NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦

Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating 🎄 Wishing you peaceful days ahead, more kindness, more calm, and more hope. And an extra thought for Ukraine.

But, but but. Gerasimov said Kupyansk was taken? Russian war correspondents one by one now confirm the loss of Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast, mocking their own command: “The city is lost, but at least medals were handed out.” They say Ukraine deployed significant forces and that earlier Russian statements proved empty.

Newly deployed troops from Russia’s 82nd Motorized Rifle Regiment have released a video expressing outrage at their command. They claim they are being sent on missions with near-suicidal odds, describing positions controlled by Ukrainian forces as “fortresses” and stating that only half of those sent return alive.

NBC News reports growing behind-the-scenes friction between Marco Rubio and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff over leadership in Ukraine peace talks. Witkoff has allegedly arranged high-level meetings, including with Ukraine and France, without Rubio’s knowledge, sparking internal confusion. Beyond diverging views on Ukraine, Witkoff’s disregard for secure communications during Russia trips has raised concerns within the State Department.

Czech outlet Deník N reports that SPD, led by the pro-Russian Tomio Okamura, has blocked Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna’s planned visit to Ukraine and is pressuring to withdraw from the EU’s ammunition initiative. The move follows backlash from SPD supporters after Zůna stated that Czech participation in military aid and F-35 procurement would continue.