A Russian court sentenced pro-war activist Sergei Udaltsov to six years in prison on charges of justifying terrorism. The charges stemmed from an online article supporting other Russian activists previously convicted of forming a terrorist organization. Udaltsov, leader of the Left Front movement, rejected the accusations, calling the verdict “shameful,” and has announced a hunger strike. This sentence marks another instance of the Russian government’s intensified crackdown on dissent, a trend that has significantly escalated since the invasion of Ukraine.
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On Thursday, Poland scrambled fighter jets after detecting a Russian reconnaissance aircraft near its airspace, intercepting and escorting it over the Baltic Sea. Simultaneously, objects, likely smuggling balloons, were observed entering Polish airspace from Belarus, prompting temporary airspace closures. These incidents followed widespread Russian strikes against Ukraine, leading to the involvement of NATO allies in air policing and defense. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported the attacks caused civilian casualties and targeted critical infrastructure.
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The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed an attack on a synthetic rubber factory in Russia’s Tula Oblast on December 24, resulting in explosions and a large-scale fire. The plant in Efremov produces dual-use materials crucial for military applications, including vehicle tires. Local reports and social media images corroborate the incident, while the Tula Oblast Governor acknowledged a fire at an enterprise without specifying details. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported downing numerous Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, but didn’t confirm the Tula incident’s cause.
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Newly released transcripts reveal Vladimir Putin’s perspective on Ukraine dating back to 2001, where he informed then-President George W. Bush that Ukraine historically belonged to Russia. During their initial meeting, Putin offered a historical interpretation of the Soviet Union’s collapse, claiming that territories like Ukraine were “given away” by Soviet officials. He also inquired about Russia’s potential NATO membership. Furthermore, reports indicate Putin has expressed a desire to continue the war in Ukraine.
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Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated in an interview that any “little green men” attempting to cross the Estonian border would be met with deadly force. This follows recent border incidents involving unmarked individuals, similar to those seen during Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. Tsahkna cited reports of such incidents near Narva, a border town, and emphasized that Estonia is closely monitoring the situation. Estonia’s stance comes as a response to multiple violations, including brief incursions by Russian border guards and the presence of a Wagner-affiliated vessel, particularly along the Narva River which forms the border.
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Recently, Russia deployed nuclear-capable bombers on a long-range Christmas flight over the Norwegian Sea, prompting NATO to scramble fighter jets to monitor the aircraft. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the flight, which lasted over seven hours, but did not specify which NATO air forces intercepted the Tu-95MS bombers. These actions follow a pattern of Russian aircraft activity near NATO airspace, including previous interceptions and airspace violations by Russia near Poland, Estonia, and Norway. While escalating tensions, the U.S. and Russia have both made declarations that could potentially lead to conflict.
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On December 24th, Ukrainian forces launched a series of attacks on crucial targets in Russia and Russian-occupied territories. These attacks resulted in damage to the Yefremov Synthetic Rubber Enterprise in the Tula region, a facility producing components for explosives. Additionally, a storage facility for unmanned boats near Myrne village in Crimea was targeted, along with a regimental-level storage site for supplies in the Luhansk region. The Ukrainian General Staff also reported strikes on various air defense positions and areas where Russian forces were concentrated.
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Ukraine’s Defense Minister announced plans to equip the Armed Forces with a staggering three million first-person-view (FPV) drones by the end of 2025. This represents a significant increase, nearly 2.5 times more than the previous year, highlighting the country’s commitment to bolstering domestic weapons production. The majority of these drones are domestically produced, with a large portion procured through direct contracts and the DOT-Chain Defence IT system. Furthermore, the Ukrainian military has also expanded its use of ground-based robotic systems, receiving nearly 15,000 platforms in 2025.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Chinese satellite imagery has coincided with Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities, according to information received from the Head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service. The intelligence also indicated Russia’s efforts to evade sanctions on its energy companies through alternative management schemes. Zelenskyy also addressed the deployment of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus, emphasizing the need for international awareness and a coordinated response. Furthermore, the briefing highlighted increased ties between Russia and Chinese entities providing space intelligence data, potentially prolonging the war and hindering diplomatic efforts.
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In Moscow, a car explosion resulted in the deaths of two traffic police officers and a third individual. The incident occurred when the officers approached a “suspicious person” near their vehicle, triggering an explosive device. Russian authorities are investigating the crime, reviewing CCTV footage, and establishing a crime scene. A Ukrainian military intelligence official reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, which happened near the site where a senior Russian military officer was killed by a car bomb earlier in the week.
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John Q. Hosedrinker