Ukraine Invasion: Part 59

[MagicFox]

Well, it’s thread 59.

Thanks to all regular contributors, especially those doing the daily hard work. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

Agreed thread guidance:

A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

B. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content

C. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful

D. Please keep on topic

Ok...sorry to appear to be a continual doubting Thomas about some of this, but the authorities don't know where these drones actually came from, and don't appear to have captured one.

I'll accept there may well have been drones of some sort involved.... but the article claims:

"Ireland’s security services have found that the drones in the Irish Sea were large, hugely expensive, of military specification"

How have they established this?

Visuals?

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

🇧🇪🇩🇪 Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has confirmed an urgent meeting with German Chancellor Merz regarding the EU’s plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
Belgium, which holds most of the frozen Russian assets, rejected this week’s EU proposal to use Russian central bank funds to cover Ukraine’s financial needs.

🇬🇧 The UK is ready to transfer €9 billion in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, The Times reports.
These funds are expected to become part of the reparations loan that the EU and its partners are creating to support Ukraine.
London is currently working to agree on a transfer mechanism with Canada and the EU. In total, the UK has frozen €28.6 billion in Russian assets.

🇺🇸 The US has updated its national security strategy, stating that its primary interest is ending military action in Ukraine.
The document also includes the following points:
▫️ The top priority in Europe is restoring strategic stability with Russia.
▫️ The US wants NATO to stop being perceived as an “ever-expanding Alliance.”
▫️ The US wants Europe to defend itself, and the US administration to be “in conflict” with European officials.
▫️ The Indo-Pacific region will become one of the key geopolitical and economic fronts of this century.
▫️ The US should focus only on non-strategic goods when trading with China.

On December 3, the UN General Assembly demanded that russia unconditionally returns all kidnapped Ukrainian children.
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock emphasized that russia’s actions in Ukraine are not just a tragedy, but a violation of international law.

France’s President Macron has proposed that China support a moratorium on strikes against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure during the winter, he said at a press conference with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
He noted that this is crucial ahead of the winter season, as civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, continues to come under Russian fire.

🤬 The US has allowed transactions with 2,000 Lukoil gas stations outside Russia until April.
The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Russia-related General License 128B, permitting certain transactions involving Lukoil retail gas stations located outside Russia, the department reported.
The license is valid until April 29, 2026.
According to Reuters, the authorization covers about 2,000 gas stations across Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and South and North America.

OSINT researcher Brady Africk shared satellite images of the Afipsky Oil Refinery in Russia after Ukrainian drone strikes on the night of November 30.
As a reminder, the General Staff confirmed the strike at the time, reporting explosions and a fire at the facility following the attack.
That same night, drones also targeted the Beriev Aircraft Repair Plant in Taganrog, where Tu-95 bombers and A-50 aircraft are modernized.

🤡Putin claimed that Russia did not occupy Crimea but merely “came to the aid” of its residents, because it “could not act otherwise.”

The International Sambo Federation (FIAS) has allowed Russian athletes to compete under their own flag.
Federation President Vasily Shestakov boasted that FIAS is “one of the few” organizations that has permitted Russians and Belarusians to compete in neutral status since 2022.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Ukraine's top security officials meet US negotiators (kyivindependent.com/ukraines-top-security-official-meets-witkoff-kushner-in-miami-to-discuss-peace-talks/) in Miami amid peace push.
The visit comes amid a surge of diplomatic efforts after the U.S. backed a 28-point plan that many viewed as effectively pushing Ukraine toward capitulation in Russia's all-out war.

⚡️ New US strategy document takes hard line (kyivindependent.com/new-us-strategy-document-takes-hard-line-on-europes-trajectory-nato-expansion/) on Europe's 'trajectory,' NATO expansion.
The document says that it is in the U.S. interest to "negotiate an expeditious cessation of hostilities in Ukraine" to enable the country's post-war recovery, stabilization of European economies, and to "reestablish strategic stability with Russia." [and try to force the EU to buy US weopons?]

⚡️ Ukraine war latest live (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2025-12-4/): Ukraine holds northern Pokrovsk, prevents Russian attempts to bypass city, Syrskyi says.

⚡️Unidentified drones reported near Zelensky's arrival route in Dublin (kyivindependent.com/unidentified-drones-reported-near-zelensky-arrival-route-in-dublin/), Irish media say.
Irish outlet The Journal reported on Dec. 4 that four unidentified, “military-style” drones were seen breaching a no-fly zone near the expected flight path of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s plane as it arrived in Ireland earlier in the week, according to unnamed security sources.

⚡️ Cyprus's president meets Zelensky (kyivindependent.com/cypruss-president-meets-zelensky-in-kyiv-as-nicosia-set-to-chair-eu-council/) in Kyiv as Nicosia prepares to chair EU Council.

Who is Dan Driscoll, ‘JD Vance’s man’ leading talks with Ukraine (kyivindependent.com/who-is-dan-driscoll-jd-vances-man-leading-ukraine-talks/)
Dan Driscoll, the U.S. army secretary known as an ardent advocate of military modernization, was thrust into an unexpected role as Washington’s leading negotiator in Ukraine.
Despite having no prior diplomatic experience, the 39-year-old Pentagon official remains a key figure in the ongoing talks as Ukraine pushes for a better deal.

⚡️FIFA ordered European clubs to ignore Russia sanctions (https://kyivindependent.com/fifa-ordered-european-clubs-to-ignore-russia-sanctions-investigation-finds/), investigation finds.
Football clubs are forced to pay outstanding transfer fees even if doing so runs the risk of violating banking restrictions and sanctions against Russia.

Ukraine merges military procurement agencies (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-merges-military-procurement-agencies-defying-previous-nato-advice/), defying previous NATO advice.
Ukraine’s lethal and non-lethal military equipment procurement agencies will merge into one under the Defense Ministry from Jan. 1, going against NATO’s recommendations last year and raising eyebrows among anti-corruption activists.

⚡️Russian strikes on Kherson (kyivindependent.com/russian-strikes-on-kherson-heating-plant-leave-over-40-000-residents-in-the-cold/) heating plant leave over 40,000 residents in the cold.
The closure came after several days of sustained attacks by drones and artillery, targeting the halls and equipment of the plant, according to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

⚡️ Russian MiG-29 fighter jet destroyed in HUR drone attack (kyivindependent.com/russian-mig-29-fighter-jet-destroyed-in-hur-drone-attack-on-crimea/) on Crimea

⚡️Ukraine hits Russian seaport, oil refinery (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-hits-russian-seaport-oil-refinery-in-reported-drone-strikes/) in reported drone strikes.
A fire caused damage to facilities at the Temryuk port in Krasnodar Krai, a major Russian hub and oil export terminal. Locals also reported explosions at the Syzran Oil Refinery in Samara Oblast.

⚡️ Ukraine war latest live (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2025-12-4/): Kyiv struck over 50 Russian strategic targets in autumn 2025, satellite images shows.

⚡️US imposes $7 million penalty on company connected to sanctioned Russian oligarch (kyivindependent.com/us-imposes-7-million-penalty-on-company-connected-to-sanctioned-russian-oligarch/).
The U.S. Treasury Department has fined New York–based property manager Gracetown Inc. more than $7 million for accepting payments tied to a company owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

⚡️7 Ukrainian children abducted to Russia returned (kyivindependent.com/seven-more-ukrainian-children-reunited-with-families-melania-trump-said/) in initiative backed by Melania Trump
Seven more children previously taken to Russia have been returned to their families in Ukraine, U.S. first lady Melania Trump said in a Dec. 4 statement.

⚡️ Ukrainian lawmaker exposed (kyivindependent.com/anti-corruption-agencies-sbu-uncovers-criminal-group-led-by-ukrainian-lawmaker/) as leading criminal group, anti-corruption agencies say.
Ukrainska Pravda, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the lawmaker is Anna Skorokhod from the For the Future party, who is suspected of taking a large bribe.
Skorokhod said her home was being searched by law enforcement officers.

⚡️Czech POW sentenced (kyivindependent.com/czech-pow-sentenced-to-13-years-jail-by-russian-court-for-fighting-for-ukraine/) to 13 years in jail by Russian court for fighting for Ukraine.
21-year-old Czech-Vietnamese volunteer soldier Hoang Tran was captured in the village of Chervonyi Lyman, north of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, in August 2025.

⚡️Draft officer fatally (kyivindependent.com/draft-officer-fatally-wounded-in-lviv-during-papers-check/) stabbed in Lviv during papers check.
According to the military, the man refused to present his documents, acted aggressively, and eventually stabbed the officer in the groin, causing a critical bleed.

‪Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 3h
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE & RUSSIA — DEC 5, 2025
■ Highest casualties in months, while engagements were below the 7-day average
■ Notable drone losses; first aircraft loss this month
■ Triple-digit overnight attacks, all drones; interception rate could be better, 13 locations hit
■ Increased strikes on both sides; the 30-day 🇷🇺/🇺🇦 strike ratio is at its highest level to date

Ok for some reason adding images isn't working.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

US has betrayed Ukraine and Europe — leaked call between Macron, Scholz, Stubb, Stoltenberg and Zelensky.
A leaked transcript of a high-level phone call between the leaders of France, Germany, Finland, NATO, and President Volodymyr Zelensky reveals deep alarm in Europe over US actions in the ongoing peace talks, according to Der Spiegel.

Belgian Prime Minister issued a stark warning on Monday, saying the EU’s plan to seize frozen Russian sovereign assets could provoke (www.kyivpost.com/post/65576) harsh retaliation from Moscow — and vowed to block the move unless member states agree to shoulder the risk together.

The United States has urged Europe to block the use of Russia’s frozen assets to provide a loan to Ukraine, arguing that “these resources are needed to secure a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow and should not be used to prolong the war,” Bloomberg reports.

Trump downplays Russian drone incursion into Poland as a “mistake,” drawing sharp rebuke from allies. (www.kyivpost.com/post/59943)
Poland rejects his claim, with top diplomat saying: “No, that wasn’t a mistake.” Analysts tell Kyiv Post that Trump’s unwillingness to confront Moscow is a “fatal weakness” for NATO.

Britain and Norway have unveiled a powerful new defense pact (www.kyivpost.com/post/65595) that will fuse elements of their navies into a joint force charged with hunting Russian submarines and shielding the undersea cables that keep the North Atlantic connected.
The move comes as Russian naval activity surges — with the UK reporting a 30 percent spike in sightings near its waters over the past two years

A decision on the new head of the Presidential Office will be made in the near future, Zelensky said, adding that several additional consultations took place today.
As reported earlier, the most likely candidates include Defence Minister Shmyhal and First Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov.

Ukraine’s largest mobile operator Kyivstar has become the first in Europe to launch Starlink’s (www.kyivpost.com/post/65489) direct-to-cell satellite technology, enabling millions to stay connected amid wartime blackouts and damaged infrastructure.

Paperwork bottlenecks are putting thousands of Ukrainians in the US at risk of losing their jobs, (www.kyivpost.com/post/65542) as a backlog in federal processing delays essential work permit renewals.
A policy advocate tells Kyiv Post that these legally employed Ukrainians are being harmed not by immigration law itself, but by a stalled government system unable to keep up with demand.

Airlines are preparing to return to the Ukrainian market, the Financial Times reports.
As peace talks progress, Wizz Air, Ryanair and EasyJet are already working on plans to resume flights.
Ryanair says it could restart operations just two weeks after any peace agreement is reached.

A Ukrainian drone crashed into the Grozny-City skyscraper (www.kyivpost.com/post/65645) in central Chechnya early Friday, setting off a massive explosion that ripped through several floors of one of the region’s most famous high-rises.
The tower stands right beside the FSB’s Chechnya headquarters — a likely intended target — before the drone was apparently diverted, possibly by Russian electronic-warfare systems.

Many in Ukraine expect a power vacuum after the departure of Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, from the presidential office – but why is it such a big deal? (www.kyivpost.com/analysis/65660)

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

❗️European leaders warned Zelensky in a conversation that the US might betray Ukraine, Spiegel writes.
German journalists say they obtained the transcript of an online meeting that took place on December 1st — after the meeting of the Ukrainian and US delegations in Florida. Here are the main statements of the leaders cited by the media outlet.
🔴French President Emmanuel Macron: "There is a possibility that the US will betray Ukraine on the issue of territories without clarity regarding security guarantees."
🔴German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Zelensky must be "extremely careful in the coming days." "They are playing games with both you and us," he stated, presumably referring to the American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
🔴President of Finland Alexander Stubb: "We cannot leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys."
🔴NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte agreed with Stubb: "I am of the same opinion as Alexander, we must protect Volodymyr."
The fact of the call was confirmed to journalists by several sources. Macron's press service denied the statements about a possible US betrayal, and German authorities refused to comment on the transcript. The Office of the President of Ukraine stated that they "do not comment on 'disinformation dumps'."

🇨🇾🇺🇦The President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, during a visit to Kyiv on Thursday, promised support for Ukraine's path to the EU within the framework of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on January 1st and will last for six months.

[...]
In total, human rights activists have documented 165 camps in Russia, Belarus, and the DPRK where children are being militarized and Russified.
▪️Ukraine has officially confirmed that Russia has abducted nearly 19.5 thousand Ukrainian children. Russia itself claims to have taken out 744 thousand children. Only about 1,800 have been successfully returned to Ukraine.

🇬🇧UK stated that Putin personally ordered the poisoning of the Skripals with "Novichok." The country introduced new sanctions against the Russian Federation.
Today, the final investigation report on the death of British citizen Dawn Sturgess was presented in Britain. She became an accidental victim of the assassination attempt on former GRU officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in 2018.
According to the investigation, Russian spies stored the poison in a perfume bottle and then discarded it. Sturgess's boyfriend found the bottle, and she used it.
The report emphasized that Putin personally sanctioned the operation and declared his "moral responsibility." Blame for Sturgess's death was placed on the GRU, and sanctions were introduced against the agency itself and 11 of its employees.

Russia once again attacked Ukraine with missiles and drones. What is known at this time.
🔴Kherson Oblast. Over the past day, 11 people were wounded and private houses were damaged due to Russian strikes.
🔴Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. A 12-year-old boy was killed as a result of the Russian attack, and a 37-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man were wounded.
🔴Zaporizhzhia. Russian troops inflicted 776 strikes on 23 settlements in the region during the day.
🔴Donetsk Oblast. Russians wounded 7 residents of the region from Lyman, Kostiantynivka, Sloviansk, and Rai-Oleksandrivka.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251205-new-trump-strategy-vows-shift-from-global-role-to-regional

As Trump seeks an end to the Ukraine war that would likely favor Russia gaining territory, the strategy accused Europeans of weakness and said the United States should focus on "ending the perception, and preventing the reality, of NATO as a perpetually expanding alliance."

Hi, if that's a response to my "how have they esstablished" so much info on drones they don't have and can't track that well IMHO it's iffy.

You can't get the onfo being claimed with mark one eyeball and one common feature of all these recent scares is a lack of recorded imaging - it would be nice to see an image of something, even if detail might have to be redacted...

TBH just in general if the authorities generic are sending people out, even supposedly experienced observers, in the vicinity of airports with a brief along of "look for threats, including drones" there's massive scope for confirmation bias.

"▪️Ukraine has officially confirmed that Russia has abducted nearly 19.5 thousand Ukrainian children. Russia itself claims to have taken out 744 thousand children."

So Russia is admitting to having kidnapped far more children than Ukraine has been able to verify? This surprises me.

⚡️FIFA ordered European clubs to ignore Russia sanctions (https://kyivindependent.com/fifa-ordered-european-clubs-to-ignore-russia-sanctions-investigation-finds/), investigation finds.
Football clubs are forced to pay outstanding transfer fees even if doing so runs the risk of violating banking restrictions and sanctions against Russia

It's almost as though big business sports organisations couldn't give a fig for he suffering of innocent civilians.

Between FIFA, IOC and (most recently) IJF you would think Russia is a civilised, reasonable, rational country. This is being supported by Putins puppet, aka the orange toddler, aka taco.

The clubs should tell them to get to fuck.

WTF, released yesterday edition.cnn.com/2025/12/05/politics/trump-national-security-strategy

FIFA have decided to give Sleepy Donzales a "peace prize" they've just made up. Presumably it's an attempt to stop him from nicking the World Cup trophy.

www.theguardian.com/football/2025/dec/05/fifa-peace-prize-trump-world-cup-infantino

“The United States must be preeminent in the Western Hemisphere as a condition of our security and prosperity—a condition that allows us to assert ourselves confidently where and when we need to in the region,” the document says

While throwing out old alliances and guarentees.

Hello Empire of the US - no friend to Europe. But to stop Europe's star sinking it would have to genuinely work together with and plan with foresight.

@notimagain more drone incursions

It really does seem like there is a pattern here. Not all the sightings might be Russian - maybe some are just shit stirrers - but the ISW at least seem to think the pattern is hostile.

Five unidentified drones flew over a major French nuclear submarine base on the evening of December 4 amid increasing reports of drones flying over European military infrastructure. French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed on December 5 that the French military used unspecified means to intercept the drones over the Île Longue base in Finistère, which houses France’s four nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).[19] French military sources told Agence France-Presse that French marines opened fire on the drones, but other French media sources suggested that French authorities attempted to jam the drones.[20] French officials have not officially attributed the drones to a specific actor as of this writing. Several sources noted that an unspecified number of drones also flew over the Crozon peninsula — where the Île Longue base is located — on the evening of November 17 to 18 but the drones did not enter restricted military airspace.[21] The December 4 drone sightings are part of a newly observed pattern of aerial incursions into NATO airspace, possibly with the purpose of reconnoitering known European military bases and defense infrastructure.[22] ISW continues to assess that Russia is increasingly engaging in covert and overt attacks against Europe and that ongoing Russian and suspected Russian airspace violations are likely part of Russia’s “Phase Zero” effort — Russia’s broader informational and psychological condition-setting effort that aims to prepare for a possible NATO-Russia war in the future.[23]

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights.

⚡️ Putin wraps up first India visit in 4 years (kyivindependent.com/putin-wraps-up-first-india-visit-in-4-years-touts-privileged-partnership-on-oil-defense/), touts 'privileged partnership' on oil, defense.
President Vladimir Putin said Russia would continue supplying fuel to India's "rapidly growing economy," calling Moscow a reliable energy partner.

Call transcript shows EU leaders tell Zelensky that they, not US, will decide on frozen Russian assets
(kyivindependent.com/exclusive-eu-leaders-say-that-they-not-us-will-decide-on-frozen-russian-assets/)
European leaders privately insisted they alone should control decisions over immobilized Russian assets during a recent call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a transcript obtained by the Kyiv Independent, even as the U.S. reportedly lobbied European countries to block plans to lend the cash to Ukraine.

⚡️ Ukraine war latest live: HUR says it hit Russian Su-24 tactical bomber, (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2025-12-5/) other targets in occupied Crimea.
Ukraine's military intelligence agency, HUR, said its drones hit a Russian Su-24 tactical bomber as past of a series of eight "accurate strikes" on military targets inside Russian-occupied Crimea on Dec. 5.
The attacks were carried out with long-range drones by the Prymary ("Ghosts") unit, HUR said in a post on Telegram.

⚡️ A Russian mass missile, drone attack overnight on Dec. 6 has once again hammered Ukraine's energy infrastructure, (kyivindependent.com/at-least-3-injured-in-russian-missile-drone-strikes-on-kyiv-oblast/) hitting substations, generation facilities, and disconnecting one of the power lines that supplies the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

⚡️ Update: Kremlin signals Trump's son-in-law (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-is-cautiously-optimistic-as-trumps-son-in-law-enters-peace-talks/) could be key architect of Ukraine peace deal.
"I personally believe that if a plan leading to a settlement is put down on paper, it will largely be Mr. Kushner who will be 'holding the pen,'" top Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.

⚡️ 'Grand gesture, but won't kill exports (kyivindependent.com/grand-gesture-but-wont-kill-exports-g7-eu-mull-ban-on-maritime-services-for-russian-oil/)' — G7, EU mull ban on Russian oil maritime services.
If the ban goes through, Russia would likely have to expand its shadow fleet to transport crude oil instead.

Ukraine is cautiously optimistic as Trump's son-in-law enters peace talks — here's why
(kyivindependent.com/ukraine-is-cautiously-optimistic-as-trumps-son-in-law-enters-peace-talks/)
As U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner takes on a more active role in the latest peace push, Ukrainian officials say they are cautiously optimistic about his involvement.
Kushner joined U.S.-Ukraine negotiations in Geneva on Nov. 23 and in Florida on Nov. 30, and then traveled to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 2.
"The very fact that Trump added Kushner is a good sign," Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of Ukraine's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, said.

He does not appear to be "under Putin's spell," Merezhko added.

Ukraine's military reportedly struck the Ryazan Oil Refinery overnight on Dec. 5-6, marking the ninth such strike on the refinery this year, Russian Telegram media channel ASTRA reported. https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drones-reportedly-strikes-russias-ryazan-oil-refinery/

⚡️ Russian forces reportedly execute (kyivindependent.com/russian-forces-reportedly-execute-yet-another-ukrainian-pow/) yet another Ukrainian POW.

⚡️ Ukrainian NGO returns 18 children (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-hails-return-of-18-children-from-russian-occupied-territories/) from Russian-occupied Kherson
A group of Ukrainian children ages 2 to 17 returned to Ukraine from Russian-occupied territories in southern Kherson Oblast, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Dec. 5.

⚡️At least 3 injured (kyivindependent.com/at-least-3-injured-in-russian-missile-drone-strikes-on-kyiv-oblast/) in Russian missile, drone strikes on Kyiv Oblast.

Our community has reached 25,000 members today!
Thank you to everyone who chose to support independent journalism from Ukraine and make this milestone possible.
If you’d still like to join us, you can become a member here (https://kyivindependent.com/membership/?utm_source=memb-tg-end&utm_medium=tg).

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 1h
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE & RUSSIA — DEC 6, 2025
■ Casualties remain above the 7-day average, while engagements stay below it
■ Considerable equipment losses; 12th-highest for drones, and unarmored vehicle losses are above average as well
■ Officer deaths: +121, incl. 13 senior ones
■ Overnight attacks: 3rd-highest, incl. 51 missiles; good interception, but 32 locations hit
■ 🇷🇺 MLRS strikes above avg; highest 30-day 🇷🇺/🇺🇦 strike ratio to date

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

🇫🇷 Drones were spotted flying over the Ile Longue naval base in France. Attempts to shoot them down failed, Le Figaro reports.
The base, where nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines are stationed, is a key element of France’s nuclear deterrent.
In total, the military detected five drones and opened fire, but none were brought down.
This isn’t the first time unknown UAVs have appeared in the area. The previous incident occurred on November 18, when a drone was seen over the nearby Crozon Peninsula.

⛽️ The EU and G7 countries are discussing replacing the Russian oil price cap with a full ban on Russia’s access to maritime services, aiming to cut the energy revenues that allow the Kremlin to finance the war in Ukraine, Reuters reports.
The ban may become part of the next EU sanctions package against Russia, expected in early 2026, three of six sources told the agency.
According to the interlocutors, British and American officials are pushing this idea at G7 technical meetings.

Calling someone who justifies aggression and promotes violence a “leader” is a troubling sign of the degradation of part of the global information space, says Honored Lawyer of Ukraine and former Deputy Prosecutor General (2019–2022) Gunduz Mammadov. He commented on the Financial Times’ decision to include Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan in its list of the world’s most influential people.

UEFA has fined the Ukrainian Football Association €15,000 after a fan displayed a banner reading “Russia is a terrorist state” during a 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Iceland.

Merry Kidsmas: a Christmas fundraiser towards kindergarten shelters🎅 (www.google.com/url?q=u24.gov.ua/merry-kidsmas?utm_source%3Dtelegram%26utm_medium%3Dmedia%26utm_campaign%3Dkidsmas&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1764946587700825&usg=AOvVaw2SF01sdQVunE6LGrIHhYso)
We’re raising $500,000 to equip 61 shelters in preschool facilities near Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia with modern furniture and equipment. Let’s make kids feel more comfortable this holiday season.

Fastiv railway station after Russian night strikes. This key junction for passenger and long-distance trains has been completely destroyed.

The consequences of the Russian attack on Ukraine, as currently known:
The enemy used ballistic, aeroballistic, and cruise missiles, as well as drones, in attempts to strike energy facilities and infrastructure.
▫️ In the Kyiv region, three people were injured — two in the Vyshhorod district and one in Fastiv. Railroad infrastructure and energy facilities were also damaged in Fastiv. Preliminary reports indicate the railway station was hit.
▫️ In Dnipro and the surrounding region, fires broke out following a drone attack. An 11-year-old boy was injured in Nikopol.
▫️ In the Lviv region, power outages were reported after a missile strike.
▫️ In Lutsk, heavy smoke was seen after a drone attack, with black smoke covering the sky. Parts of the city are experiencing power outages.

Ukraine marks Armed Forces Day every year on December 6. Ukrainians pay tribute to the men and women defending their country against Russia’s war of aggression.
These service members protect their homeland with truth, dignity, humanity, and sacrifice. What motivates them is their love for their land, their people, and their innate need for freedom. The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to defend the future of a free and just state.

❗️An air raid alert sounded in Poland due to the Russian attack on Ukraine, RMF24 reports.
The siren went off in the Polish city of Lubartów, in the Lublin Voivodeship, because of a potential air threat approaching the area.

Approximate route of Russian missiles and drones during the night attack. According to President Zelenskyy, the Russians primarily targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The attack involved hundreds of UAVs, as well as ballistic, cruise, and aeroballistic missiles.

@ReleaseTheDucksOfWar

Thanks for the update..

To be clear I'm "happy" to accept some of what is reported at face value, but I'm curious as to how much real int you can collect, especially at night with commonly available household drones (and I fess up to having one)...but yes they could simply be disruptors and they might be hard to track (but OTOH they don't have much range..yet so often they dissappear having been spotted).

When you start hearing talk of military grade, heavyweight quadrocopters then OK ..longer range but a big target for imaging or a weapon, and not that easy to transport but they could be useful for int gathering.

I suspect what might be going is is some genuine Russian/Russian sponsored ops,.some amateurs messing around and a lot of false sightings due in part to confirmation bias.

Given these things are according to reports now occasionally being engaged I'll be interested to see when the first images of them in flight or in pieces gets released.....

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Washington’s new National Security Strategy marks a sharp break from past US policy (www.kyivpost.com/post/65687) — urging a halt to NATO enlargement and warning that Europe faces “civilizational erasure.”
It’s unprecedented language, and it lands just as Ukraine is seeking a concrete roadmap to join the Alliance.

❗️US promises pre-Christmas arms boost for Ukraine, (www.kyivpost.com/post/65690) pushes for Europe-led NATO by 2027.
Senior US defense officials warned European partners that while military aid to Kyiv is set to rise, Washington will no longer anchor NATO’s conventional defenses past 2027.

US says Kushner and Witkoff Held 'Constructive' Peace Talks with Ukraine's Security Chiefs
They discussed peace framework and essential security guarantees; both sides agree progress hinges on Russia's 'serious commitment' to de-escalation.

Zelensky has removed his former chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, from the National Security and Defense Council and from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff.
The decrees were published on the president’s official website.

‘I Will Serve Until the End of My Life’: (www.kyivpost.com/post/65652) Kyiv Post interviewed four different servicemembers about what motivated them to join the resistance, how they see the military, how it has changed over the years, and how they see the future.

🎙️ New episode of OFF THE RECORD is now live.
🇺🇦 Iryna Mudra — Deputy Head of Zelensky’s Office — joins 🇨🇦 Ambassador Cmoc to talk tribunals, reparations, and Ukraine’s legal fight for justice and EU integration.
Watch now: www.kyivpost.com/videos/65689

Over 700 MISSILES and DRONES rain down on Ukraine (www.kyivpost.com/post/65712) in Russia’s biggest strikes in weeks.
The latest attacks come as Washington advances a diplomatic plan to end the war – a proposal that Kyiv fears could require major concessions to Moscow.

OPINION: Don’t Betray Ukraine Again. No Excuses This Time! (www.kyivpost.com/opinion/65679)
Reflections on today’s anniversary of the infamous 1994 Budapest Memorandum.

I suspect what might be going is is some genuine Russian/Russian sponsored ops,.some amateurs messing around and a lot of false sightings due in part to confirmation bias. @notimagain This sounds reasonable but I suspect the ISW and some of the better media outlets filter out the more obvious crappy sightings, which means that we probably hear about the more trustworthy ones ... On the whole.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇺🇸The US unveiled a new national security strategy. It mentions the war in Ukraine and criticizes the EU.
Here are the main points:
🔴War in Ukraine. The US calls ceasefire negotiations their "vital interest." The States want to prevent the expansion of the war, restore "strategic stability with Russia," and ensure the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. At the same time, the document states that Europe has unrealistic expectations regarding the war in Ukraine.
🔴Europe. The Trump administration subtly criticizes European efforts to curb far-right parties and calls such steps political censorship. The document also says that migration will change European identity to such an extent that it could harm US alliances. Therefore, the States want to help Europe "correct its current course."
🔴NATO. The US also wants to "make Europe more accountable" for its security and force all European NATO members to invest at least 5% of GDP in security, as required by the bloc's provisions. They also emphasize that some NATO members will become predominantly non-European in the coming decades, and warn that European governments formed with the participation of migrants may not adhere to the NATO charter.
🔴China. The strategy states that the US wants to rebalance economic relations with China to "restore US economic independence." The States also want to prevent war in the Indo-Pacific region — hinting at rising tensions in the region, particularly between China and US allies such as Japan and the Philippines.
🔴Traditional Values. In the strategy, the US administration says it seeks to "restore and renew America's spiritual and cultural health," and talks about the need for "a growth in the number of strong, traditional families raising healthy children." [women, say goodbye to your reproductive rights]

The Chornobyl NPP protective arch was damaged and lost its function due to a Russian strike in February, the IAEA reported.
The load-bearing structures remained intact, but the arch's ability to completely contain radioactive materials is now diminished. Part of the repairs has already been carried out, with full restoration ahead.
▪️On the night of February 14th, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the Chornobyl NPP containment shelter, causing a fire to break out there. This shelter protected Ukraine and the world from the radiation of the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl NPP. [as previously reported]

🇩🇰Denmark will reduce its support for Ukraine in 2026.
Next year, Ukraine will receive 9.4 billion Danish Kroner (DKK) (€1.22 billion) from Denmark, compared to 16.5 billion DKK (€2.15 billion) in 2024, and nearly 19 billion DKK (€2.47 billion) even earlier.
The government explains this by the "stabilization of support," as Denmark has already provided the largest amount of aid to Ukraine as a percentage of GDP among all countries.
However, its neighbors will increase their support: Norway will provide 54.3 billion DKK (€7.06 billion), and Sweden — over 27 billion DKK (€3.51 billion).

Ukrainian military forces attacked the Syzran Oil Refinery (Syzran Refinery) and a seaport in the Krasnodar Krai of Russia.
🔴The refinery was hit by drones, causing a fire. One of the installations was damaged. This plant processes between 7 and 8.9 million tons of oil annually.
🔴The Temryuk seaport, which, among other things, is used to supply the Russian army, was also struck.
🔴The General Staff also confirmed the consequences of the strike on the Saratov Refinery, where the primary oil refining unit was damaged. As of early December, the plant has completely halted primary crude oil processing and is operating at less than 50% of its total capacity.

Another 19 Ukrainian cultural monuments have been added to the UNESCO list of cultural properties.
The list includes:
🔴Akkerman Fortress;
🔴Dormition Cathedral in Kharkiv;
🔴Borys and Hlib Cathedral in Chernihiv;
🔴Shevchenko Drama Theater in Kharkiv;
🔴Church (Kirche) in Odesa;
🔴Koenig Palace in Trostianets;
🔴Movchansky Monastery in Putyvl;
🔴Intercession (Pokrovska) Church in Kharkiv;
🔴Potemkin Stairs (Prymorski Skhody) in Odesa;
🔴Resurrection Church in Sumy;
🔴St. Cyril's Church in Kyiv;
🔴Transfiguration and Holy Trinity Cathedrals in Sumy;
🔴Iskorosten settlement;
🔴Khortytsia (Baida Island) in Zaporizhzhia;
🔴Odesa Museum of Western and Eastern Art;
🔴Odesa National Art Museum;
🔴Odesa National Scientific Library;
🔴Museum of Arts of Prykarpattia.
These monuments now have enhanced protection — this is the highest level of international protection for cultural heritage sites. It is granted only to objects that are of exceptional value to all humanity. In total, the list includes 46 Ukrainian sites.

🇮🇪Ireland has launched an investigation into the drone incident during Zelensky’s visit, RTÉ writes.
Four military-type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) violated the flight ban in the vicinity of Dublin Airport around 11:00 PM on December 1st. This was the time when the Ukrainian President's aircraft was expected to land.
The first drone was spotted near the Howth Peninsula —approximately 10 km offshore. Unknown UAVs also circled over an Irish Naval Service ship that was secretly patrolling the Irish Sea during the visit.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin stated that the incident will be reviewed at a meeting of the National Security Council later this month.

The Russians launched 51 missiles and 653 drones at Ukraine overnight.
Among the launched missiles were three "Kinzhal", 34 "Iskander-K," "Kalibr," and Kh-101 missiles, as well as 14 "Iskander-M" ballistic missiles.
Air defense neutralized 29 cruise and one ballistic missile, and 585 drones. Missiles and 60 strike UAVs hit targets in 29 locations, and debris fell in three others.

Well...problem is what/who are trustworthy?

On one Human Factors course I did back in my flying days I saw the majority (about 20 out of 30) pilots in a room get completely duped in an observation test because the psycologist briefing the test deliberately front loaded the audiences' expectations... the groups attention was very cleverly misdirected and so most of the pilots mostly saw what they wanted to see/told to see and missed something else going on in full view in the scene that was very obvious..I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't been there - frankly was a jaw dropper to witness and almost scarey.

Fundmentally we are almost all very bad at being eye witnesses.

Now if you can get the majority of a professional pilot group who routinely look at the sky as part if the day/night job to missinterpret what they are seeing what do you think is possibly going to happen if you brief a guard or police officer they are specifically on the watch for drones.

That's why I'd really like to see imagery, not just verbal reports.

That's like that basketball game clip with the gorilla isn't it?

Fair enough!

Ohhhh...

I wasn't going to mention that one (cos the trick cyclists like to keep it as a surprise) but yes, I've seen that one used in training sessions and it catches more than a few "experienced observers' out.