⚡️Russia's Africa Corps committing war crimes in Mali, AP reports.

The AP spoke to 34 refugees who reported kidnappings, sexual assault, and civilian killings at the hands of the Africa Corps, a paramilitary group controlled by the Russian Defense Ministry.

⚡️Son of president who shut down US corruption watchdogs slams Ukraine for corruption.

Donald Trump Jr. warned on Dec. 7 that his father may walk away from Ukraine, parroting Kremlin propaganda about corruption in Kyiv driving Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones score ‘successful hit’ on Russia’s Ryazan Oil Refinery, General Staff says

Ukrainian forces scored another “successful hit” on Russia’s Ryazan Oil Refinery overnight on Dec. 5-6, the General Staff has confirmed, marking the ninth such strike on the refinery this year.

While, the protective shield built to prevent radiation leaking from the Chornobyl nuclear power plant needs to be repaired promptly after a drone strike earlier this year damaged the steel structure, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Dec. 5.

Photo: Wikipedia.

⚡️Trump 'disappointed,' claims Zelensky hasn't read US peace plan.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Dec. 7 he was "disappointed" that President Volodymyr Zelensky allegedly had not yet reviewed a U.S. peace proposal to end the war in Ukraine.

These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Dec. 8, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

⚡️ US defense bill proposes $400 million a year in military aid for Ukraine through 2027.

Congress is also calling for more frequent reporting of aid provided to Kyiv by its European allies, reflecting Washington's push for Europe to take on a greater share of responsibility for supporting Ukraine.

⚡️Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces commander hits back at Russia's international arrest warrant.

Russia has accused Robert "Madyar" Brovdi in absentia of organizing an alleged terrorist attack in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

⚡️ Russian soldiers jailed over torture, murder of American pro-Kremlin fighter last year.

Four Russian soldiers were given sentences in the range of 1.5 to 12 years for their involvement in the murder of Russell "Texas" Bentley and an attempt to conceal the crime.

⚡️ No agreement on Donbas yet, Zelensky says as he visits London to discuss US-led peace efforts with European leaders.

"There are visions of the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine — and we don't have a unified view on Donbas," Zelensky told Bloomberg regarding the latest discussions on the peace plan for Ukraine.

⚡️ Netherlands allocates additional 700 million euros for Ukraine in 2026.

The move follows an appeal from the Dutch parliament to release an additional 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in support for Kyiv for next year.

The first sum of 700 million euros (almost $820 million) was described as the "first step."

⚡️ Ukrainian drones destroy 70% of fuel tanks at Russia's Temryuk Seaport, General Staff says.

The facility targeted in the Dec. 5 attack handles various types of cargo, including liquefied natural gas used to supply the Russian military.

⚡️ Ukrainian Su-27 pilot dies during combat mission.

The circumstances of Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Ivanov's death are being investigated.

⚡️ EU approves new defense program, opens path for Ukraine's industry integration.

Within this program, 300 million euros ($350 million) will fund a dedicated Ukraine Support Instrument that focuses on modernizing Ukraine's defense industry and integrating it into the EU's broader defense-manufacturing network.

⚡️ Trump knows how to 'put leverage' on both Russia, Ukraine to reach peace deal, US envoy says.

While hailing "significant progress" in peace efforts, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker acknowledged that Trump could decide to "step away" if he sees there is "no deal to be had."

⚡️ Update: Trump has 'his own vision' on resolving the war, different from Ukraine's perspective, Zelensky says.

President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine is not considering the possibility of renouncing its territory to Russia.

⚡️Zelensky reveals candidates for new head of Ukraine's Presidential Office.

The list includes Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine's defense minister and previously the longest-serving prime minister, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, Deputy Presidential Office head and ex-commander Pavlo Palisa, and Sergiy Kyslytsya, the first deputy foreign minister and one of Ukraine's key negotiators.

⚡️Russian mass drone attack leaves Sumy without power.

Sumy has been left without power following Russian attacks on the northeastern city late on Dec. 8.

In the middle of war, Ukraine's top university reimagines Russian Studies

Eleven years into Russia’s war, a Ukrainian university is forging ahead with an unexpected academic pursuit: launching a Russian Studies program to study the country that had imposed itself on Ukraine.

“Our goal is to study Russia from different angles — its economy, its society, its elites, its foreign policy — in order to take a critical look at what Russia has done to us and the world,” said Professor Maksym Yakovlyev, co-founder of the program at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, one of Ukraine’s oldest and most prestigious universities.

⚡️Death toll in Russia's Nov. 19 attack on Ternopil rises to 38.

The number of victims killed by a Russian missile strike against a high-rise apartment in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil last month has risen to 38. Police said on Dec. 8 that the bodies of two people previously considered missing have been identified.

Russia's overnight strike on Ternopil on Nov. 19 left nearly 40 dead and injured over 90 people.