New Russian breakthrough attempt in Kupyansk, three plans for Ukraine from Trump's advisers: December 4 highlights
The Russians made a new attempt to break through to Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast, but they were destroyed by the Ukrainian military. There are three main proposals surrounding the newly elected US President Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine: all of them involve Ukraine's relinquishing its NATO aspirations and the occupied territories. We collected the main news for December 4.
Russia’s attempt to break through to Kupyansk
Russian troops again tried to break into the city of Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast, but their armored vehicles and infantrymen were destroyed by Ukrainian defenders.
According to Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, the Russians are trying to advance along the entire front, breaking through to the outskirts of the town or into the residential sector, deploying landing troops and trying to gain a foothold before the approach of reinforcements.
Tax increases have been postponed
The Verkhovna Rada adopted a draft law, which provides that the payment of increased taxes for sole proprietors will come into effect on January 1, 2025.
MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak explained that it was in this draft law that there was a norm by which the tax increase in the tax draft No. 11416d was corrected "retroactively" from October 1.
In addition, the Verkhovna Rada failed the draft law on strengthening responsibility for the dissemination of information from public electronic registers, which was criticized by the media.
At the same time, the parliament managed to vote for an increase in the excise tax on tobacco products - a pack of cigarettes will become more expensive by approximately 40 hryvnias ($1).
Three plans proposed by Trump advisers
Advisors to US President-elect Donald Trump are privately discussing proposals to end the war in Ukraine. Their ideas have some common elements, in particular, Ukraine's relinquishing its NATO aspirations and the occupied territories.
Among the plans being discussed in Trump's entourage are special envoy Keith Kellogg's plan for the war in Ukraine, Vice President JD Vance's plan and proposals by former acting director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell.
The mayor of Dniprorudne was tortured in Russian captivity
During the last exchange of bodies of the dead between Russia and Ukraine, the body of the mayor of the occupied city of Dniprorudne, in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Yevheniy Matveyev, was returned home.
He spent 2 years and 8 months in captivity. According to regional governor Ivan Fedorov, the Russians tortured Matveyev in captivity.
Radio dictation results
This year's Radio Dictation of National Unity was written by one person without a single mistake - Khrystyna Hoyaniuk from Lviv, who is a multiple winner.
Since 2000, the woman has not missed a single dictation. Her father was a teacher of Ukrainian language and literature, director of a school in Boryslav. Also, five more people made only two mistakes in dictation.
South Korean defense minister resigns
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun took responsibility for declaring martial law and resigned. He apologized to the citizens for "confusion and concern".
Meanwhile, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets, demanding the resignation of President Yoon Seok-yeol, who announced the introduction of martial law.
Other news
- US State Secretary Antony Blinken advised Ukraine to make "difficult decisions" regarding mobilization.
- Ukraine will receive a €35 billion loan from the EU. It will be repaid using frozen assets of the Russian Federation.
- Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson refused to put aid to Ukraine to a vote.
- Monuments with imperial symbols are being dismantled in Odesa. Among them are monuments to Pushkin and models of the Order of Lenin.
- Ukraine is preparing sanctions against the government of Georgia, according to President Zelenskyy.