The Ukrainian Air Force said on December 26 that on the night of December 25-26, Russian forces launched 19 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) targeting four southern Ukrainian provinces. The Ukrainian Air Force announced that its air defense forces shot down 13 of those UAVs, according to The Kyiv Independent .

The Self-Defense Forces of Ukraine reported that several UAVs attacked an unspecified infrastructure facility in Odessa Oblast, causing a fire. The fire was quickly extinguished and no casualties were reported.

Additionally, a UAV attacked an industrial facility and nearby warehouses in Mykolaiv province, causing material damage but no casualties.

As of late December 26, there was no information about Russia's reaction to the above accusations and statements from Ukraine.

See also : Russian UAVs attack Ukraine; US Secretary of Defense reveals military secrets?

Russian landing ship attacked by Ukraine

Interfax news agency quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as confirming that Ukraine used air-launched missiles to attack the port of Feodosia in the Crimean peninsula before dawn on December 26. The large landing ship Novocherkassk was damaged in the airstrike.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin about the Ukrainian attack on the port of Feodosia as well as the damage to the landing ship Novocherkassk, Interfax reported from the Kremlin.

The Novocherkassk, built in Poland and put into service in the late 1980s, is designed to be amphibious and can carry a variety of armored vehicles, including tanks, according to Reuters.

Video posted by several Russian media channels on the Telegram app, said to be of the attack in Feodosia, shows large explosions and flames.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, their pilots attacked Feodosia at around 2:30 a.m. on December 26 (local time) with cruise missiles, destroying the Novocherkassk ship.

Russia claims to have stopped Ukraine's counterattack

During an online meeting with top military commanders on December 26, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu declared that stopping Ukraine's counterattack was the main goal of the Russian military this year and they had accomplished this goal.

Mr. Shoigu also stated that Russian forces are gradually achieving the goals of the country's military operation in Ukraine. According to Minister Shoigu, the main factors that allowed the Russian army to repel the Ukrainian advance were "the creation of an effective defense system, the high combat capabilities of all units, the reliability and effectiveness of Russian military equipment."

Regarding recent events on the ground, Shoigu asserted that the Russian military "continuously occupies more advantageous positions and expands the territory under its control in all directions" on the front line. Defense Minister Shoigu also declared that Russian forces have regained the initiative in the conflict.

As of late December 26, there was no information about Ukraine's reaction to Mr. Shoigu's statement.

Earlier, on December 25, the Ukrainian army denied Minister Shoigu's statement that Russian forces had gained complete control over the town of Marinka in Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine, according to Reuters.

On December 26, Ukrainian military commander Valeriy Zaluzhny said his forces had withdrawn to the outskirts of the town of Maryinka, according to AFP.

See more : Ukraine running out of time to counterattack and gain advantage over Russia?

Ukraine plans to recruit half a million more troops?

According to a draft law that the Ukrainian government has just submitted to parliament, the country needs to mobilize 500,000 more citizens to join the army and the compulsory military age will be reduced from 27 to 25.

Reuters reported on December 26 that the draft law was posted on the Ukrainian parliament's website late on December 25. The draft law details the cases in which Ukrainian citizens will have to register for military service and says it will apply to those "who have reached the age of 25."

Previously, on December 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that the country's army had proposed recruiting 450,000-500,000 more troops.

However, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian army Valeriy Zaluzhny said on December 26 that the army had not sent an official request to mobilize 500,000 people, according to The Kyiv Independent .

6 Ukrainian pilots complete F-16 training course in UK

The British Ministry of Defense announced on December 26 that six experienced Ukrainian fighter pilots had completed F-16 training in the UK.

The first group of Ukrainian pilots began receiving flying and English language training from the British Royal Air Force (RAF) in August, as part of London's contribution to an international coalition that wants to provide Ukraine with F-16 aircraft, RT reported, citing an announcement from the British Ministry of Defense.

Those pilots have gone to Denmark, where they will continue to learn how to operate the F-16. The UK Ministry of Defence said another 10 Ukrainian pilots will continue to be trained in the UK, along with dozens of technicians from the country.

Last week, the Netherlands, a key member of the alliance, announced that it was about to begin preparations to deliver the first F-16s to Ukraine. The “initial” shipment will consist of 18 F-16s, according to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the F-16s would “burn” once delivered to Ukraine, just like the Leopard-2 tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and other Western-supplied weapons supplied to Kyiv, according to RT.