Rumors about encirclement near Vremivka, fire at warehouse with parts for Shahed drones: December 23 highlights

A warehouse with parts for the Shahed drones burned down in Russia

A warehouse was on fire in the Alabuga economic zone in Tatarstan, where parts for Shahed-136 drones were stored, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported.

According to intelligence, the premises contained 65 fuselages of attack drones, as well as engines, navigation systems, and thermal imaging cameras for making Shahed drones.

Voloshyn: It's too early to talk about encirclement in the Vremivka sector

The situation in the Vremivka sector is difficult, Russian troops have been conducting more than 40 assault operations per day for several days in a row, but at the moment we cannot speak of a possible encirclement of Ukrainian troops, explained Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces.

DeepState analysts previously reported on the threat of encirclement. Voloshyn stressed that the Southern Defense Forces are aware of the Russians’ intentions and are conducting active defense.

Zelenskyy named the losses among North Korean soldiers

The number of North Korean soldiers killed and wounded in battles in Kursk Oblast has already exceeded 3,000 people, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.y

Meanwhile, South Korean intelligence reports that North Korea is preparing to transfer additional troops and attack drones to Russia.

Earlier, the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine discovered that Russia was trying to hide the presence of military personnel from North Korea by issuing them with fake documents.

A new poll showed that the majority of Ukrainians are confident that the Ukrainian Armed Forces' offensive operation in Kursk Oblast has strengthened Ukraine's negotiating position.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the blocking of the work of one air defense unit

A lieutenant colonel of the Ukrainian Navy said that the State Bureau of Investigation confiscated ammunition from him during its transportation. Because of this, the work of one air defense unit in southern Ukraine has been blocked.

The State Bureau of Investigation told hromadske that they are conducting a pre-trial investigation into the fact of the misappropriation of ammunition by a serviceman.

Zelenskyy: Meeting between Fico and Putin should interest Slovak special services

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the meeting between Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The head of state noted that discounts on Russian gas are not free as states pay for them with their sovereignty. According to Zelenskyy, the meeting between Fico and Putin should pique the interest of Slovak special services.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called Fico's energy policy "weak, dependent and short-sighted."

MP Tyshchenko once again failed to appear in court

MP Mykola Tyshchenko once again failed to appear in court. After ignoring previous hearings, he was supposed to be brought to court by force. According to the prosecutor, Tyshchenko himself promised to come, and therefore no force was used.

The court noted that Tyshchenko did not come because he had been in a hospital in Kyiv since the morning.

Professor of KNU: "Hungry" Ukrainian women will be delighted about foreign peacekeepers

Kyiv National University professor and journalist Mykyta Vasylenko, who was previously accused of sexism and pro-Russian views, has made a new statement that has caused outrage in the media and student community. The lecturer believes that foreign peacekeepers can improve Ukraine's demographics.

According to Vasylenko, at least 40,000 “men with money” could arrive in Ukraine as part of the peacekeeping mission. “Thousands of hungry Ukrainian women” who “didn’t have time to leave, or whose husbands were killed or maimed,” will be interested in them.

Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets demands an internal investigation into this case.

Human rights activist: 348 victims of sexual violence during the war received reparations

As of early December, 348 Ukrainians have received payments under the Interim Reparations Project for war-related sexual violence. More applications are coming from men than from women.

This was stated in an interview with hromadske by Liudmyla Huseynova, a human rights activist who survived captivity and, after her release, took care of women who had survived conflict-related sexual violence.

Rada committee supports bill to decriminalize porn

The Law Enforcement Committee of the Verkhovna Rada supported the revised bill on the decriminalization of porn for adoption in the first reading.

MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak noted that this version of the bill is "more conservative" and was prepared for over a year in discussions with the committee and working group.

Other news

• Germany has transferred new military aid to Ukraine, including air defense systems and Leopard 1 tanks.
• The occupiers showed a video of the interrogation of what appears to be an Australian prisoner of war. The Australian government reacted.
• 10 dead dolphins were found on the Black Sea coast.
• Ukrainians elected the judges of the National Selection for Eurovision 2025.