Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] 22.59 The new sarcophagus of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is no longer performing its primary functions because it was damaged by a Russian drone, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported.
22.45 The decision on a new approach to the distribution of mobilized personnel between military units was made at a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters on December 5. Now each brigade will have a certain number of mobilized personnel each month. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Facebook.
22.10 Drones attacked the Alchevsk Metallurgical Plant in temporarily occupied Alchevsk in Luhansk Oblast on Friday, December 5. This was reported by Russian Telegram channels, citing information from local public groups.
21.53 An aide to the Russian dictator, Yuri Ushakov, believes that US leader Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, "will have a significant influence" on the preparation of a peace agreement for Ukraine. This was reported by the Russian propaganda news agency Interfax.
20.52 There are currently no signs that Russia is seeking to stop hostilities in Ukraine. Moreover, the Kremlin is using negotiations to cover up plans to seize new Ukrainian territories. This was stated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, in an interview with Sky News.
20.44 The European Union and the G7 countries are discussing a radical tightening of sanctions against Russian oil. Instead of the current "price threshold" mechanism, they are considering a complete ban on the provision of services related to the transportation of oil by sea from Russia. Reuters reports this , citing six sources familiar with the project.
20.33 The Ukrainian government has updated the mechanism for automatically extending deferrals for citizens who are guardians, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reports.
20.18 Seven Ukrainian children aged 8 to 16 were returned from the temporarily occupied territory and the Russian Federation on the eve of St. Nicholas Day. This was reported by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Dmytro Lubinets.
Separately, the Ombudsman expressed gratitude to US First Lady Melania Trump for "humanitarian support for Ukraine's initiatives on the issue of the return of children."
20.15 Russia has concentrated more than 710 thousand of its soldiers on the front line - the largest number since the beginning of the Great War. This was stated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, in an interview with the British television channel Sky News.
19.34 The Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft law on the transition of the Defense Forces to contract recruitment by introducing incentive contracts.
According to the document, the opportunity to conclude contracts with increased motivational factors will be provided to:
military conscripts who are in reserve;
military personnel who are serving under conscription during mobilization.
The draft law provides for more flexible contract terms during the special period. The first contract with increased motivational factors will be concluded for a period of 1 to 5 years. Subsequent contracts - from 1 to 10 years (but not more than the age limit for military service).
18.56 A just peace for Ukraine is the end of the war without preconditions: fighting must stop along the entire line of contact. This was announced by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, in an interview with Sky News.
15.58 Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Gnatov are scheduled to hold another meeting with US President's Special Representative Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami on Friday, December 5.
15.23 In the city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region, while reloading firewood from a ZIL truck to a tractor, a Russian strike drone hit the vehicle. As a result of the UAV attack on the truck's cabin, 52 and 67-year-old men who were next to the car died.
15.07 In 2026, Copenhagen will allocate 9.4 billion Danish kroner (about $1.5 billion) in military aid to Ukraine instead of the previously planned 16-19 billion kroner ($2.5-3 billion). This was announced by Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, Danmarks Radio reports.
14.33 On December 3, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a resolution aimed at determining the conditions for the appointment and payment of a monthly cash payment to persons awarded the Cross of Military Merit.
The cash payment will be 12 thousand UAH.
14.21 Slovenia will join the PURL program and by the end of the year will allocate about 43 million euros to strengthen Ukraine's air defense. This was announced by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.
14.13 Another group of children aged 2 to 17 was returned from the Kherson Oblast TOT. This was reported by the head of the Kherson OPA, Oleksandr Prokudin, on December 5.
13.56 On the night of December 5, the Defense Forces of Ukraine struck the Syzran Oil Refinery in the Samara Region and the infrastructure of the Temryutsk Sea Port in the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation.
13.25 President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Serhiy Kyslytsia some areas of diplomatic work and negotiations, in particular with the United States. According to the Head of State, Ukraine will strengthen work with partners.
12.59 Ukraine may have to cede some territory to end the war - Europe is beginning to recognize this. El País reports .
A sense of powerlessness is growing in a number of European capitals about their role in the peace process in the Russia-Ukraine war. Representatives of several governments have made it clear to the Ukrainian special representative that some concessions may be inevitable.
At the same time, the Baltic countries and Poland remain the biggest opponents of any transfer of territories to Russia.
12.57 Russian troops have advanced near Yampol, Siversk and Viymka in the Donetsk region. This is reported by DeepState. According to the updated map, the enemy has advanced near Yampol in the Kramatorsk district, Siversk in the Bakhmut district, as well as near the village of Viymka, which is part of the Soledar urban community of the Bakhmut district.
12.56 During 2025, the amount of donations to banks in Mono decreased by 19%, while the funds collected a third more than in the previous three years combined. Last year, the opposite was true - there were fewer donations to funds, but donations to banks were collected better.
12.13 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a meeting with Vladimir Putin, stated that New Delhi is not a neutral party in the Russian-Ukrainian war and supports efforts aimed at establishing peace. This is reported by India Today .
11.54 Emergency shutdowns have been introduced in Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovohrad regions.
11.36 President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Ukrainian volunteers on their holiday. The head of state noted that it is extremely symbolic - Volunteer Day on the eve of the Armed Forces Day of Ukraine, which is celebrated on December 6.
"Ukrainian defense is based on Ukrainian unity, on Ukrainian mutual support. Thank you to everyone who fights for Ukraine! Thank you to everyone who helps! Glory to Ukraine!" - said the president.
11.20 Russian soldiers shot a Ukrainian prisoner of war in Svyato-Pokrovsky, Bakhmut district, Donetsk region. This was reported on December 5 by the analytical project DeepState. The video published by the Russians shows how an assault group of Russian soldiers takes a soldier of the Defense Forces prisoner: the fighter comes out of cover with his hands raised, after which he immediately receives a round from a machine gun and falls on the doorstep of the house.
"The location is of additional interest, as the enemy is already operating beyond the Bakhmutka River. In addition, it is now difficult to understand the real situation in Siversk," the report says.
11.12 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga reported that 21 countries have already joined the PURL program with a total commitment of $4.18 billion.
10.25 Counterintelligence of the Security Service prevented a terrorist attack in Mykolaiv . A Russian agent was detained who, on the orders of the FSB, was preparing to blow up a car with soldiers of the Defense Forces. The man was supposed to plant an improvised explosive device under the official transport of Ukrainian military personnel fighting on the southern front.
SBU officers uncovered the enemy's plans in advance and detained the suspect in a rented apartment while he was setting up a remote-controlled bomb. The Russians' order was carried out by a 20-year-old handyman from Kyiv.
9.56 Fighters of the Ghosts special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine destroyed eight enemy targets in temporarily occupied Crimea in two weeks:
Su-24 front-line bomber;
antenna in a radio-transparent dome;
radar station 39N6 Kasta-2E2;
Orion UAV;
two 48Ya6-K1 Podleot radar stations;
freight train;
Urals of Russian troops.
9.36 The Defense Forces neutralized 80 drones that Russian troops used to attack Ukraine since the evening, enemy hits were recorded in 13 locations. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on December 5.
9.18 On the evening of December 4, Russian troops carried out an attack with strike drones on the territory of one of the facilities in the Osnovyanskyi district of Kharkiv. As a result of the strikes, several fire centers appeared over a significant area. The total area of the fire reached 500 sq. meters. There were no victims or injuries among the population.
9.15 Russian troops attacked the Dnipropetrovsk region with strike drones at night. As a result of the shelling, a 12-year-old child died, there are wounded. This was reported by the head of the Dnipropetrovsk OVA, Vladislav Gaivanenko, on December 5. According to him, in the Synelnyky district, Russian troops targeted the Vasylkivska community with a drone. A 12-year-old boy died. A 37-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man were also injured. They received the necessary medical assistance. As a result of the fire, a private house was destroyed, another was damaged.
8.51 Over the past 24 hours, 167 combat clashes have occurred at the front, with the enemy storming the Pokrovsky direction most intensively. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on December 5. Aviation, missile troops and artillery of the Defense Forces struck two areas of concentration of enemy personnel, weapons and military equipment and three artillery systems.
8.18 In the city of Grozny (Chechnya), an explosion thundered in the building of the Grozny City skyscraper complex. This is reported by Dozhd with reference to the opposition Chechen project NIYSO, as well as the Astra TG channel. It is noted that the explosion destroyed the facade of several floors of the building. According to Astra, the building houses the Security Council of Chechnya, the Accounting Chamber and the Election Commission. As publics write with reference to local residents, it is likely that the cause of the explosion in Grozny could have been a UAV strike.
7.23 The meeting of the Ukrainian and American delegations in Miami has ended. This is reported by Suspilne, citing sources in the delegation. On the Ukrainian side, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov participated in the negotiations.
03.20 At night, UAVs once again attacked the Syzran oil refinery in the Samara region, causing a fire there.
02.24 A fire broke out in the port of Temryuk, in the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation, after a UAV attack. According to preliminary data, the fire occurred at an oil depot in the port, where one of the tanks is on fire.
01.23 Russians launched a massive attack on the Chuguiv community in the evening. Drones attacked a non-working industrial enterprise and a building that had been destroyed by previous shelling. Fires broke out.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] According to the analysts' map, the occupiers have advanced near Siversk, Fedorivka, and Myrnograd.
The Russian army has made progress in the areas of Siversk, Fedorivka, and Myrnograd in the Donetsk region. This was reported on the evening of Friday, December 5, by analysts of the Deepstate project on their Telegram channel.
"The map has been updated. The enemy has advanced near Siversk (Bakhmut district, Donetsk region), Fedorivka (Bakhmut district, Donetsk region) and in Myrnograd (Pokrovsky district, Donetsk region)," the report says.
As a reminder, representatives of the Airborne Assault Forces reported that as of now, Pokrovsk and Myrnograd are not surrounded. The defense forces continue to work on strengthening logistical capabilities and keep important positions under control.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 21:50 Crews of the Tor-M2 anti-aircraft missile systems of the Dnepr force group provideprotection of Russian units during offensive operations in the Orekhovo direction. 21:01 Aerial reconnaissance assets of Tula paratroopers in one of the forest plantations in the Sumy region discovereda stronghold of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, where the enemy was amassing manpower.
The coordinates were transmitted to the crew of a 152mm Msta-B towed gun. The gunners destroyed the target with precise fire.
20:52 Krasnoarmeysk. Assault units have taken up new positions north of the city in the "mouth of the pocket,"MAP
20:34 In the period from 15:00 Moscow time to 20:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty destroyed three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type:
Two over the territory of the Belgorod region and
One over the territory of the Kursk region.
20:31 Advance of the East Group of Forces to the northern outskirts of Gulyaipole, –MAP
19:43 Operators of unmanned systems of the 10th Guards Tank Regiment discovered UAV control point and temporary deployment point of the "Lyut" assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of the village of Berestok.
After receiving the coordinates, the Tornado-S MLRS crew of the Yuzhnaya force group delivered a crushing blow, destroying the target.
18:50 FPV drone crews "Prince Vandal Novgorodsky" of the 106th Airborne Division destroyed ATVs, motor vehicles and self-propelled artillery units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the SVO zone.
Attack UAV operators from the Vostok group destroyed heavy Baba Yaga-type hexacopters, antennas, and control posts for enemy unmanned aircraft in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Drone operators from the 51st Army of the Center group of forces disrupted the rotation of Ukrainian Armed Forces formations in the Krasnoarmeysk direction.
17:44 A crew of the 122mm BM-21 Grad MLRS from the motorized rifle regiment of the 25th Combined Arms Army of the West Group of Forces destroyed Ukrainian Armed Forces drone control point in the Krasnolimansk direction.
15:59 Seversk. The Ukrainian Armed Forces' line of fortifications on the eastern outskirts of Seversk has finally fallen. Assault units have entered the eastern part of Seversk and are fighting in a block of high-rise buildings on Energetikov Street. MAP.
15:53 In the period from 11:00 Moscow time to 15:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed five Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type over the territory of the Belgorod region.
15:43 Crew of the 152mm 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzer of the Center group of forces destroyed an enemy UAV control point for a high-precision Krasnopol-M2 missile in the Dimitrov area of the DPR.
13:48 Calculation of the TOS "Solntsepek" of the "Vostok" group destroyed a Ukrainian Armed Forces stronghold in the area of the village of Gulyaipole.
13:19 Three Ukrainian tanks were destroyed by the 68th Motorized Rifle Division crews in the Khar'kov region,video.
12:49 Summary of the Russian Ministry of Defense on the progress of the special military operation from November 29 to December 5, 2025:
In response to terrorist attacks by Ukraine on civilian targets in Russia from November 29 to December 5, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a massive and four group strikes, which resulted in the destruction of Ukrainian military industry enterprises, fuel and energy facilities that supported their operation, transport and airfield infrastructure used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, production workshops, storage areas, pre-flight preparation and launch sites for long-range strike unmanned aerial vehicles, ammunition depots, rocket fuel, and fuel, as well as temporary deployment points for Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries.
Within a week, as a result of decisive actions by units of the North group of forces, the city of Volchansk in the Khar'kov region was liberated.
In the Khar'kov direction, the manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a National Guard brigade were damaged.
In the Sumy region, three mechanized brigades, a Jaeger brigade, an airborne assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and three territorial defense brigades were defeated.
Over the course of a week, in the area of responsibility of the North group of forces, the enemy lost up to 1,195 servicemen, 12 combat armored vehicles, 73 cars, four field artillery guns, three electronic warfare stations, and six supply depots.
Units of the "West" force grouping have improved their position along the forward edge. They have inflicted losses on the personnel and equipment of five mechanized brigades, an airmobile brigade, two assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, two territorial defense brigades, and two National Guard brigades.
In total, enemy losses in this area amounted to over 1,575 service members, three tanks, 16 armored combat vehicles (including six from NATO countries), 93 vehicles, and 10 field artillery pieces. Twenty-nine ammunition depots and 55 electronic warfare and counter-battery stations were destroyed.
As a result of coordinated actions by units of the Southern Group of Forces, the settlements of Bezymyannoye and Klinovoye in the Donetsk People's Republic were liberated.
Formations of four mechanized, airmobile, assault, airborne assault, mountain assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a naval infantry brigade and two territorial defense brigades were defeated.
Over the past week, Ukrainian armed forces in the Southern Group's area of responsibility have suffered losses of over 1,085 service members, 22 armored combat vehicles (including eight Western-made vehicles), 68 motor vehicles, and 12 field artillery pieces. Eight electronic warfare and counter-battery stations, as well as 24 ammunition, fuel, and supply depots, have been destroyed.
Within a week, units of the Center group of forces completed the liberation of the city of Krasnoarmeysk in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The manpower and equipment of seven mechanized brigades, an infantry brigade, two ranger brigades, an airmobile brigade, an airborne brigade, two assault brigades, a mountain assault brigade, three airborne assault brigades, an unmanned systems brigade, three assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, two naval infantry brigades, two territorial defense brigades, and four national guard brigades were damaged.
The enemy's losses in this direction amounted to more than 3,265 military personnel, 11 combat armored vehicles, including three Western-made, 17 automobiles and seven field artillery pieces.
Units of the "East" force group continued to advance deep into the enemy's defenses. The settlements of Zeleny Hai, Dobropillya, and Chervone in the Zaporizhzhia region were liberated.
Defeat was inflicted on the formations of three mechanized brigades, two assault brigades, three assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and two territorial defense brigades.
Over the past week, in the area of responsibility of the Eastern Group of Forces, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost over 1,515 servicemen, 14 tanks and armored combat vehicles, 77 vehicles, three field artillery pieces, and four ammunition and supply depots.
Units of the Dnipro Forces Group have improved their tactical position in the Zaporizhzhia region. Formations of two mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade, three coastal defense brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a territorial defense brigade have been defeated.
Up to 415 servicemen, two tanks, an armored combat vehicle, 81 vehicles, three field artillery pieces, four unmanned boats, 13 electronic warfare stations, 16 ammunition, fuel and supply depots were destroyed.
12:36 As a result of coordinated actions of the units of the Southern group of forces released the settlement of Bezymyannoye in the Donetsk People's Republic.
12:09 American Humvee armored fighting vehicle destroyed by Rubicon crew,video.
11:51 The North Group of Forces is advancing in Liman and the adjacent forest,MAP.
11:48 Destruction of several antitank missile systems of the 33rd separate regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at once with FAB-500s in the village of Gulyaipole,video.
10:05 Assault units of the 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the North group of forces after the liberation of Vovchansk perform tasks to eliminate scattered enemy groups in suburban areas, private sectors and forest belts adjacent to the settlement.
08:39 Destruction of the Ukrainian self-propelled gun "Bogdan" by Severyan drones, –video.
07:33 Changes on map over the past 24 hours:
Advance west of Zelenovo Gaya\
Mayskoye was liberated
07:17 During the past night, in the period from 23:00 Moscow time on December 4 to 7:00 on December 5, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 41 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the fixed-wing type:
Nine UAVs over the territory of the Samara region,
Nine UAVs over the territory of the Republic of Crimea,
Eight UAVs over the territory of the Saratov region,
Seven UAVs over the territory of the Volgograd region,
Seven UAVs over the territory of the Rostov region, and
One UAV over the territory of the Krasnodar region.
05:01 Crew of the 152mm Msta-B howitzer of the separate motorized rifle brigade of the Southern group of forces destroyed enemy UAV control center.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The Gambian-flagged tanker Kairos is in distress near the town of Ahtopol in the southern Bulgarian Black Sea region after an attack by the Ukrainian Sea Baby unmanned marine vessel.
Is she part of Russia’s ghost fleet, carrying Russian oil to faraway customers?
This was reported on December 5 by maritime.bg.
There are 10 people on board the vessel. Their lives are not in danger, the publication wrote.
Following a drone attack on November 28, the Kairos lost power. Towing began on December 3, but was stopped without explanation on December 5. The tanker was abandoned in Bulgarian waters, approximately one mile from the coast.
Strong winds and seas reaching force four developed in the area where the Kairos was anchored. The crew requested evacuation, but due to adverse weather conditions, the rescue operation was postponed until the morning of December 6.
There is no information regarding the nationality of the crew members. The Burgas city administration noted that there is no threat of an environmental disaster, as the tanker is carrying no cargo.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
