"European leaders approved an interest-free loan for Ukraine, providing a financial lifelineand securing the cash-strapped country's financing needs for at least the next two years, EU Council President Antonio Costa said on Dec. 19.
"We have a deal. Decision to provide 90 billion euros ($105.5 billion) of support to Ukraine for 2026-27 approved. We committed, we delivered," Costa said in a post on social media.
EU officials had initially sought to underpin a large loan to Ukraine with frozen Russian assets, but after failing to secure a consensus, they opted for an alternative financing approach." KI
"A strong M7.0 oblique-slip earthquake struck beneath the Hubbard Glacier in the St. Elias
Mountains, about 89 km (55 miles) north of Yakutat, Alaska, at 11:40 AKST (20:40 UTC). The quake triggered widespread ground failures, with over 700 landslides and snow avalanches identified across Alaska and Canada. The largest and most concentrated slope failures occurred within a 16 km (10 miles) wide band along the estimated fault rupture." W
"A strong magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 322 km (200 mi)
from Kamchatka, Russia, in the early morning at 12.37 am local time (GMT +12). The quake had a shallow depth of 66 km (41 mi) and was felt widely in the area. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD
"A strong magnitude 5.3 earthquake hit 58 km (36 mi) away from Taloqan, Takhar, Afghanistan, in the morning at 10.09 am local time (GMT +4:30). The quake had a shallow depth of 35 km (22 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD
"Ukrainian Defense Forces engaged in 183 clashes with Russian troops.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, Ukrainian forces repelled four assaults; two clashes are ongoing. The enemy carried out one airstrike using three glide bombs and 150 attacks on Ukrainian positions and settlements, including seven with MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, eight attacks occurred near Starytsia, Prylipky, Vovchansk, Okhrimivka, and Dovhenke.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russians conducted nine offensive attempts near Kurylivka, Pishchane, Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, Novoplatonivka, and Kupiansk; one clash continues.
In the Lyman sector, there were nine attacks toward Chervonyi Stav, Stavky, Drobysheve, Novoiehorivka, and Zarichne; two clashes are ongoing.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled three assaults near Serebrianka and Zvanivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian forces attacked 24 times in the areas of Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Rusyn Yar, and toward Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Stepanivka, and Sofiivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian forces attempted 46 attacks near Chervonyi Lyman, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Filiia, as well as toward Toretske, Nove Shakhove, and Novopavlivka. Two clashes are ongoing. Ukrainian forces eliminated 123 invaders here, including 101 irreversibly, along with seven drones, three vehicles, three motorcycles, and one special vehicle; 11 enemy shelters were destroyed.
In the Oleksandrohrad sector, Russians launched 22 assaults near Tolstoi, Oleksandrohrad, Stepove, Pryvilne, Verbove, Krasnohirsk, Zlahoda, Rybne, and toward Andriivka-Klevtsove, Ivanivka, Lisne, and Nove Zaporizhzhia. Lisne, Oleksandrohrad, and Havrylivka were targeted by glide bomb airstrikes.
In the Huliaipole sector, 17 attacks occurred near Solodke, Zelene, Huliaipole, and toward Varvarivka and Dobropillia. Russian aviation struck Huliaipole and Ternuvate.
In the Orikhiv sector, three Russian advances toward Novoandriivka, Prymorske, and Plavni were repelled. Russian forces dropped bombs on Orikhiv, Balabyne, and Malokaterynivka.
In the Prydniprovske sector, two unsuccessful enemy assaults toward Antonivka were repelled." Ukrin
