2024 was a year of major challenges and achievements for Ukraine that will remain in the history of the country and the world. From sporting triumphs to major political events and cultural victories on the international stage, this year demonstrated the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people. In this digest, we have collected the main events of 2024.

Politics

Andrii Sybiha becomes the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

On September 5, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appointed First Deputy Minister Andrii Sybiha as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. This decision was voted for by 258 MPs.

The previous Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine was Dmytro Kuleba, who served as Ukraine’s chief diplomat during the first two and a half years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is “internationally recognized as one of the most influential diplomats of his generation and a global champion of democracy, freedom and resilience”.

Zelenskyy dismisses Ukrainian diplomats in a number of countries and international organizations and appoints new ones

On December 21, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Ukrainian ambassadors to a number of countries and representatives of Ukraine in international organizations and appointed new ones. This is stated in the decrees on the website of the President’s Office.

Among those dismissed:

• Andriy Taran – from the post of Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia;
• Pravednyk Andrii – from the post of Ambassador of Ukraine to Rwanda;
• Sergiy Korsunsky – from the post of Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan;
• Beshta Petro – as Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania;
• Vasyl Hamianin– from the post of Ambassador of Ukraine to Indonesia and from the post of Representative of Ukraine to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations;
• Pavlo Riabikin – as Ambassador of Ukraine to China;
• Yevhen Filipenko – as Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva;
• Sergiy Kyslytsya – from the post of Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations. And from the posts of ambassadors of Ukraine to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Immediately following the dismissal decrees, new appointments were posted on the Presidential Office’s website.

Who was appointed:

• Vyacheslav Yatsiuk – Ambassador of Ukraine to Rwanda;
• Yulia Fediv – Ambassador of Ukraine to the Philippines;
• Olga Nikitchenko – Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania;
• Fedir Shandor – Ambassador of Ukraine to Hungary;
• Beshta Petro – Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia.
• Vasyl Hamianin – Ambassador of Ukraine to the Congo.
• Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk – Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

In addition, the President of Ukraine appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa as head of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO. He also canceled the decree appointing Emine Dzhaparova as Ukraine’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna.

Zelenskyy appoints Oleksandr Syrskyi as new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

On February 8, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

I have appointed Colonel General Syrskyi as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Today I spoke with Generals Moysiuk and Zabrodskyi. Their experience is in the service of the state. The year 2024 can be successful for Ukraine only if there are effective changes in the basis of our defense, which is the Armed Forces of Ukraine, – the president wrote on his Facebook page.

He also said that a new management team was taking over the leadership of the Armed Forces. Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, 58, was the head of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from August 2019 until his new appointment.

Oleksandr Syrskyi’s predecessor was Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who began his work as Ambassador to the United Kingdom on July 10.

The first Peace Summit was held in Switzerland

On June 15-16, the Peace Summit was held in Switzerland. It was attended by delegations from 92 countries and 8 international organizations. The two-day summit addressed only three of the ten points of the Ukrainian “Peace Formula”, which concerned nuclear and food security and the release of Ukrainian prisoners and deportees, including children. It ended with statements by the leaders of the countries and the publication of a joint communiqué, which was not signed by all.

The joint declaration of the participants states that the event was held to “enhance high-level dialogue on the path to a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace for Ukraine”. The participants also agreed that they had a common vision in three areas: nuclear and food security, as well as the release of prisoners and deportees. In total, the document was supported by 80 countries and four international organizations.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Victory Plan

On October 16, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Victory Plan of Ukraine to the Verkhovna Rada.

If we start moving forward with this victory plan now, we may be able to end the war no later than next year, – the president said.

The plan consists of five main points:

• inviting Ukraine to join NATO before the war ends;
• continuation of operations on the territory of the Russian Federation and lifting the ban on strikes;
• deployment of a comprehensive non-nuclear strategic deterrence package in Ukraine;
• development of Ukraine’s strategic and economic potential and strengthening of sanctions;
  after the war, the Ukrainian military can use its experience to strengthen the defense of NATO and Europe. The US contingent will be able to replace the Ukrainian military.

The plan also contains three secret annexes that have been submitted to the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy for further approval.

War

First F-16s arrive in Ukraine

The first F-16 fighter jets to arrive in Ukraine were unveiled during the celebrations for the Day of the Ukrainian Air Force on August 4.

Now is a new stage in the development of the Air Force of Ukraine, – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during the event.

According to him, a lot has been done to ensure that the Air Force switches to a new standard of aviation – Western combat aviation.

We have held hundreds of meetings and negotiations to strengthen the capabilities of our aviation, to strengthen the capabilities of our air defense, our defense forces. We often heard in response: “It’s impossible”, but we made possible what was our ambition, our defense need. And now it is a reality, a reality in our skies, F-16s in Ukraine, – Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

In addition, Zelenskyy did not say how many fighter jets Ukraine has, but noted during the event that “they have already begun to be used for our country”.

Operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region

On August 6, the Armed Forces of Ukraine crossed the border with Russia near the town of Sudzha as part of the Kursk operation. Ukrainian troops began advancing deep into Russian territory and within a few days controlled several hundred square kilometers.

This is the first Ukrainian joint military operation on Russian border territory since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

On August 2, the Ukrainian government first confirmed the participation of the Armed Forces in the offensive, and on August 14 said that Ukrainian troops had formed a “buffer sanitary zone” for self-defense. It was also reported that Ukrainian troops had seized about 100-200 square kilometers of territory.

Ukrainian military shoots down Russian A-50

On February 23, the Ukrainian military shot down a Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft over the Sea of Azov. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine said that the destroyed A-50U is a new modernized Russian version of the aircraft.

This is an air command post used by the aggressor state for long-range radar detection, control and guidance for strikes on Ukraine with missiles from strategic aviation, – the agency said.

In addition, the ministry noted that the downing of the A-50U is “another serious blow to the potential and capabilities of terrorist Moscow”.

Presentation of the Ukrainian “Peklo” drone missile

On December 6, Ukraine’s Ukroboronprom presented a new drone missile, “Peklo”. The drone missile is a new development of the Ukrainian defense industry.

The “Peklo” can fly at a speed of 700 kilometers per hour and has a maximum flight distance of over 700 km. Other characteristics of the new development are not disclosed due to security restrictions.

Minister of Strategic Industries Herman Smetanin said that the first batch of missiles, several dozen units, had already been handed over to the Defense Forces.

The drone missile was created by a Ukrainian manufacturer from scratch in record time – within a year. The product has already been successfully used in combat, – he said.

Russian attack on Dnipro with a new Oreshnik missile

On November 21, Russia struck Dnipro with a new type of weapon – a medium-range ballistic missile that Russian President Vladimir Putin has dubbed “Oreshnik”. The strike was on the Pivdenmash plant in Dnipro, which Putin said was a non-nuclear hypersonic ballistic missile, although this type of weapon can carry a nuclear warhead.

Reuters later cited two senior Ukrainian government sources as saying that the missile used by Russia to attack Dnipro had several warheads but no explosives.

DPRK troops were drawn into the war by Russia

On December 5, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Russia and North Korea, signed by the parties in June, came into effect. It obliged them to provide military assistance to each other.

Later, the head of the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov said that about 11,000 soldiers from the DPRK were being trained to fight in Ukraine. In November, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that the first clashes between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and North Korean soldiers took place in the Kursk region.

The DPRK army continues to fight in the Kursk region, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been conducting a military operation since August.

Culture

20 Days in Mariupol wins at the Oscars

On March 11, the film 20 Days in Mariupol won the Best Feature Documentary at the 96th Academy Awards. The film, directed by Mstislav Chernov, became the third Ukrainian film to be nominated for the most prestigious award and the first to win a golden statuette.

This is the first Ukrainian Oscar in history. But I wish I had never made this movie, never appeared on this stage, and I wish Russia had not attacked Ukraine. If I could exchange the award for Russia not to occupy our cities, I would give this award for Russia not to kill my countrymen, to release all Ukrainian military and civilians who are now in prison and held hostage, – said Mstislav Chernov from the stage where the award ceremony took place.

These events became crucial for Ukraine in 2024, reflecting both the country’s challenges and achievements in the international arena and in various spheres of life.

Ukraine is in the top 3 at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Alyona alyona and Jerry Heil took 3rd place in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 final.

According to the national jury, Ukraine scored 146 points and took 5th place. Ukraine received 307 points from the audience. As a result, alyona alyona and Jerry Heil with the song Teresa & Maria took 3rd place with a total of 453 points.

Sports

Victories of Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk

The year 2024 was a triumphant one for Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk. He fought two legendary fights that cemented his status as one of the best boxers of our time.

On May 19, Usyk won a historic victory over Tyson Fury in Riyadh. The fight lasted all 12 rounds and ended with Usyk’s victory by a split decision – 115:112, 113:114, 114:113. Oleksandr Usyk was able to unify all the major championship belts in the super-heavyweight division. This victory was a landmark for Ukrainian sports.

On the night of December 22, a rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in which the Ukrainian defeated the Briton and defended the WBA, WBO, WBC and IBO world heavyweight titles.

Usyk defeated Fury by unanimous decision. After 12 rounds, all three referees declared the Ukrainian boxer’s triumph: 116-112, 116-112, 116-112.
Oleksandr Usyk became the first absolute world heavyweight champion in the history of Ukraine.

Yaroslava Mahuchikh sets world record in women’s high jump

On July 7, Yaroslava Mahuchikh became the first woman in the world to clear 2.10 meters in the women’s high jump. Mahuchikh set the world record at the Diamond League in Paris. The Ukrainian was able to overcome it after she won the competition: in a fight with Australian Nicola Olislagers, she was the only one to clear the 2.03-meter bar.

After Yaroslava Mahuchikh cleared 2.03 meters, the Ukrainian high jumper set two consecutive records:

• first, she cleared 2.07 m (on the second attempt), updating her personal high jump record;
• and then, on the first attempt, she cleared 2.10 meters and set a world record.

The world record in women’s high jump was held for 37 years.