Monday, December 15. Russia’s War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine
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DRUZHKIVKA, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 15: Paramedics and Ukrainian servicemen carry Vitia, an injured truck driver, on a stretcher after a Russian FPV drone attack on a civilian tanker truck in Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on December 15, 2025. (Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)Anadolu via Getty ImagesDispatches from Ukraine. Day 1,391. Civilian Casualties of Russian Attacks on UkraineDeadly Russian attacks across Ukraine between Dec. 12-15 killed 14 civilians and injured 75 others. Eastern Donetsk region bore the brunt of the attacks with the highest death toll of six, followed by northern Sumy province, which suffered five civilian deaths. In Kharkiv, one resident was killed, while in the neighboring province of Dnipropetrovsk, two people lost their lives.
Ukraine Damages Russian Submarine in Novel Underwater Drone AttackUkraine claimed it carried out an underwater drone strike on Dec. 15, the first such attack in maritime warfare, that critically damaged a Russian Kilo-class attack submarine at the Russian port of Novorossiysk, an important logistics hub for Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet. A Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) official told the Financial Times the operation targeted the Project 636.3 Varshavyanka submarine, an improved Kilo design, using newly developed underwater drones. The official described the mission as a “special operation,” claiming the vessel was effectively “put out of action” by the blast.The underwater drones, known as “Sub Sea Babies,” are part of Ukraine’s asymmetric naval arsenal. According to the SBU, the submarine was thought to be carrying Kalibr missiles, a type of cruise missile Russia often uses to strike Ukraine. Although the damage has not been independently verified, the SBU noted the cost of repairing a damaged Kilo-class submarine could climb as high as $500 million.Merz Warns EU Faces “Years” of Damage If Russian Asset Loan FailsGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that the European Union risks long-term political damage if it fails to agree this week on a multibillion-euro loan to support Ukraine. Speaking in Berlin on Monday, Dec. 15, Merz said the stakes extend far beyond Ukraine’s immediate finances. “If we do not succeed in this, the European Union's ability to act will be severely damaged for years.” Failure, he added, would signal that Europe is incapable of defending “our own political order on this European continent.”MORE FOR YOUMerz is leading an attempt to extend a $240 billion loan to Ukraine, using frozen Russian assets, which are housed largely in Belgium. European diplomats fear that divisions among the bloc’s 27 members are being actively exploited by both Moscow and Washington ahead of Thursday’s European Council summit in Brussels. “Let us not deceive ourselves,” Merz cautioned, arguing that there is no credible alternative if Europe wants to keep Kyiv afloat next year.Merz issued his warning after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Berlin with European leaders and U.S. officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to discuss pathways that could underpin a future peace deal. Zelenskyy said the U.S. envoys had signaled openness to providing guarantees that would mirror the level of protection offered by NATO’s Article 5, even without granting Ukraine formal membership. “The U.S. is not offering us NATO membership,” he said, “but it is important that the U.S. is considering Article-5-like guarantees.” While still preliminary, Zelenskyy added that “there is progress there,” describing what he had seen as “only a first draft,” but one that “look[s] pretty good.” U.S.
President Donald Trump’s envoys joined the Berlin talks as Washington and European capitals sought to align positions ahead of any negotiations with Russia.Ukraine’s Power Grid Near the BrinkRussia's campaign against a sensitive Ukrainian pressure point, its electric grid, is yielding results amid a diplomatic impasse. Since October, the Kremlin has employed mega salvos of missiles and drones to batter power plants, substations, and transmission lines, pushing Ukraine's grid close to a breaking point. "We are, if not at the brink” of a complete blackout in eastern Ukraine, “then very close to it, " a senior European diplomat told The Washington Post on Dec. 15, speaking on condition of anonymity.Ukrainian officials say the scale of Russia’s attacks has increased dramatically.
Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk said Russia launched circa 5,000 drones and missiles last month, compared to approximately 2,000 airborne projectiles per month at the beginning of 2025.In Kyiv, residents are already adjusting to power outages lasting up to 16 hours daily, while businesses rely heavily on generators. The constant bombardment is also stretching Ukraine’s air defenses, leaving less protection for the energy grid. However, even when repairs are completed, they are often undone within days. “We’re reacting as fast as we can, but it’s getting more and more difficult,” said Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company. “We’ve lost a significant proportion of our capacity.”By Danylo Nosov, Karina L. Tahiliani