In this week’s digest, you will learn about the latest news in Ukraine, key events shaping the world order, and the support provided by international partners to strengthen Ukraine’s economy and defense capabilities. We will tell you about global and local events that are changing the world and affecting our future.
1,255 monuments damaged by Russians during full-scale war
As of December 2024, at least 1,255 cultural heritage sites in Ukraine have been damaged during the full-scale invasion. Of these, 125 are of national importance, 1,055 are of local importance, and 75 are newly discovered. This was reported by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications.
In December alone, 33 cultural heritage sites in Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv regions and Kyiv were damaged due to Russian armed aggression.
In total, during the full-scale invasion, cultural monuments in 18 regions and Kyiv were damaged. At the same time, it is impossible to establish the exact number of damaged cultural monuments, as almost the entire territory of Luhansk and significant parts of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson regions are still temporarily occupied.
Ukraine to produce 3,000 missiles and 30,000 drones in 2025
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed the Ukrainian defense industry to produce at least 30,000 long-range drones and 3,000 cruise missiles and drone missiles by 2025.
This was announced by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at a government meeting.
This year, Ukraine has budgeted record defense spending of 2.23 trillion hryvnias, with spending on weapons and military equipment totaling 739 billion. Ukrainian defense companies plan to increase their existing production capacity to $30 billion.
As part of the Weapons of Victory project, Ukraine will also launch long-term contracts with manufacturers for 3-5 years and develop the Danish model, under which partners buy weapons from the Ukrainian defense industry for the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Kyiv expects to raise more than a billion dollars for this purpose within a year.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has received equipment from the IT Coalition countries as part of €3.3 million assistance
The countries participating in the IT Coalition, including Estonia, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, have sent equipment to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense as part of a €3.3 million initiative, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports.
In the delivery:
- 1,026 workstations for the Oberig registry, including laptops, printers, webcams, and barcode scanners;
- One thousand laptops for various information and communication systems in the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
- equipment for the Armed Forces data center;
- 20 thousand two-factor authentication keys for users of the DELTA combat system;
- 3,520 tablets for the tactical level of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Along with this shipment, a batch of Canadian aid for the Ministry of Defense’s Innovation Center – monitors and laptops worth €100,000 – was delivered to Ukraine.
Ukraine to set up grain program to cooperate with new Syrian government
Ukraine will set up a humanitarian program called Grain from Ukraine to cooperate with the Syrian administration and “all partners who are ready to support”.
This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a report by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitalii Koval on their visit to Syria.
This year we can add more countries to our reliable partners, including Syria. We are preparing to resume diplomatic relations with Syria and cooperation in international organizations, – the President of Ukraine said.
Ukraine will also increase trade with Lebanon and cooperate more actively with African countries.
Each such new partnership means greater opportunities for our diplomacy and greater opportunities for our economy, – Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine became a full party to the Rome Statute of the ICC
Ukraine has become the 125th state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
According to Ukrinform, a blue and yellow Ukrainian flag was installed in the court building among the flags of the ICC member states.
Having become a full member of the Rome Statute of the ICC, Ukraine has the opportunity to participate in the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC, submit issues for its consideration, vote on the allocation of the ICC budget, participate in the election of judges and other elected officials, including the ICC prosecutor, influence the priorities of the ICC and the development of amendments to the Rome Statute.
In December 2026, the Assembly of States Parties will elect new judges. Ukraine will be able to nominate its candidate and vote for others.
Ukraine’s full participation in the ICC will facilitate access to the special ICC Trust Fund for Victims for Ukrainians who have suffered from Russian crimes.
Italy allocates €13 million to help Ukraine’s energy sector
Italy has allocated €13 million to the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy.
Italy’s contribution, one of the largest from a single country, will help stabilize electricity supplies to millions of war-affected Ukrainians. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that this is an important decision for the restoration of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The Energy Support Fund for Ukraine was established in the spring of 2022. Through it, Ukraine finances the purchase of spare parts and equipment for destroyed energy infrastructure.
The United States has allocated $3.4 billion in budget support to Ukraine
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has announced $3.4 billion in direct budget support for Ukraine.
The package was allocated in coordination with USAID and the U.S. Department of State. This is the final disbursement of funds allocated under the bipartisan Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024.
Our direct budget support continues to be conditioned on reforms related to strengthening law enforcement agencies, increasing the transparency and efficiency of government institutions, and strengthening anti-corruption rules and procedures, – the US Treasury Secretary emphasized.
Ukraine conducts a new prisoner exchange with the Russian Federation
On December 30, Ukraine conducted the 11th prisoner exchange with Russia this year, with 189 Ukrainians returning home. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War clarified that the prisoners were released from captivity:
- 87 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (17 of them from the Defense Ministry);
- 43 servicemen of the National Guard;
- 33 border guards;
- 24 soldiers of the Navy.
Two civilians also returned from captivity.
Ukraine officially stops transit of Russian gas
At 7:00 a.m. on January 1, 2025, the transportation of Russian natural gas through Ukraine was stopped in the interests of national security, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine reports.
As the head of the Ministry, German Galushchenko, explained, Kyiv has informed its international partners in accordance with the established procedure.
This is a historic event. Russia is losing markets and will suffer financial losses. Europe has already decided to refuse Russian gas. And the European initiative Repower EU envisages exactly what Ukraine has done today, – says Galushchenko.
From today, the country’s gas transportation system has been operating in a mode without Russian gas transit. The gas transmission system infrastructure was prepared in advance for zero transit and reliable gas supply to Ukrainian consumers, the Energy Ministry added.
