Russian Chief of Staff, Valery Gerasimov, stated on Tuesday that Russian forces were advancing along the entire front in Ukraine and had taken over 30% of the buildings in the eastern town of Myrnohrad.
Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Defense claims that their air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 121 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Kremlin States Putin Does Not Want to Restore the USSR or Attack NATO
The Kremlin declared on Tuesday that European claims that Russian President, Vladimir Putin, wants to restore the Soviet Union were incorrect and that accusations of planning to invade a NATO member were "absolutely false."
Lukashenko Responds to Lithuania's Accusations Regarding Balloon Incidents: "They Begin to Exaggerate the Problem and Politicize It"
Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, stated that Lithuania is exaggerating incidents related to balloons coming from Belarus and politicizing the situation, as reported by the Telegram channel Pul Pervogo.
Additionally, Lukashenko assured that pilots have informed him that the balloons pose no risk to Lithuania.
Russians Deported by the US Receive Military Draft Notice Upon Landing in Moscow
Russian citizens deported by the United States received military draft notices to join the Russian Army, which has been fighting in Ukraine since 2022, upon landing at Moscow airport, according to reports.
The notices require the citizens to report to the military recruitment office, as reported by the opposition media outlet Agentstvo, although the exact number of deportees is unknown.
The passengers made a stopover in Cairo along with approximately 50 Iranian citizens also deported by the United States after departing from Mesa, Arizona on December 7th.
Billionaire Andrej Babis Returns to Power in the Czech Republic
Czech billionaire Andrej Babis was appointed as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic on Tuesday, two months after his party won the legislative elections and four years after losing power.
Babis, 71 years old, who had previously led the country from 2017 to 2021, was officially appointed by President Petr Pavel.
Babis, who campaigned on promises to increase social benefits and reduce aid to Ukraine to prioritize Czech citizens, reaffirmed his loyalty to the European Union post-elections.
However, his return to power could signify a shift towards Brussels and closer ties with Hungary and Slovakia, which have rejected any military aid to Ukraine and have hindered sanctions against Russia.
Three Journalists Killed in Ukraine in the Past Year
In Ukraine, where three journalists have died in the past year from drone attacks, the Russian army continues to target national and international journalists, as denounced by Reporters Without Borders.
Pope Receives Zelensky at Castel Gandolfo This Morning
Pope Leon XIV receives Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Tuesday at his residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome.
The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 local time (8:30 GMT), as reported by Vatican sources.
This will be the third official meeting between them, following Leon XIV's audience with Zelensky after the start of his pontificate on May 18th and a second meeting on July 9th, also in Castel Gandolfo.
Russia States There Is Currently No Dialogue with the US on Extending the New START Treaty
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, stated on Tuesday that Russia is not currently in talks with the United States to extend the New START treaty.
"We are not in dialogue with the United States on this matter," Ryabkov said. The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is the most important nuclear arms control treaty currently in force between the United States and Russia.
The Chief of Staff awarded the military personnel who excelled during the capture of Pokrovsk, a significant logistical center of the Ukrainian Army and one of the main Russian targets over the past year.
Russian forces have maintained a blockade of the Ukrainian military garrison in Mirnograd for several weeks despite Ukrainian efforts to break the siege, aiming to capture this town, a satellite city of Pokrovsk.
Russia Shoots Down 121 Ukrainian Drones Over Twelve Russian Regions and the Caspian Sea
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 121 Ukrainian drones over 12 Russian regions and the Caspian Sea last night, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
"During the past night, between 11:00 Moscow time (20:00 GMT) on December 8th and 7:00 Moscow time (04:00 GMT), Russian anti-aircraft systems intercepted 121 fixed-wing Ukrainian drones," stated the Russian military command on Telegram.
According to Defense, the majority of the attacks were directed towards the border region of Belgorod, where 49 drones were shot down, and the annexed Crimea, with 22 drones.
Other regions targeted include Ryazan (10), Voronezh (9), Rostov (5), Kalmykia (5), Nizhny Novgorod (4), Lipetsk (3), Kursk (2), Krasnodar (2), Bryansk (1), and Tula (1).
Hungarian Foreign Minister Arrives in Moscow
Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, has arrived in Moscow to participate in a meeting of the Russian-Hungarian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS on Tuesday.
Lithuania Declares State of Emergency Due to Smuggling Balloons from Belarus
Lithuania declared a state of emergency on Tuesday due to public security threats posed by smuggling balloons from Belarus, as announced by the government.
Russian Chief of Staff Inspects the Central Military Group Fighting in Ukraine
Russian Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, conducted an inspection visit today to the command post of the Central military group, engaged in combat in the Ukrainian city of Mirnograd and the Dnipropetrovsk front sector.
"The Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defense, Army General Valery Gerasimov, inspected the combat missions carried out by the units of the Central military group," reported the Russian military command on Telegram, which shared a video of the visit.
According to Defense, during the inspection, Gerasimov emphasized that "following the liberation of the city of Krasnoarmeisk (Russian name for Pokrovsk) by units of the second army, the main mission of the Central group is to annihilate the Ukrainian forces surrounded in Dmitrov (Russian name for Mirnograd)."
Zelenski Insists on Not Ceding Territory and Prepares a New Peace Plan Review
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky,, stated after meeting on Monday in London and Brussels with European leaders and NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, that he has no right to cede any territory to Russia and expects to present a revised peace plan to the American negotiators conducting current two-way talks with the Russians according to Kiev's position.
"If we consider the issue of giving up any territory? We have no, according to the law, right. According to Ukrainian law, according to our Constitution, according to international law, if we are fair. And we also have no moral right," Zelensky said in a press conference after his meetings with European leaders on Monday.