"President Trump is all over the place - his intentions ever more difficult to interpret - at amoment the media has highlighted Iraq war levels of military build-up in the Middle East with an eye on potential attack on Iran.
"Now we may have to take it a step further, or we may not," Trump added later. Then he set somewhat of a timeline, "You’re going to be finding out over the next, probably, 10 days."
At this moment the Trump-assembled armada threatening Iran includes two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, hundreds of jets, and advanced air defenses. Over 150 US military cargo flights have delivered weapons to the Middle East this month, with a surge of aircraft still headed to the region." ZeroHedge
"A 28-year-old Brazilian recruit died after a brutal punishment handed out in a unit that regularly used discipline practices described as "torture" by those who both witnessed and suffered them, a Kyiv Independent investigation can reveal.
The man, Bruno Gabriel Leal da Silva, died overnight Dec. 28-29, 2025, according to former fellow fighters who spoke to the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation.The unit in question is a Brazilian-led formation called Advanced Company, led by the Brazilian Leanderson Paulino who is accused by several of those serving under him of overseeing — and in some cases taking part in — the abuse of his subordinates.
"It was a battalion that tortured people. Abuse there was normal," one former soldier said.
Witnesses and victims interviewed by the Kyiv Independent described torture including burnings, beatings, waterboarding, and even sexual assault with wooden objects.
Advanced operates under Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) as an approximately 150-200-strong unit within Revanche, commanded by Bohdan Khodakovskyi, part of HUR's International Legion led by Maj. Vadym Popyk.
Ukrainian officials have acknowledged Leal da Silva's death and say they are investigating. Prosecutors said police have opened a pre-trial investigation after his body was found on the territory of a military unit in Kyiv, while the military ombudsman said her office has ordered an inspection of Advanced." KI
"Vladimir Zelensky has said he would refuse to discuss the historical issues underpinning the Ukraine conflict during any potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.During an interview with Piers Morgan on Wednesday, Zelensky said he did not want to hear about Putin’s rationale. “With respect to history, I don’t want to lose time on these issues,” he said. “It’s not even interesting for me why he began this war. I don’t want to speak about it because I don’t have the time,” Zelensky added.
The Ukrainian leader then went on a profanity-laden tirade, saying: “I don’t need to waste time on historic issues, reasons why he began [the war], all the bulls**t he is raising with the Americans, et cetera. To end this war and to [find a] diplomatic way, I don’t need all this historical s**t, really.” Ukrin
"A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurred in the Celebes Sea near the coast of Sulawesi
Tengah, Indonesia, in the morning at 8.26 am local time (GMT +8). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow.
The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD
"237 combat encounters between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Russian invaders were recorded.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, two clashes occurred. The enemy carried out 139 artillery strikes, including 11 from MLRS. The Russian army also carried out two airstrikes using five guided bombs.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy attempted four times to break through defensive lines in the areas of Vilcha, Fyholivka, Zelene, and Zarubynka.
In the Kupiansk sector, the invaders attacked twice near Kurylivka.In the Lyman sector, the Russian army attacked eight times, trying to penetrate defenses near Tverdokhlibove, Ridkodub, Drobysheve, Stavky, and Zarichne.
In the Sloviansk sector, the Defense Forces stopped eight attempts by the invaders to advance toward Rai-Oleksandrivka, Zakitne, Riznykivka, Platonivka, and Pazene.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy attacked seven times near Bondarne, Fedorivka, and Chasiv Yar.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the Russians carried out 22 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Berestok, Stepanivka, Rusyn Yar, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Sofiivka, Novopavlivka, and Illinivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Defense Forces stopped 42 assault actions by the Russian army near Zatyshok, Rodynske, Shevchenko, Novooleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, Novopavlivka, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Novopidhorodne, Bilytske, and Dachne.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked 10 times, attempting to advance toward Ivanivka, Ternove, Danylivka, Vyshneve, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Sosnivka, and Zlahoda.
In the Huliaipole sector, 49 Russian attacks occurred in the areas of Huliaipole and toward Dobropillia, Pryluky, Zaliznychne, Staroukrainka, Hirke, Sviatopetrivka, and Verkhnia Tersa.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian troops attacked four times toward Mala Tokmachka, Stepove, Mali Shcherbaky, and Prymorske." Ukrin
