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The latest developments in Russia’s war on Ukraine. All times EST.
5:30 p.m.: Brittney Griner has said she will return to basketball after her 10-month ordeal in a Russian jail.
The WNBA player was released last week in a prisoner swap for the notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout at Abu Dhabi airport.
Griner spoke for the first time since the exchange on Friday, thanking President Joe Biden and vowing to return for Phoenix Mercury this season.
4:30 p.m.: Canada is committing an additional $500 million in financial assistance to Ukraine through the sale of Canadian bonds allowing individuals and other entities to support Kyiv, Canada's Finance Department said Friday. This marks $2.45 billion in dispersed loans so far.
The loan, transferred through the International Monetary Fund (IMF), follows the sale of bonds costing $100 or more to Canadians, investors, institutions and other buyers, the government said in a statement.
Individual Canadians bought $50 million worth of the bonds since they were issued November 29, it added.
Backing Ukraine "means ensuring the Ukrainian government has the resources it needs to keep providing essential services to Ukrainians this winter," Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland said, adding that she hopes other countries will be inspired to offer such bonds.
Ottawa's sale of its Ukraine Sovereignty Bond was the world's first bond dedicated to Ukraine, according to the government.
3:30 p.m.: Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, held a meeting with Special Representative of the Federal Government of Germany on how local authorities can work together to protect Ukraine from Russian military aggression and to ensure the resilience of Ukraine.
Tymoshenko said that from the beginning of Russia's invasion on Ukraine, Ukrainian communities have participated in the reconstruction process of the country.
"All communities, mayors of cities and towns forgot about politics, became a single team and work to protect Ukraine from the Russian invasion. We all work together: local government, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Office of the President. And this benefits the country," Tymoshenko said.
2:30 p.m.: During a video address Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia still had enough missiles for more massive strikes like the one it launched earlier in the day against Ukraine's electricity generation system.
"Whatever the rocket worshipers from Moscow are counting on, it still won't change the balance of power in this war," he said in a video address.
He said that the European Union, which just approved the ninth package of sanctions against Russia, will continue its sanctions policy "because it is obvious that the pressure needs to be increased," he said.
2:05 p.m.: Croatian lawmakers on Friday narrowly rejected a proposal for Croatia to join an EU mission supporting the Ukrainian military.
In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Union agreed in October to set up the Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) and appointed a Polish general to lead training, most of which will take place in Poland.
RFE/RL reports 22 of 27 European Union members have confirmed their participation in the mission.
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, who is the supreme commander of the Croatian armed forces, opposed the proposal, which would have included the training of Ukrainian troops in Croatia.
Milanovic said Croatia should not be involved in the war and the proposal would violate the constitution because it failed to clarify the basis for declaring Ukraine an ally, a non-EU or NATO member.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, a supporter of the proposal, criticized the decision. "The participation in this military mission is just a consistent, principled, and rational decision of Croatia, in its national interest." He said those who voted against the measure had not yet distinguished "The forest from the trees, white from black, day from night, good from evil."
1:30 p.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people on Friday were awarded a prize that the German city of Aachen gives for contributions to European unity.
The prize committee said Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people were selected for the 2023 International Charlemagne Prize because they were fighting Russia not only for the sovereignty of Ukraine "but also for Europe and European values," German news agency dpa reported.
The Associated Press reports that the committee said awarding the prize to Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people underscored that their nation is part of Europe.
Oleksii Makeiev, Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, wrote Friday on Twitter that the decision "encourages us in our fight for democratic European values, freedom and a peaceful life in the future."
1:05 p.m.: According to the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC), the vessel ALMERAY (IMO 9300910) left the Ukrainian port Odesa, carrying a total of 32,400 metric tons of corn to ports of Libya.
During the first half of December, 1,682,708 metric tons of grain and food products were exported from Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenniy/Yuzhny ports under the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Friday, two inbound vessels transited the maritime humanitarian corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative heading towards Ukrainian ports.
Also on December 16, the joint inspection teams concluded eight inspections, three on board outbound vessels and five on board inbound vessels.
Currently, 92 vessels are waiting in Turkish territorial waters. Out of those 92, 71 are waiting to move — following inspection — into Ukrainian ports with the capacity to export approximately 2.5 million tons of grain and other food products. Some of those vessels have been waiting for over a month. The rest of the vessels (21) are loaded with cargo and are waiting for inspection so they can sail to their global destinations.
On December 17, the JCC is planning to deploy three joint inspection teams to conduct 12 inspections, six on inbound and six on outbound vessels.
As of December 16, the total tonnage of grain and other foodstuffs exported from the three Ukrainian ports is 14,023,297 metric tons. A total of 1,112 voyages (556 inbound and 556 outbound) have been enabled so far.
The JCC monitors closely the passage of commercial vessels through the maritime humanitarian corridor.
12:15 p.m.: Ukraine needs thousands more generators that are bigger and stronger to get through winter, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Friday.
"Small and medium-sized Ukrainian entrepreneurs have already imported 500,000 low power generators. But to get through the winter, we will need about 17,000 big and industrial generating units," Shmyhal told a government meeting.
"We hope to cover part of these needs with the help of our partners," he said.
Ukraine's grid operator Ukrenergo said after the latest Russian shelling on Friday that repair times would be longer than after previous attacks, and that it would take longer to restore power, Reuters reports.
11:55 a.m.: European Union unity over sanctions on Russia has started to fracture as Europe's own stumbling economy weakens resolve to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow for war in Ukraine.
EU leaders agreed Thursday to a ninth package of sanctions, but there was dissonance among EU countries, with Poland and the Baltic states that neighbor Russia campaigning for tougher measures, while states further west, such as Germany, were more hesitant.
Some, such as Belgium and Greece, as well as Hungary which still relies heavily on Russian energy imports, pushed back against further sweeping measures, EU diplomats told Reuters.
"It is becoming increasingly difficult to impose sanctions that hit Russia hard enough, without excessive collateral damage to the EU," a spokesperson for Belgium's government said ahead of the deal at the EU leaders' summit, Reuters reports.
11:15 a.m.: EU is sending 100 million Euros to help rebuild Ukraine’s schools destroyed by Russia, tweets President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyer.
11:05 a.m.: Russian athletes face major hurdles before they can return to the Olympics in track and field, The Associated Press reported.
11:05 a.m.: Russian athletes face major hurdles before they can return to the Olympics in track and field, The Associated Press reported.
In an interview this week, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe sketched out a two-part process for Russian reinstatement. First, long-running doping sanctions against Russia would have to be lifted. Only then would World Athletics begin debating whether to lift sanctions against Russians related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The International Olympic Committee is pushing for that outcome and put its desire into writing at its Olympic summit last week. Coe has said the best way for Russians to be reinstated would be for Russia to “get out of Ukraine.”
10:45 a.m.: Following a visit by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu last week, Belarus conducted a sudden inspection of troops' and continues to engage in covert mobilization.
Russia deploys additional military aircraft to Belarus, including equipment capable of carrying Kinzhal ballistic missiles.
In his bid to distance Belarus from the West, dictator Alexander Lukashenko calls for the nationalization of foreign-owned enterprises in Belarus. Belarus' Central Bank removes the euro from its currency basket weightings, increasing the weight given to the Russian ruble, the Kyiv Independent reports.
10:15 a.m.: Local children discovered an armed PMN-2 anti-personnel mine inside a backpack in liberated Sniihurivka, according to Mykolaiv Oblast police chief Serhii Shaikhet and Vitalii Kim, the oblast governor. Local police were alerted to the presence of the mine, which was later removed and destroyed by a bomb disposal unit, the officials said.
Shaikhet also reported on Dec. 15 that a 26-year-old resident of Snihurivka district had found two Russian anti-personnel mines and brought them home, where they exploded, killing him and wounding another person.
According to Serhii Kruk, who heads Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, about 30% of Ukrainian territory is mined due to Russia’s full-scale war, equal to twice the area of Austria.
Cases of doors, household items, and even dead bodies being rigged with booby traps have been recorded in liberated territories across Ukraine, the Kyiv Independent reports.
9:45 a.m.: Russian missile strikes caused "colossal" damage to infrastructure in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Friday and mainly affected the energy system, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.
Ukrainian energy consumption dropped on Friday after Russian missile strikes, the Ukrenergo power grid operator said in a statement.
According to the Kyiv Independent, Necessary repairs to the electricity grid may take longer than before, the operator said, adding that priority will be given to critical infrastructure facilities, namely hospitals, water and heat supply facilities, and sewage treatment plants.
This was the seventh large-scale attack by Russia on Ukraine. It launched 76 missiles at the country, 60 of which were shot down by Ukrainian air defense. The previous mass missile strikes on Ukraine took place on Oct. 10, Oct. 17, Oct. 31, Nov. 15, Nov. 23, and Dec. 5.
9:15 a.m.: The White House said on Friday the next security assistance package for Ukraine is coming and it is expected to include more air defense capabilities for the country.
"As you have seen in previous packages, I think you can expect to see additional air defense capabilities in this," John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, Reuters reports.
9:45 a.m.: Russian missile strikes caused "colossal" damage to infrastructure in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Friday and mainly affected the energy system, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.
Ukrainian energy consumption dropped on Friday after Russian missile strikes, the Ukrenergo power grid operator said in a statement.
According to the Kyiv Independent, Necessary repairs to the electricity grid may take longer than before, the operator said, adding that priority will be given to critical infrastructure facilities, namely hospitals, water and heat supply facilities, and sewage treatment plants.
This was the seventh large-scale attack by Russia on Ukraine. It launched 76 missiles at the country, 60 of which were shot down by Ukrainian air defense. The previous mass missile strikes on Ukraine took place on Oct. 10, Oct. 17, Oct. 31, Nov. 15, Nov. 23, and Dec. 5.
8:40 a.m.: The air raid siren across the whole territory of Ukraine started at 8 am local time today. Three explosions were heard in the city of Kyiv alone, one of which was close to the home of VOA's reporter Anna Chernikova. She reports from Kyiv that the explosion was very powerful, and her apartment building was shaking. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv reports that the capital is currently experiencing water supply and electricity supply troubles due to the attacks. All the rescue services are currently working on the accident scenes. Metro stations in Kyiv are currently working as bomb shelters, the metro is not operating.
Other explosions were reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Donetsk, and some western regions. The cities of Kharkiv, Poltava, Kremenchuk, as well as the whole Kirovohrad region, are currently experiencing a complete electricity blackout.
Local authorities confirm fifteen hits in the city of Zaporizhzhia. The consequences are to be clarified.
Local authorities of the city of Kryvyi Rih reported the hit in the residential building. rescue operation is ongoing. Two people were reported dead, eight were injured including three children. The final numbers are to be confirmed.
Local authorities of the Kharkiv region confirm that at least 10 missiles were launched targeting energy infrastructure in the region.
Ukrainian Air Force Command reported that Russia has launched over 70 missiles at Ukraine targeting critical energy infrastructure. Over 60 missiles were destroyed by air defense. 37 out of 40 missiles were shot down by Ukrainian air defense over Kyiv alone. 10 missiles were destroyed in the air over the Dnipropetrovsk region.
8:15 a.m.: When Russian forces seized her town, chemistry teacher Natalia Vorobiova had a choice: collaborate and be left alone or defy them and risk everything. She chose defiance, The Kyiv Independent reported.
Even after Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) threatened to abduct and imprison her in Siberia, she continued to refuse to teach a Russian curriculum. When some other teachers chose to work with the Russians, she tried to collect their names and turn them over to Ukrainian authorities.
7:40 a.m.: In Photos: Outbreak of Mystery Fires Hits Russia: A deadly fire at an oil refinery in Russia on Thursday is the latest in a string of major blazes that have hit Russia over the past month. Some of the blazes have destroyed facilities that were vital for Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
5:48 a.m.: The Russian officer corps continues to suffer losses in #Ukraine, and Russian forces may be trying to form more integrated units to address issues with units comprised solely of mobilized personnel, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
5:23 a.m.:
5:05 a.m.: Russian Women Struggle After Men Flee Ukraine-War Draft: Hundreds of thousands of Russian men are reported to have fled the country since Moscow announced a "partial" mobilization in September. Many left family and loved ones behind. Their wives and partners have been left with the burden of raising a family alone, often without a strong support system or sufficient finances. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has this report.
4:47 a.m.:
4:16 a.m.: On Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed a bill for a record $858 billion defense budget next year, authorizing $45 billion more than proposed by President Joe Biden. The bill, which Biden is expected to quickly sign into law, provides Ukraine at least $800 million in additional security assistance in 2023, Reuters reported.
3:42 a.m.: Ukrainian defense chiefs predicted Russia will launch a new offensive early next year that could include a second attempt to take the capital Kyiv, as Western allies stepped up their support with additional funding and military training, Reuters reported.
Moscow's new offensive could happen as soon as January, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, General Valery Zaluzhniy and General Oleksandr Syrskiy were quoted as saying in interviews with The Economist magazine on Thursday.
The push could be launched from the eastern Donbas area, the south or neighboring Belarus, and could include another ground assault on Kyiv, which Moscow failed to capture early in the invasion, the officials said.
3:16 a.m.: European Union leaders wrapped up their last summit of 2022 with an agreement to provide $19.1 billion in financing to Ukraine next year and slap more sanctions on Russia as the EU also prepared to cap natural gas prices and prop up its industry, Reuters reported.
Poland withdrew last-minute objections to a global minimum corporate tax, unblocking a package of linked agreements that includes the loan to Ukraine, where a war has raged since Russia launched an invasion in February that Moscow refers to as a "special military operation."
As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy predicted that the months to come would be ever harder than the war had already been on his country, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised more aid.
"Our joint determination to support Ukraine politically, financially, militarily and in the humanitarian area for as long as necessary remains unbroken," Scholz said after talks among the 27 national EU leaders in Brussels.
U.S. Treasury Secretary in a written statement applauded the global minimum tax agreement.
2:36 a.m.:
1:54 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Belarus on Monday for talks with his counterpart and ally Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarus leader's office said, Agence France-Presse reported.
The Belarus presidency said Friday the pair will hold discussions at the Independence Palace, Lukashenko's office, in Minsk during Putin's "working visit."
The visit comes 10 months into Russia's offensive in Ukraine, which was launched from several directions, including Belarusian territory.
1:23 a.m.: Russia invaded Ukraine hoping for a quick victory over Kyiv's forces, but is instead locked in a grinding, protracted war that has failed to achieve Moscow's main aims, Agence France-Presse reported.
The United States and other countries imposed punishing sanctions on Russia, leaving it increasingly isolated, and are providing a steady stream of weapons and other equipment that have been instrumental in Ukrainian victories over Moscow's forces.
How the war in Ukraine has played out -- both on the world stage and the battlefield -- serves as a cautionary tale on the potential dangers of launching such an invasion and offers other lessons as well.
General Mark Milley, the top U.S. military officer, said the war was providing "lessons learned" for Washington and Europe, as well as for Taiwan and China.
12:44 a.m.: In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “During another Russian shelling of Kherson today, a projectile hit the aid station of the Red Cross. The woman who died was a paramedic, a volunteer. My condolences to the relatives... Just since the beginning of this day, Russia has shelled Kherson more than 16 times! Only in one day! And it is so every day.”
He added, “The only way to stop this is to push out Russian terrorists step by step from our Ukrainian land. To continue the pressure on Russia. To find new ways to hold every Russian terrorist, every Russian oligarch who helps the terrorist state and all Russian officials and propagandists to account for everything they do. Do against Ukraine, against freedom as such.”
12:14 a.m.: The Biden administration is planning to send Ukraine advanced electronic equipment that converts unguided aerial munitions into “smart bombs” that can target Russian military positions with a high degree of accuracy, according to senior U.S. officials.
Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
