Latest news from across Ukraine. Politics, economy, society, war, reforms
A tragedy occurred in the village of Bilohorodka in Bucha district — the bodies of three people were found in a private home, the prosecutor’s office reported.
Why are so many thoughtful people around the world today trying to understand the nature and causes of the rise of Trumpism? Perhaps because there is already a clear understanding—or, if not understanding, then at least a feeling—that this will not end well.
Bandurist, member of the Cultural Forces, soloist of the NAONI orchestra, People's Artist of Ukraine Taras Stolyar spoke about the combination of art and service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He performed for Riccardo Muti in Italy, played with Sting in Malibu, and traveled with a cultural landing party to the front. Art became a weapon in the fight for Ukraine.
The Saint Nicholas Residence was held in the Bilohorod community and was attended by more than 1,000 children. The youngsters wrote letters, took part in workshops, and received gifts. Among the guests were internally displaced children from the Soledar community.
BBC News Ukraine has announced the laureates of the 21st BBC Book of the Year 2025. Lena Lyagushonkova's novel won the top prize; Myroslav Layuk prevailed in essays, and Kateryna Shtanko in the children's category. The contest is supported by an EBRD programme; the jury selected winners from 41 publications. Separately, the Financial Times named Steven Witt's book about Nvidia the best business book of 2025.
The president did not rule out the existence of agreements between the United States and Russia to keep Ukraine out of the Alliance, described the U.S. position as consistent and expressed the expectation that, over time, details of the negotiations may emerge; he also touched on the issue of the EU.
In November, Ukraine's real GDP growth rose to 5.3% compared with 2.3% in October. The increase was driven by the agricultural sector, domestic trade, construction and manufacturing; public spending and international support also contributed.
The President said that the United States did not set clear deadlines for concluding a peace agreement; Washington allegedly sought to reach an understanding by Christmas. He also outlined the key provisions of the proposed plan.
The President said that in the current version of the peace plan the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is listed as 800,000; this, he said, was agreed with the military and corresponds to current figures.
The National Bank assesses that power shortages are pushing inflation up, but a decline in consumer demand due to worsening security is partially offsetting that pressure; final conclusions will be drawn in January.
Researchers using AlphaFold 3 identified the protein OPG153 in the monkeypox virus. The antigen elicited potent neutralizing antibodies in mice, opening prospects for simpler and safer vaccines.
The National Bank of Ukraine kept its key rate at 15.5% amid uncertainty over external financing, notably a delay in a reparations loan, and elevated inflation expectations. November inflation was 9.3% year‑on‑year.
Colombian singer Shakira shared a review of "Zootopia 2", but autocorrect replaced the title with an inappropriate word that quickly became an internet meme. Separately, it was reported that police are investigating singer Psy on suspicion of obtaining psychotropic drugs through intermediaries.
The James Webb Space Telescope has, for the first time, recorded the light of a supernova that exploded about 13 billion years ago — roughly 730 million years after the Big Bang. The explosion was accompanied by the gamma-ray burst GRB 250314A; the burst was detected by the SVOM and Swift satellites.
The SBU and NABU exposed officials of a state-owned plant for embezzling UAH 102 million during procurement of dynamic protection for tanks; the cases involve Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Starting December 11, the UAH 1,000 from the "Winter Support" program must be spent on Ukrainian-made food products using the "National Cashback" card. There are restrictions on eligible goods, retail chains and the timeframes for use.
In initial drafts of the U.S. plan, it was proposed to create a neutral demilitarized zone in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, from which Ukrainian forces would be withdrawn while Russian forces would remain in place; Kyiv warns of the risk of a frozen conflict.
Vitaliy Petruk was appointed the 13th deputy minister of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture. The mega-ministry was created in July 2025 by merging three agencies and has a staff of about 1,500 employees.
The Main Intelligence Directorate and the Ministry of Youth and Sports released information on more than 20 Russian athletes linked to CSKA and the Russian National Guard who visited occupied territories, support the war, and are seeking to participate in the 2026 Olympics.
The sole buyer of the claims on Ukrlandfarming’s loans was Fintonik LLC. The sale was conducted by Dutch auction: the starting price was UAH 5.04 billion, the final price UAH 1.14 billion. The collateral comprised production assets and guarantees.
Oleksandr Usyk took fourth place in The Ring's ranking of the best pound-for-pound boxers of the 21st century. Vasyl Lomachenko is eighth, and Floyd Mayweather was ranked first. Usyk's team plans his return in 2026; he vacated the WBO title on 17 November 2025.
On the night of December 11, drones struck energy facilities in Kremenchuk district and in Odesa region. Fires broke out and infrastructure was damaged; emergency responders were dealing with the aftermath with the participation of a firefighting train and more than 50 firefighters.
The day after Donald Trump's statement, President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with lawmakers the question of holding elections during martial law, emphasizing the need for clear answers to security and legal issues.
Starting January 1, 2026, a national screening for people aged 40 and over will begin. The program is allocated 10 billion hryvnias; 2,000 hryvnias will be credited to each participant's card to pay for examinations.
The President signed the 2026 budget, with revenues of UAH 2.92 trillion and a deficit of UAH 1.9 trillion. Expenditures total UAH 4.78 trillion, a significant share allocated to defense; the budget provides for increases in social standards.
British writer Sophie Kinsella (real name Madeleine Wickham) died at the age of 55 after a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. She sold more than 50 million books and was best known for the Shopaholic series.
On 9 December in Ukraine, 28-year-old Lance Corporal George Guli of the Parachute Regiment was killed. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the incident occurred away from the front line while he was observing the testing of new weaponry.
A study by AI House, supported by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, outlines the composition of Ukrainian AI specialists: their numbers, experience, education, employment geography, and principal needs through 2030.
The Bilohorodska community signed a memorandum with the Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery. The agreement provides for referring patients for cardiac surgical care, outreach consultations by specialists, and the professional development of local medical staff.
The bank has opened a credit line of up to €100 million for affordable housing projects under the "Steps to Prosperity" platform. The first tranche — €7.1 million — will finance 182 apartments in Kyiv Oblast, with plans to scale to about 1,800 units by 2029.
Over three weeks in release, the film "You — Cosmos" grossed UAH 37.7 million and drew 208,683 viewers. In its opening weekend the box office totaled UAH 8.7 million, with about 47,000 attendees.
Soldiers of the 5th Separate Assault Brigade used the Droid TW 12.7 system against a crewed Russian MT-LB. Manufacturer DevDroid says this is the first documented case of an armored vehicle being struck by a ground robot; video has been released and the platform’s technical specifications have been provided.
According to the State Statistics Service’s preliminary estimate, real GDP in July–September 2025 rose 2.1% year‑on‑year; quarter‑on‑quarter growth was 0.8%. The National Bank of Ukraine forecasts annual growth of 1.9%.
In 2025 rental prices in Ukraine rose almost everywhere. The highest rates for one-bedroom apartments were in Uzhhorod, Lviv and Kyiv; Kropyvnytskyi recorded the largest year-on-year increase — +33%. Several other cities also saw substantial rises.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has completed its investigation into the former head of the Oblast Military Administration and other individuals suspected of embezzling more than UAH 392 million during road repairs.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian forces have switched to a corps-level command model, are adjusting unit complements to match the actual makeup of the corps, and have begun rotating brigades where the combat situation allows.
The International Finance Corporation is investing in the equity of two Ukrainian insurers — Knyazha and the Ukrainian Insurance Group (USG), acquiring 20% stakes in each company. This is IFC's first entry into Ukraine’s insurance sector.
The largest building of the "Temp" factory has received permission to be redeveloped into a multifunctional shopping center with two above-ground floors and one underground level.
Serhiy Lapin, director of the team of WBA, WBC, IBF and IBO champion Oleksandr Usyk, said the boxer will return to the ring in 2026. Manager Egis Klimas is expected to announce details soon. Earlier, Usyk knocked out Dubois and vacated the WBO title.
Sixty-five percent of the population of occupied Enerhodar have left the city during the occupation. Mayor Dmytro Orlov said people fled in waves after the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, sham elections and the Kakhovka blast; humanitarian hubs are operating in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro and Kyiv.
Zelensky said he was ready to hold elections in response to Trump's remarks. The U.S. president said it was time to hold elections in Ukraine, since they had not been held for a long time. This was voiced during negotiations over a peace plan.
Ukraine national team and Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin was placed fifth in the updated CIES Football Observatory ranking of goalkeepers; his market value was estimated at €45.2 million.
Zelensky said he trusts the American allies in negotiations to end the war. The United States genuinely seeks to stop the conflict, but has its own vision. For Ukraine, it is important not only to end the war, but also to secure conditions that prevent its recurrence.
Non‑pro‑Ukrainian items were removed from the American peace plan. Zelensky confirmed the document was shortened from 28 to 20 points. No compromise on territorial issues has yet been found; the United States is intent on seeking an agreement.
The Bilohorodska community allocated UAH 2 million to the National Guard, where local residents serve. It also approved a joint project with its German twin town to purchase a sludge suction truck and ratified cost estimates for major repairs to the outpatient clinic and the sewage system.
On December 4, 1991, the Central Election Commission for the election of the President of Ukraine and for the all‑Ukrainian referendum issued Resolution No. 60. The resolution states: "The Act proclaiming the independence of Ukraine shall be considered confirmed."
Near Alexandria, a pleasure vessel matching Strabo's descriptions has been found. The ship was discovered by the submerged island of Antirhodos at a depth of about 7 m and buried under 1.5 m of sediment; the research is being carried out by IEASM under the direction of Frank Goddio.
On Armed Forces Day, the Bilohorodska community held the Ukrainian Tug-of-War Championship. Fifty teams from various regions took part. The village head took charge of the federation’s regional branch for the sport in Kyiv Oblast.
Zelensky said that participants in the negotiations do not have a shared vision for Donbas. The United States, Russia and Ukraine see the future of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions differently. Kyiv is insisting on a separate agreement on security guarantees.
Mykhailo Klymenko, co‑founder and vocalist of ADAM, has died after a battle with tuberculous meningitis. The musician had been in a coma for an extended period; daily treatment costs exceeded UAH 25,000. Details of the farewell will be announced later.
In the 50m freestyle final, Sheremet clocked 20.81 seconds, setting a new Ukrainian senior record and a world junior record. This is Ukraine's first medal in this event at the European Short Course Championships in 11 years.
After the launch of monoBazar in the monobank app, users added 17,000 listings in the first three hours, the bank's co‑founder said. The service is operating in beta and offers storefronts, automatic descriptions, installment payments and payment protection.
The concept of the "red line" originates from the Battle of Balaclava in 1854, when the 93rd Scottish Regiment halted a Russian attack. A thin line of riflemen in red uniforms became the symbol of the final line of defense in international politics.
The mission of Witkoff and Kushner failed due to a lack of diplomatic competence. Trump entrusted negotiations with Putin to a developer and an investor, demonstrating the Dunning–Kruger effect at the level of the U.S. president.
Twenty-five families in the Bilohorod community will receive compensation for housing damaged in the enemy attack on November 29. The village council allocated UAH 587,000 for restoration. Aid for military personnel and residents under other programs was also approved.
The Diia.Education platform won a gold award in the "Lifelong Learning" category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2025. The project advanced through several evaluation stages among more than 1,600 participants and was recognized for facilitating skills acquisition.
The State Property Fund has scheduled an auction for December 10 with a starting price of UAH 207.6 million for the property complex "Slavutskyi Budfarfor Combine," which occupies more than 80,000 sq. m and comprises 38 buildings.
The holiday observed today, December 6 according to the New Julian calendar, is dedicated to mercy and gifts. The text describes the origins of Saint Nicholas, regional customs in Ukraine, and traditional prohibitions.
In 2025, transfers to monobank's "banks" fell by 19%, while the three largest charitable funds received a record UAH 105.87 billion — 37% more than in the previous three years combined.
Ukraine will update a 1:500,000-scale metallogenic map and complete the "Derzhgeolkarta-200" program in cooperation with the British Geological Survey; the sides also agreed on specialist training and the creation of a working group on critical minerals.
The Ministry of Culture designated several NGOs and companies as critically important to the economy, including Wikimedia Ukraine, Slidstvo.Info and the "Ye" bookstore chain. It also confirmed the status for a number of media outlets and publishers.
The Recovery Agency announced plans to prepare design documentation for a road through Polianytsia to Bukovel. Construction and financing of major works have been postponed until the end of the war; tenders and design work are currently underway.
Neqsol, which in 2024 acquired OGHK for almost UAH 4 billion, plans to invest in the company far more than the amounts stipulated by the privatization terms and to develop deep processing of raw materials.
On December 4, the UNESCO Committee supported Ukraine's proposal and added 19 sites to the International List of Cultural Property under Enhanced Protection. The total number of Ukrainian monuments on the list has increased to 46, the minister of culture reported.
For 2026, the Ministry of Digital Transformation has been allocated UAH 10.16 billion. About 73% of the funding will be directed to grants for defense technologies, with the remainder going to digital services, registries, anti‑corruption initiatives and AI.
As of November 25, as a result of Russian aggression in Ukraine, 1,630 monuments and 2,437 cultural infrastructure sites have been damaged or destroyed. Kharkiv, Kherson and Odesa regions were the hardest hit. More than 670,000 museum items have been evacuated.
The adopted budget gives the Finance Ministry the right to swap government bonds held by the National Bank of Ukraine. The central bank will agree only to a partial operation; talks are underway to exchange inflation-indexed OVDPs of 2017 with a nominal value of UAH 145.2 billion for new securities with a more favorable rate.
European diving champion Sofia Lyskun has been stripped of her place on the national team and all her sporting awards after announcing her move to Russia and acquiring citizenship there. The federation says it will appeal to international bodies.
At the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, organizers received the torch that launches the 63-day relay across Italy ahead of the Games’ opening on February 6. The ceremony was held in a shortened format due to forecasts of heavy rain.
The Turkish energy minister said that during the November meeting the issue of Ankara’s assistance with supplying gas to Ukraine was raised. BOTAŞ and Naftogaz are working on mechanisms, and Ukraine has large underground storage facilities.
In November, Ukraine’s international reserves rose by more than 10% — to $54.75 billion, setting a new record. The increase was driven by large international inflows, a decline in the NBU’s net foreign‑currency sales and support for imports.
The National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Federation of Skating Sports have appealed to the IOC and the ISU, calling on them to review the eligibility of Petro Humennyk and Adelya Petrosyan for international competitions, including the 2026 Olympics, because of their support for the war.
Parliament passed two bills exempting from VAT the importation of components and equipment for UAVs, electronic warfare systems, demining machines and other defense equipment; they also set out accounting rules and the duration of the exemptions.
The Ukrainian Grain Association estimates the 2025 harvest at 81.4 million tonnes (versus 79 million in 2024). Potential exports total 49 million tonnes, but shipments could be complicated by attacks on infrastructure; a crop-by-crop breakdown and a forecast for 2026 are included.
At a border crossing in Volyn, a woman attempted to bring in 23 iPhone 17 Pro Max (256/512 GB) without declaring them. The devices were seized, and an administrative report under Article 471 of the Customs Code of Ukraine was drawn up against the driver; she agreed to a settlement and must pay a fine.
Ukrposhta has issued the stamp "Strength in Fire"; the design was created by Mykhailo Dyachenko of the 406th Separate Artillery Brigade. The print run is 400,000 copies; the stamps are available at post offices and online. Ihor Smilianskyi and Serhii Musiienko were present at the stamp's unveiling.
The retail real estate market is recovering: dozens of shopping centers under construction account for about 1 million square meters, investors are focusing on smaller projects, and capitalization rates have surpassed 2021 levels.
Sofiya Lyskun announced she had obtained a Russian passport and intends to compete for Russia. The athlete said the decision stemmed from dissatisfaction with the training conditions in the Ukrainian national team and mentioned a conflict related to coaching ties.
After eight years at Microsoft, Leonid Polupan has become the CEO of systems integrator Seeton in Ukraine and Azerbaijan as of December 1. Yevhen Kahanovskyi has assumed interim responsibilities at Microsoft for the Baltics and Ukraine.
Over six months, PlayCity shut down more than 2,500 illegal online casinos, removed over 280 social media pages, fined bloggers and media outlets more than UAH 52 million, and secured over UAH 1.4 billion from licenses.