Russia hit Kryviy Rih with ballistic missile

One person was killed; four people were rescued from under the rubble.

The US provided Ukraine with the first billion of the expected US$20 billion from frozen Russian assets

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that Ukraine has received the first $1 billion of a planned $20 billion loan backed by proceeds from frozen Russian assets.

“This is the first tranche of the $20 billion that the United States is prepared to allocate using frozen Russian assets under the G7 initiative,” Shmyhal wrote on Telegram.

He thanked U.S. partners and the World Bank for taking what he described as an important step toward justice. Shmyhal hoped that all sovereign Russian assets would eventually be confiscated and used for Ukraine's reconstruction.

Russia postpones seizure of major cities to advance through open territories

Russia's military strategy may have shifted under directives from Vladimir Putin, prioritizing incremental territorial advances over capturing major cities, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

ISW analysts observed that during Putin’s annual Direct Line press conference on Dec. 19, he praised Russian forces for their progress, measured in terms of "square kilometers" gained along the front line. This contrasts with earlier rhetoric emphasizing the capture of key settlements.

Reports suggest Putin may have instructed commanders to delay targeting the strategic city of Pokrovsk and instead focus on advancing through open terrain and smaller towns. Russian forces are reportedly within 10 kilometers of the Donetsk-Dnipropetrovsk administrative border.

The Kremlin continues to view the full occupation of Donetsk Oblast as a critical objective. The incremental territorial gains are likely framed as evidence of Russian military success for domestic and international propaganda purposes.

ISW analysts also suggest that attacking fortified urban areas would slow Russian progress, undermining the Kremlin’s narrative of dominance on the global stage.

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