Travel, property, and local info for Ukraine

11+ min ago (709+ words) Ukrainian intelligence says Russia has equipped its drones with Soviet-era R-60 air-to-air missiles to target Ukrainian helicopters and planes intercepting them, confirming earlier reports. Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) said Monday that Russia has begun arming drones with Soviet-era air-to-air missiles to target Ukrainian interceptors. The statement confirmed earlier reports that downed Russian drones were fitted with R-60 missiles. According to HUR, the missile is mounted on a dedicated launch rail installed on a special bracket located on the upper forward section of the drone's fuselage. The adaptation is intended to threaten Ukrainian military aviation and tactical aircraft involved in intercepting Russian unmanned aerial vehicles, HUR said. The R-60 missile, a Soviet-designed infrared-guided weapon, is paired with an aviation launch device, the APU-60-1MD. Once launched, the missile's heat-seeking guidance system autonomously locks onto its target, HUR said. Ukrainian intelligence reported that the drone is…...

31+ min ago (470+ words) Moscow: Russia has indicated that it's open to Ukraine joining European Union as part of peace deal to end the war, AP quoted US officials adding that there is now almost a 90 per cent consensus on Washington's truce plan. The officials said that robust negotiations between President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his team led to progress on narrowing differences on security guarantees Kyiv said must be provided to Ukraine as well as the contentious issue on Moscow's demand that Ukraine concede land in the eastern Donbas. Kushner and Witkoff are expected to meet over dinner on Monday evening with Ukrainian as well British, German and French leaders for further talks. Trump, who has been briefed twice on the Berlin talks, plans to dial in to the dinner from Washington. The…...

41+ min ago (230+ words) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the importance of trade contracts with Germany for interaction with other EU countries. Ukraine's contracts with Germany create basis for interaction within EU by involving neighbors " Zelenskyy President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the importance of trade contracts with Germany for interaction with other EU countries. "Germany is one of our largest trading partners in Europe, and it will continue to be so in the future. I am confident in this. One of the government's key tasks is to secure more contracts with Germany. This unites our economies and creates the basis for greater interaction within the European Union because it attracts neighboring countries," Zelenskyy said at the close of the German-Ukrainian Business Forum in Berlin on Monday. Zelenskyy to visit Netherlands on Tues Zelenskyy's talks with US delegation in Berlin ends Zelenskyy talks…...

42+ min ago (322+ words) Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister and member of the Ukrainian-American negotiating team, Serhiy Kyslytsya, stated following Monday's meeting in Berlin that the media "are misinterpreting the American team's approach." Kyslytsya: It's important that American side remains fully involved in peace process Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister and member of the Ukrainian-American negotiating team, Serhiy Kyslytsya, stated following Monday's meeting in Berlin that the media "are misinterpreting the American team's approach." "It's important that the American side remains fully engaged in the peace process, and tries to identify steps that may lead to just and sustainable end of the war. It is unfair to mischaracterize approach of the American team while they investing time, efforts, and recourses into making peace. Every team listens carefully to each other. The Ukrainian position is very clear. The anonymous sources aren't correct," he said on…...

59+ min ago (733+ words) The EU is tightening sanctions on Russia's hybrid warfare, targeting disinformation figures, cyber units and electronic warfare forces accused of destabilizing Europe. The European Union has imposed sanctions on 12 individuals and 2 entities linked to Russia's hybrid operations, citing their involvement in disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks and electronic warfare targeting the EU, its member states, and partners. According to the European Council (EC), the measures respond to what it described as Russia's continued use of foreign information manipulation, interference operations and malicious cyber activity aimed at destabilizing democratic institutions and critical systems across Europe. The EC said the new listings include foreign-policy analysts embedded in institutions, think tanks and universities closely linked to the Kremlin's messaging apparatus, as well as online influencers accused of spreading pro-Russian propaganda and conspiracy theories about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Among those cited by the EC is…...

1+ hour, 3+ min ago (306+ words) The EU has sanctioned five individuals and four companies over Russia's shadow fleet, aiming to block covert oil exports that fund Moscow's war in Ukraine. The EU has imposed new sanctions on five individuals and four companies for supporting Russia's shadow fleet. The individuals are linked to Russian state-owned oil firms Rosneft and Lukoil. The EU said they control vessels that transport crude oil and petroleum products while concealing the cargo's origin and using high-risk, irregular shipping practices. The latest sanctions are part of the EU's drive to curb Moscow's oil revenue used to finance its war in Ukraine. The companies, based in the UAE, Vietnam, and Russia, own or manage tankers already subject to EU or international restrictions, the European Council reported in a press release. The shadow fleet plays a key role in helping Russia bypass sanctions. These…...

1+ hour, 9+ min ago (170+ words) BGV Group Management signed a memorandum on further cooperation with two companies in the construction sector within a meeting of the Joint Ukrainian-Saudi Business Council, the BGV press service told Interfax-Ukraine. BGV Group Management signed a memorandum on further cooperation with two companies in the construction sector within a meeting of the Joint Ukrainian-Saudi Business Council, the BGV press service told Interfax-Ukraine. The memorandum signed by BGV Group Management at the meeting provides for negotiations, development of joint opportunities, and planning of specific steps for implementing potential projects. Additionally, the BGV team participated in the UNIDO conference, where they discussed potential areas of cooperation with Saudi Arabian partners. The company also participated in the promotional event, "Investment Dialogue: Mobilizing Gulf Capital for Sustainable Industrial Growth in Ukraine," during which it presented its investment initiatives, particularly in mineral extraction. As a…...

1+ hour, 18+ min ago (200+ words) This December, Kyiv Post stands with the Children of Heroes Charity Fund to bring gifts and hope to Ukrainian children who lost parents in the war. Donate to help brighten their holidays. This December, Kyiv Post stands with the Children of Heroes Charity Fund'to bring a spark of magic to Ukrainian children who have lost one or both parents because of the war. More than 15,000 children are under the Fund's care, and nearly 8,000 of them are still waiting for a Christmas gift " a dream toy, a favorite book, a gadget, or something they wrote about in their heartfelt letters. To make these wishes come true, the Fund needs to raise 8,000,000 UAH (" $190,000), and they cannot do it without the support of people like you. We cannot bring their loved ones back, but we can bring moments of childhood, warmth, and hope....

1+ hour, 27+ min ago (463+ words) The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said it used a new underwater drone to strike Russia's Novorossiysk naval base, sinking a Russian submarine in the process. Ukraine has launched a new, previously unreported "Sub Sea Baby" underwater drone and sank a Russian kilo-class submarine in the Novorossiysk port, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU did not specify the date and time of the attack. In a Monday press release, the SBU said "a Russian submarine of the class 636.3 "Varshavyanka" was struck and "suffered critical damage and was actually put out of action." Footage released with the announcement shows multiple Russian warships docked at Novorossiysk, with the surfaced submarine at the pier as an explosion sends up splashes nearby. The SBU estimated the submarine's cost at about $400 million, rising to as much as $500 million to replace due…...

1+ hour, 29+ min ago (202+ words) Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko says that damage to the power system in Odesa is significant, so restoring the grids of the entire city takes time. "I listened to reports from the leadership of Odesa Regional Military Administration and relevant services regarding the restoration of Odesa following the shelling of its energy infrastructure. Power has been restored to over 180,000 consumers. Work to supply all districts of the city continues around the clock," wrote Svyrydenko on her Telegram channel. According to Svyrydenko, heat has been restored to all districts, and the phased launch of individual boiler houses is underway. "The centralized water supply in the city has been fully restored. Drinking and technical water is provided as requested. Emergency response centers and field kitchens are operating in the city," she added, noting that the government is constantly monitoring the situation....