Zelenskyy arrives in Brussels. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Brussels on December 18 for important meetings with European leaders and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. In a post on Telegram, he outlined his schedule, which includes discussions with the leaders and heads of government from France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic, as well as with the NATO Secretary General, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission. Representatives from the UK and other nations are also expected to attend. Zelenskyy also confirmed his participation in a European Council meeting, emphasising that Europe needs a strong stance to ensure lasting peace. He stressed that resolving fundamental issues, such as ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, requires coordinated and effective action from European nations.
North Korean troops suffer heavy casualties in Kursk region, Ukraine confirms. According to The New York Times, North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine have faced heavy casualties, with hundreds killed or injured. The joint Russian-North Korean contingent, estimated at 50,000 soldiers, has been deployed near Russia’s border in the Kursk region to counter Ukrainian advances. However, Pentagon officials reported that the North Korean forces, described as poorly prepared, have suffered severe losses as Ukrainian troops effectively targeted their command posts and infantry positions. Meanwhile, the Security Service of Ukraine confirmed on 18 December reports from Western media about hundreds of injured North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region. According to intercepted conversations, Ukrainian intelligence revealed that “in just a few days, more than 200 wounded DPRK servicemen were transported to a Russian hospital near Moscow, quoting conversations: “Yesterday, a train brought around 100 people. Today, another 120—that’s already 200. And who knows how many more? Only God knows,” a nurse from one of the hospitals told her husband, who is currently in the combat zone in Ukraine.
Russia identifies new fuel oil spill areas after tanker collision in Kerch Strait. According to Radio Svoboda, Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations has identified new areas of fuel oil spills following the wreckage of two Russian tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, in the Kerch Strait during a storm on December 15. The tankers, which were carrying 13 and 14 crew members, respectively, were transporting a combined 9,200 tonnes of fuel oil. While one sailor lost their life, the remaining crew members were evacuated. The ministry has expanded the cleanup zone to 49 kilometres of shoreline in the Temryuk and Anapa districts of Krasnodar Krai, with patrol routes extended to 70 kilometres. Over 1,000 personnel and 100 units of equipment have been deployed, working around the clock to mitigate the spill’s impact. Initially, the affected area was reported to span 35 kilometres of the Krasnodar coastline.
Polish PM Tusk reports 17 Russian sabotage attacks, urges stronger borders. According to Suspilne, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that 17 sabotage attacks in Poland, orchestrated by Russian services, have been identified so far. Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference in Lviv, Tusk highlighted the need for continued vigilance along Poland’s borders with Belarus and Russia, where incidents, including gunfire, are reported almost daily. He noted that the identified acts of sabotage underline the necessity of bolstering Poland’s defensive capabilities, which he described as a shared priority for both Poland and Ukraine. Tusk’s visit to Lviv on 17 December also included discussions with Zelenskyy, resulting in an agreement to exchange visits: Tusk will return to Ukraine early next year, while Zelenskyy will travel to Warsaw as Poland assumes the EU presidency.
