Clash Report

Timur Mindich: I communicate with Zelensky, unfortunately, very rarely. At the moment, I don’t communicate with him at all, and throughout his presidency our contacts have been very infrequent.

DR Congo: Fresh clashes erupted near Uvira between government forces and Rwanda-backed M23 militants, despite M23’s earlier claim of withdrawal from the area.

3 killed, others wounded at Imam Ali Mosque blast in Homs, Syria. Source: Al Jazeera

Japan Eyes Turkish Drones in $58 Billion Defense Budget Tokyo plans to import unmanned systems in the early phase. Türkiye and Israel are named as potential suppliers. Japan previously discussed drone cooperation with Türkiye. READ MORE

BREAKING: Explosion reported at Imam Ali Mosque, Homs, Syria.

Trump will meet with Zelensky on Sunday at Mar-a-Lago. Source: Axios

Türkiye Awaits 80 More F110 Engines For KAAN Jet Turkish MoD says talks continue for 80 additional F110 engines for KAAN with the U.S. 10 engines were delivered by September 2025. KAAN will transition to the TF35000 indigenous engine in Block 30/40. READ MORE

China Sanctions U.S. Arms Firms Over Taiwan China sanctioned 20 U.S. defense companies. Beijing cited U.S. approval of an $11.1 billion Taiwan arms package. Measures include asset freezes and bans on China-based transactions. READ MORE

NEW: Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced it had detained an FSB-linked assassin in Kyiv who was preparing to kill a Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) officer. The suspect was allegedly recruited by Russia’s FSB, promised payment and assistance with legalization in the EU, and was caught with evidence of coordination with handlers.

Syria Questions SDF’s Commitments Damascus says unity rhetoric clashes with realities in northeast Syria. Syria criticizes continued armed formations outside the national army. Ministry warns of entrenched de facto entities. READ MORE

Israel bombs Lebanon again.

UAE-backed separatists in southern Yemen said Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes against their forces in Hadramout province.

Ukraine unveils Baba Yaga drone monument in Kyiv region.

Ukraine: Happy Soviet Union Collapse Day!

There is just no escape: Ukrainian FPV drones strike Russian troops near Lyman forests.

Zelensky: We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level—with President Trump in the near future. A lot could be decided before the New Year.

Japan Approves Record Defense Budget to Deter China Japan has approved a record defense budget exceeding $58 billion, accelerating missile, drone, and counterstrike capabilities as it moves to deter China and reshape its postwar security posture. READ MORE

North Korea’s Kim Orders Missile Factory Expansion New factories and capacity increases were ordered. Imagery showed about 100 Hwasong-11 missiles in storage. READ MORE

Niger: Two people were killed in an armed attack on a church near Dan Kassari.

Mali: JNIM attacked fuel tanker trucks on the Bamako–Bougouni road, setting several vehicles ablaze.