged, network equipment was deactivated and disabled, along with the data center core, manifests for all cargo were destroyed, and all company websites were defaced, congratulating Russian users on Ukrainian Armed Forces Day. Eltrans+ is one of the top 10 largest customs representatives and freight forwarders in Russia. More than 5,000 Russian small, medium, and large businesses use…...

1+ hour, 23+ min ago (176+ words) Ukrainian Defense Forces units attacked the infrastructure of the Ryazan Oil Refinery in Russia's Ryazan region on the night of December 6, according to a Telegram post by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "A hit on target and damage to a low-temperature isomerization unit has been recorded. The extent of the damage is being determined," the message reads. According to the General Staff, the Ryazan Oil Refinery, with a design capacity of 17.1 million tonnes of oil per year, is one of the largest oil refineries in the Russian Federation, producing gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, and other products. It is involved in supplying the armed forces of the Russian occupiers. Additionally, to reduce the enemy's offensive capabilities, the Alchevsk Metallurgical Plant, a facility manufacturing shell components (casings) for the Russian Ministry of Defense, was targeted by fire…...

1+ hour, 29+ min ago (687+ words) Russia has transformed into a war economy while Europe remains mired in procurement debates. That gap could ultimately cost us sovereignty. Behind on unmanned warfare and lacking societal resilience, Europe risks being unprepared for the next war. Could Europe defeat Russia in a real conflict? On paper, yes. In reality, the answer is uncertain. Military power without readiness is a strategic vulnerability. We have the potential to be far more prepared, but that requires urgent changes and sustained effort. Delay will make catching up vastly more expensive. The problem is not only weapons, although Europe lacks critical systems and sufficient quantities of the ones it does have. The deeper issue is how we prepare as societies and what that means for our readiness. Europe is behind in unmanned warfare and in coordination between public institutions, industry and citizens. Infrastructure and…...

1+ hour, 36+ min ago (434+ words) The West continues to misread the Kremlin's goals. Russia is not fighting for 30-50 km of Donbas but for Ukraine's political subjugation and the restoration of its sphere of influence. "They are literally fighting over a 30-50 km strip in Donetsk, roughly 20 percent of the region still under Ukrainian control and now a central issue in negotiations," Marco Rubio said on Fox News Dec. 2. These words reveal a profound misunderstanding of the objectives Russia is pursuing. Taken literally, the US Secretary of State's remark contains a grain of truth: Russia does need these territories to declare a propaganda victory, both internally and externally. The Russian dictator stated that the self-proclaimed so-called "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk would be "liberated" in any case. Does this mean that this is Putin's main goal? No. So what, then, is Russia's goal? The dictator announced…...

1+ hour, 42+ min ago (231+ words) A just, lasting, and dignified peace would be the best gift for all of Ukraine on the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and St. Nicholas, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The President noted that only such peace will be blessed with a non-recurrence of enemy aggression. "And they are who they are, and we understand that perfectly well. There are no illusions," he added. According to the head of state, "we know that no one will give us this peace," it must be won. Zelenskyy emphasized that these years have changed Ukrainians. "And Ukrainians are a nation of believers. We strongly believe in God and hope for His help. We turn to Him in prayer," the president said. At the same time, he added that Ukraine must rely on itself, its Armed Forces, its partners, particularly Europe and…...

1+ hour, 55+ min ago (333+ words) New memorial practices are being introduced by relatives of the fallen from various brigades " initiatives welcomed by the state. The National Military Memorial Cemetery of Ukraine, which opened just three months ago, has already become a resting place for hundreds of soldiers from various units. In the cemetery's columbarium lies the decorated soldier of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Valeriy Semenov, a recipient of the Order For Courage (3rd Class). Semenov was an experienced nuclear physicist who survived the occupation of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant " an experience he spoke about in the Kyiv Post studio. After the occupation ended, he mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and repeatedly commented to Kyiv Post on the situation at the front, including the Vuhledar direction. Relatives of the fallen organize their own memorial practices to honor their loved ones " an unusual practice…...