Ukraine's brigade commander was arrested over alleged power abuse after it was highlighted in the media

Colonel Oleh Poberezhniuk, commander of the 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade, has been detained by a Ternopil court on charges of abuse of power, with bail set at Hr 908,400 ($21,600), according to the Prosecutor General's Office.

Poberezhniuk allegedly used four subordinates to construct his personal home in Khmelnytskyi Oblast in 2023, while they received full salaries and combat payments, falsely listed as being on duty in Mykolaiv Oblast.

A Ukrainska Pravda investigation revealed further allegations of abuse within the brigade, including physical punishments, extortion, and humiliation of service members. This prompted Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to launch investigations and suspend Poberezhniuk.

The 211th Brigade, established in August 2023, primarily performs engineering work but has faced scrutiny for nepotism and misconduct. Reports identified Captain Vladyslav Pastukh, Poberezhniuk’s godson, as a key figure in extortion schemes within the unit.

These revelations come amid Ukraine’s challenges with low enlistment and cases of desertion. Ground Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi recently announced reforms to improve recruitment and training.

Putin said that Russia should've invaded Ukraine sooner

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the so-called "special military operation" (SVO), Russia's term for its invasion of Ukraine, should have begun earlier. Speaking at his annual end-of-year press conference, Putin defended the decision to invade, claiming it was unavoidable.

“I believe the decision we made in early 2022 should’ve been made sooner. Knowing what was coming, we should’ve started preparing earlier, particularly for the 'SVO,'” Putin said. He described Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 as “spontaneous” and suggested that the events of 2022 lacked sufficient preparation.

Putin accused Ukraine of refusing to implement the Minsk agreements, citing “eight years of war” and claiming Ukraine sought to destroy “everything associated with Russia.”

When asked about the personal toll of the war, Putin admitted that it had affected him. “I joke and laugh less,” he said.

The remarks highlight Putin’s ongoing attempts to justify the invasion and frame it as a necessary response to perceived threats from Ukraine.

Zelenskyy rejects Putin's call to downsize Ukraine's army

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Kyiv would not agree to reduce the size of its Armed Forces, even if Ukraine receives an invitation to join NATO. He stressed that without robust security guarantees, any such reduction is unacceptable.

Speaking to journalists in Brussels on December 18, Zelenskyy reiterated that NATO membership remains Ukraine's best security guarantee. While Ukraine continues to seek an invitation to join the alliance, he is also exploring other forms of guarantees, including sanctions and financial assurances.

However, Zelenskyy emphasized that these measures alone are insufficient to prevent further aggression from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The best security guarantee is a powerful and large army—the largest in Europe," Zelenskyy stated. He underscored that Ukraine has no reason to limit the strength of its military, even while pursuing NATO membership.

The president also stressed the importance of economic strength as part of Ukraine's defense strategy, highlighting the need to secure funding for the country’s budget deficit during the ongoing war. He expressed confidence in Kyiv’s ability to address this issue, noting that plans are in place to close the gap in 2025.

As long as Ukraine remains outside NATO, Zelenskyy warned, the country will remain vulnerable to further Russian aggression.

Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih damaged local infrastructure, including a hospital

Explosions rocked Kryvyi Rih on the evening of December 18, leading to widespread power outages and significant damage to civilian infrastructure. Around 11 p.m., Ukraine’s Air Force reported high-speed targets heading toward the city. Shortly after, local authorities confirmed the sounds of explosions.

Oleksandr Vilkul, head of Kryvyi Rih’s Defense Council, reported a complete power outage in the city and announced the establishment of a support headquarters to provide building materials and assistance to residents.

Later updates revealed the full extent of the damage. Central sewage collectors and zip-line systems were destroyed, and many apartment buildings were significantly damaged. A hospital in the city also sustained structural harm.

Emergency crews are working to restore essential services while assessing the damage. Authorities continue to coordinate relief efforts for affected residents.