Ukraine produced almost 100 new missile-drones "Peklo"

Ukraine has produced nearly 100 Peklo missile-drone hybrids as the weapon enters serial production. This development is part of Ukraine’s strategy to bolster its resilience through increased domestic production of long-range drones and missiles.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine aims to produce at least 30,000 long-range drones in the coming year. While specific details about Peklo’s capabilities remain classified, Zelensky described it as a "fundamentally new type" of weapon. Reports indicate that Peklo combines the features of a drone and missile, equipped with a jet engine and advanced guidance system. The hybrid weapon has a range of 700 kilometers (430 miles) and a speed of 700 km/h (430 mph) and has reportedly been successfully deployed.

According to the report, 70% of the Peklo’s components are domestically manufactured, though importing the remaining parts poses challenges. The system’s flexibility allows it to function with different engines, depending on market availability.

The production of long-range weapons like Peklo is vital to Ukraine’s defense strategy, offering a domestic alternative to restricted Western arms and addressing shortages of artillery ammunition.

Ukraine’s emphasis on smaller, domestically produced rockets contrasts with Russia’s reliance on larger systems like the recently developed Oreshnik missile.

Over 16,000 Ukrainian civilians held captive in Russia

Over 16,000 Ukrainian civilians are currently imprisoned in Russia, with only 168 released so far, according to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, as reported by Ukrinform.

Lubinets revealed that Ukraine maintains a detailed list indicating the detention of over 16,000 civilians in Russian prisons. He emphasized that international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions do not cover the exchange of civilians for prisoners of war, complicating efforts to secure their release.

Despite these challenges, Ukraine has successfully freed 168 civilians through mechanisms outside standard exchange protocols. Lubinets affirmed that Ukrainian negotiators are working tirelessly to repatriate all captives, including journalists.

He also highlighted the plight of journalists held by Russian forces, who face torture and even murder to suppress media voices in occupied territories.

Russia sets 2025 goal to fully occupy 4 Ukrainian regions

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov announced on Dec. 16 that Moscow intends to fully capture Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts by 2025, aligning with the objectives outlined by President Vladimir Putin in June.

Belousov reiterated Russia’s plan to achieve "victory" in the war by 2025, conditional on Ukraine withdrawing from the four regions, abandoning its NATO aspirations, and recognizing Crimea and Sevastopol as Russian territory. Putin had previously stated that Russia would agree to a ceasefire and negotiations only if these demands were met.

Despite these claims, Ukraine maintains control over significant portions of these territories, including regional capitals Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

During the meeting, Belousov also stressed the importance of preparing for potential conflicts with NATO in the next decade.

The international community continues to condemn Russia’s illegal annexation of these oblasts in 2022, with the Kremlin facing strong Ukrainian resistance in its attempts to gain control.