Warriors of the 1129th Air Defense Regiment chased down a Lancet using two anti-air drones.

The result: spectacular takedown footage and minus one enemy UAV 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QHrMEgAazv

— Wild Hornets (@wilendhornets) December 20, 2025

This is a classic example of Russian state propaganda in action. In recent years, Russian television has repeatedly broadcast fake interviews with supposed Western journalists or experts who speak critically about the West, support the Russian line, or disparage the BBC/NATO/EU.… https://t.co/cmGbZ3Bw83

— Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@jurgen_nauditt) December 21, 2025

2/ Russian forces have likely seized Siversk — a town with a pre-war population of less than 11,000 — after 41 months of fighting. pic.twitter.com/zmmDUtvmXP

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) December 22, 2025

MORE: The Kremlin likely intends to portray these limited cross-border attacks against small rural border villages in long-dormant areas of the international border as part of a broad new Russian offensive to reinforce a false narrative that Ukraine’s frontline is collapsing… https://t.co/wDVemTduuv pic.twitter.com/rgLTC2mRjP

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) December 22, 2025

i will bet these "container tanks", which belong to the 40th naval infantry brigade, and were spotted around ocheretyne earlier this week, will be involved pic.twitter.com/1BgHzZRKzW

— imi (m) (@moklasen) December 22, 2025

Trump just took major sanctions off Belarus. Now they're ramping up Putin's war machine. https://t.co/8rUWNBW3cS

— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) December 22, 2025

Security guarantees for Ukraine: Ukrainian-American, Ukrainian-European, and Ukrainian.

First.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine – an army of 800,000 – which requires funding. To ensure the contracts we have already discussed it with the military at the Staff meeting. This funding…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 22, 2025

"First.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine an army of 800,000 which requires funding. To ensure the contracts we have already discussed it with the military at the Staff meeting. This funding requires additional partner support. We will provide a certain level of funding for our army, but additional funds are required.

Second membership in the European Union. There are many dimensions to this. Everyone understands this first and foremost in terms of economic security guarantees and markets. There is also a military component, SAFE, and other programs that EU membership opens up.

The third component of security guarantees is the Coalition of the Willing. We will discuss what US backstop is and what specific details it may include air defense, aviation, intelligence, and more. These are forces that must ensure Ukraine's security in the air, on land, and at sea. The Coalition will include 30 countries. There will be key countries providing presence in specific domains, and there will be others providing security related to energy, finances, assistance, and shelters countries that are neutral under their own sovereign constitutions.

Security guarantees with the United States of America. The key security guarantees that will be legally binding, voted on and supported by the U.S. Congress. This is precisely where the fundamental difference lies compared to the Budapest Memorandum, the Minsk agreements, or other arrangements. We are discussing the duration of these guarantees, their possible extension in the same format in which they are adopted. In addition, there is a deterrence package what an 800,000-strong army will be equipped with. What Ukraine's army will have."

Russia has repeatedly defied forecasts of its economic collapse, but it now appears a real turning point is on the horizon for 2026.

"Economists say the country's position is weaker than ever because the Kremlin has burned through most of the cash reserves and the borrowed money that fueled its wartime spending surge and greater problems lie ahead. The outlook is set to only worsen as the tough new sanctions on Russia's oil sector intensify a cash squeeze that could lead to a banking crisis next year, even while Russian President Vladimir Putin maintains a hard line in negotiations to end the war."

CRISIS

2000AgPhD said:

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74OA said:

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Russia has repeatedly defied forecasts of its economic collapse, but it now appears a real turning point is on the horizon for 2026.

"Economists say the country's position is weaker than ever because the Kremlin has burned through most of the cash reserves and the borrowed money that fueled its wartime spending surge and greater problems lie ahead. The outlook is set to only worsen as the tough new sanctions on Russia's oil sector intensify a cash squeeze that could lead to a banking crisis next year, even while Russian President Vladimir Putin maintains a hard line in negotiations to end the war."

CRISIS

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From your lips to God's ears, but I will believe it when I see it. Putin would give a cockroach a run for its' money in the game of survival.

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Yep, only time will tell, but the economic damage is clearly accumulating and accelerating. The real question is whether or not Ukraine can hold on long enough to see it through.

Some in Congress get it. "Russia isn't winning. Putin wants to fool you. Putin's hope is that U.S. will somehow convince itself that Ukraine can't succeed. Don't fall for it."

PUTIN

Now that we're going after the ghost fleet of oil tankers, that will have a multiplying impact. Hopefully the euros also enforce this, but theyre probably also buying the damn oil themselves.

AlaskanAg99 said:

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Now that we're going after the ghost fleet of oil tankers, that will have a multiplying impact. Hopefully the euros also enforce this, but theyre probably also buying the damn oil themselves.

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At the start of the war, Russia provided 27% of Europe's oil imports. That number is now less than 3% and comes from providers that launder Russian oil to conceal its true origin.

Remember the surge of mysterious drones which appeared over northern Europe not long ago?

"German journalism students went on the offensive and traced mystery drone flights in Germany and the Netherlands back to their Russian origins."

DIGGING

Quote:

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General Staff of Armed forces of Ukraine had confirmed withdrawal of Ukrainian defense forces from Sieversk, claims Ukrainian military still upheld fire control over the town

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https://liveuamap.com/en/2025/23-december-15-general-staff-of-armed-forces-of-ukraine-had

74OA said:

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AlaskanAg99 said:

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Now that we're going after the ghost fleet of oil tankers, that will have a multiplying impact. Hopefully the euros also enforce this, but theyre probably also buying the damn oil themselves.

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At the start of the war, Russia provided 27% of Europe's oil imports. That number is now less than 3% and comes from providers that launder Russian oil to conceal its true origin.

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Not trying to question your information but where can this be verified? I ask because we used to purchase bulk chemicals from some EU counties, we have not purchased any from the EU since the war started. Their chemical feed stocks must have come from Russia for these materials to then dry up. I'm not concerned about what's going on now but rather what will happen when the war ends? Will these EU countries just ramp back up using Russian oil and natural gas.again ? I spoke with an EU supplier who was in the US last week, he told me that their current natural gas prices to run their chem plants were double what we pay here in the US, he didn't say what their feedstocks cost except that they were very high now.

The 20 Point Peace Plan Presented By Ukrainian President Zelensky.

1. Sovereignty: Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty recognized by all signatories.

2. Non-Aggression: Full, unconditional pact with Russia; line of contact monitored via space-based systems to detect… pic.twitter.com/YmZaedfCY4

— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) December 24, 2025

This seems like a very good and reasonable deal to me.

Full quote

Quote:

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The 20 Point Peace Plan Presented By Ukrainian President Zelensky.

1. Sovereignty: Ukraine's independence and sovereignty recognized by all signatories.

2. Non-Aggression: Full, unconditional pact with Russia; line of contact monitored via space-based systems to detect violations.

3. Security Guarantees: Ukraine receives strong protection assurances from the U.S., NATO, and European allies.

4. Military: Armed Forces capped at 800,000 in peacetime.

5. Allied Support & Article 5: Security guarantees mirror NATO's Article 5; coordinated military response and global sanctions if Russia attacks; null if Ukraine attacks without provocation. Bilateral guarantees allowed.

6. Russia Policy: Russia formalizes legal non-aggression toward Ukraine and Europe.

7. EU Membership: Ukraine to join EU within a set timeframe; short-term privileged access to European markets.

8. Economic Plan: Global investment covering reconstruction, infrastructure, energy, gas pipelines, technology, AI, and war-affected areas.

9. Recovery Funds: $200B+ funds for reconstruction, humanitarian aid, compensation for damages, and foreign investment.

10. Trade: Accelerate U.S.Ukraine free trade agreement.

11. Non-Nuclear: Ukraine remains non-nuclear under the NPT.

12. Zaporizhzhia Plant: Joint operation by Ukraine, U.S., and Russia.

13. Education & Tolerance: Programs to promote cultural understanding, minority rights, and anti-racism; EU religious tolerance standards adopted.

14. Territorial Line: Recognize current troop positions in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson; working groups to manage redeployment and potential special economic zones.

15. Territorial Integrity: Future territorial agreements cannot be altered by force.

16. Navigation & Commerce: Russia cannot block Ukraine's use of Dnipro River or Black Sea for trade.

17. Humanitarian Measures: POW and hostage exchanges; return of civilians and political prisoners; address suffering of conflict victims.

18. Elections: Ukraine to hold elections promptly after agreement.

19. Implementation: Legally binding; overseen by Peace Council chaired by Trump; sanctions applied for violations.

20. Ceasefire: Full ceasefire effective immediately once all parties ratify the agreement

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$200B in recovery funds? Who is paying for that?

Probably from frozen Russian funds.

Not unreasonable in isolation, but nothing Putin will ever go for. Candidly, I'd also want to see some strong anti-corruption measures being tied to any large-scale investment in Ukraine.

Claude! said:

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Not unreasonable in isolation, but nothing Putin will ever go for. Candidly, I'd also want to see some strong anti-corruption measures being tied to any large-scale investment in Ukraine.

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So send DOGE???

fullback44 said:

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74OA said:

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AlaskanAg99 said:

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Now that we're going after the ghost fleet of oil tankers, that will have a multiplying impact. Hopefully the euros also enforce this, but theyre probably also buying the damn oil themselves.

---

At the start of the war, Russia provided 27% of Europe's oil imports. That number is now less than 3% and comes from providers that launder Russian oil to conceal its true origin.

---

Not trying to question your information but where can this be verified? I ask because we used to purchase bulk chemicals from some EU counties, we have not purchased any from the EU since the war started. Their chemical feed stocks must have come from Russia for these materials to then dry up. I'm not concerned about what's going on now but rather what will happen when the war ends? Will these EU countries just ramp back up using Russian oil and natural gas.again ? I spoke with an EU supplier who was in the US last week, he told me that their current natural gas prices to run their chem plants were double what we pay here in the US, he didn't say what their feedstocks cost except that they were very high now.

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I think I read where it's the energy prices overall and not feedstock prices that have hammered the euro chemical industry.

Medals were handed out, Kupiansk was lost — there's complete hysteria in the Z-channels

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have regained control of Kupiansk, as confirmed by Russian pro-war channels.

Earlier, generals had reported to Putin that the city had been captured, but the… pic.twitter.com/euUfztPQDi

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 24, 2025

Bloomberg reports that Russia has rejected the 20-point peace plan proposed by the United States and Ukraine and is already working on its own counterproposal. Oh wow, how unexpected.

The Kremlin insists on stricter restrictions on the Armed Forces of Ukraine, guarantees… pic.twitter.com/QygyZJsZV1

— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) December 24, 2025

I honestly do not know how to put this into words. Stories like this hit you in the chest.

One hundred and thirty days on position, under constant fire, exposed to the elements, making contact with the enemy, adapting, surviving. That is not just combat, that is endurance at… https://t.co/vNP2K7qT7g

— (T.C.A.G.) Commander Brad Crawford (@evo1tactical) December 24, 2025

Rossticus said:

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Bloomberg reports that Russia has rejected the 20-point peace plan proposed by the United States and Ukraine and is already working on its own counterproposal. Oh wow, how unexpected.

The Kremlin insists on stricter restrictions on the Armed Forces of Ukraine, guarantees… pic.twitter.com/QygyZJsZV1

— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) December 24, 2025

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Spoiler alert, their "counterproposal" is just a reiteration of all of their demands to make Ukraine a satellite state.

Yep. Shocking, isn't it?

The UK appears to have started supplying the Ukrainian Air Force with Paveway IV GPS/laser-guided bombs.

The munitions, built by Raytheon UK in Britain, come just a few weeks after Ukrainian F-16s were spotted with laser targeting pods. pic.twitter.com/snS64lM546

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) December 23, 2025

2/ Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Pokrovsk.

Russian forces recently advanced near Hulyaipole.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 24, 2025: https://t.co/pu5kZO04du

Note: ISW will not publish a Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment tomorrow, December 25.… pic.twitter.com/j2Dhl0odVV

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) December 25, 2025

I'm confused by the Paveway IV. Isn't it a light weight penetrator or bunker buster? If so, it's not going to have much glide range. And what hardened targets does Russia have near the front lines? Even Crimean runways are likely out of range.

This weapon makes the most sense if Ukraine were planning a deep strike mission but they've never sent F16s across the border as far as I am aware.

MORE: Kremlin-affiliated milbloggers are acknowledging significant Ukrainian successes in the Kupyansk direction and criticizing the Kremlin and the Russian military command for providing false battlefield reports. ⬇️

The widespread milblogger criticism of the Kremlin’s and the… https://t.co/aOCmwVymCj pic.twitter.com/0UQ1dSHeUW

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) December 25, 2025

Quote:

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MORE: Kremlin-affiliated milbloggers are acknowledging significant Ukrainian successes in the Kupyansk direction and criticizing the Kremlin and the Russian military command for providing false battlefield reports.

The widespread milblogger criticism of the Kremlin's and the Russian military command's false and exaggerated claims in Kupyansk further exposes how the ongoing Russian cognitive warfare effort, which aims to paint Ukrainian defenses as on the verge of collapse and major Russian battlefield victories as inevitable, does not reflect the battlefield realities.

Russian milbloggers also acknowledged that Russia's failures in Kupyansk indicate that Russia does not have sufficient manpower or materiel to imminently defeat the northern part of the Fortress Belt while simultaneously continuing offensive operations elsewhere.

ISW recently assessed that Russian forces will likely continue to struggle to maintain the Kremlin's desired multi-pronged offensives in different directions due to the long-term materiel and manpower costs of these simultaneous operations.

Russian efforts to start the battle for the Fortress Belt will likely further stretch Russian resources, and Russia will likely need to deprioritize other frontline sectors in order to concentrate even more forces to the Fortress Belt area.

The Kremlin is therefore making demands in negotiations that Ukraine cede the unoccupied parts of Donetsk Oblast, likely in order to save Russia the personnel and materiel resources and possibly to put Russia in a more advantageous position to re-invade in the future to pursue Putin's longer-term strategic goal of controlling all of Ukraine.

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Merry Christmas, my dear friends!
Peace, kindness, and love! ✨
May God protect you and your family throughout your life!

On this holy evening, please remember in your prayers those who will celebrate this holiday far from home, their families, and loved ones🫡🇺🇦

And also, to… pic.twitter.com/U6zV6H6Xbe

— Igor Kyivskyi (@Ihor_from_Kyiv) December 24, 2025

JFABNRGR said:

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Merry Christmas, my dear friends!
Peace, kindness, and love! ✨
May God protect you and your family throughout your life!

On this holy evening, please remember in your prayers those who will celebrate this holiday far from home, their families, and loved ones🫡🇺🇦

And also, to… pic.twitter.com/U6zV6H6Xbe

— Igor Kyivskyi (@Ihor_from_Kyiv) December 24, 2025

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War is hell...

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts"

Winston Churchill