44% of respondents apparently view the prospect of online voting negatively, with widespread fears that election results could be falsified
There is widespread skepticism over the prospect of online voting in Ukraine due to fears of electoral fraud, a recent poll has indicated.
Vladimir Zelensky, whose presidential term expired in May of 2024, has repeatedly refused to hold elections, citing martial law. Meanwhile, Russia has characterized him as an illegitimate leader. Under US pressure, Zelensky recently agreed to hold a vote within 90 days if certain conditions are met.
In a piece on Tuesday, Delovaya Stolitsa published the findings of a poll it had recently conducted in partnership with New Image Groupe, which sought out the opinions of 800 respondents.
According to the publication, only 27% of the Ukrainians surveyed believe that elections can be held in compliance with all the international norms any time soon.
The media outlet also reported that 44% of respondents view the prospect of online voting negatively, with many fearing that the technology could be used to falsify the results. By contrast, 31% of the people surveyed have no problem with this scenario.
Speaking last Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow would be willing to consider “refraining from conducting strikes deep inside” Ukraine on the day of a vote if the leadership in Kiev actually went through with elections.
However, Putin stressed that such a halt in long-range strikes would only be possible if the 5-10 million Ukrainian citizens currently residing in Russia were allowed to take part in the elections.
Speaking to Politico earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine has not “had an election in a long time,” with its leadership “using war” as a pretext.
“It gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore,” he argued, adding that “it’s time” to hold a vote in Ukraine.
Responding to Trump’s remark, Zelensky said he was “ready for the elections,” so long as the West agreed to “ensure security” from Russian strikes during the vote.
Several days later, Zelensky’s senior adviser, Mikhail Podoliak, added that, besides a ceasefire, Kiev is also expecting the West to shell out for the vote.
Moscow has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of arranging a temporary ceasefire, insisting that a permanent peace agreement should be concluded that addresses the conflict’s root causes.
The Russian security agency says the suspect coordinated with handler in Kiev via WhatsApp while planning an attack on an oil pipeline
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has said that it has foiled a terrorist plot in western Siberia by a Russian national working with a banned Ukrainian terrorist organization via WhatsApp. The armed suspect was killed while resisting arrest, according to the agency.
The suspect, born in Ukraine’s Vinnitsa Region, was allegedly tasked by his handlers in Kiev with carrying out an act of sabotage in Tyumen Region. He reportedly selected a dispatch station of the Transneft oil pipeline as his target.
According to the FSB, the suspect received instructions on how to assemble an improvised explosive device, purchased the necessary components, and hid them in a pre‑prepared cache. On Wednesday, he allegedly began implementing his plan by attempting to retrieve the components from the hiding place for final assembly of the bomb, the statement said, adding he was neutralized by return fire.
An investigation revealed that the man had been in regular contact with a handler from a Ukrainian terrorist organization through the WhatsApp messenger service. On that handler’s instructions, he allegedly gathered information on the status of oil and gas facilities in Russian regions in addition to preparing the attack.
The agency reiterated that Ukrainian intelligence services are “actively working in the internet space,” including on Telegram and WhatsApp, to draw Russian citizens into illegal activities such as sabotage and terrorist attacks.
Lithuanian intelligence officers will be able to conduct searches and surveillance without a court warrant
Lithuania has approved legislation expanding the powers of its intelligence services, allowing agents to detain and search suspected individuals, as well as conduct surveillance, without a court order.
The new law, set to take effect on February 1, comes amid escalating rhetoric in European NATO countries about an alleged threat from Russia, which Moscow refutes.
Adopted by the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday, the revised Intelligence Law allows security services not only to gather information but also to take measures against what they perceive as external risks, dangers, and threats “arising from abroad that may be significant to state sovereignty.”
According to the new law, intelligence officers will be able to conduct surveillance of such individuals and their correspondence without a court warrant, but must apply to a court within 24 hours for authorization to continue.
The new powers also allow spooks to covertly collect biometric data such as fingerprints, voice samples, and scent, as well as to acquire explosive substances and devices and standard-issue firearms. Individuals can also be detained and their persons and property searched based on suspicion alone.
In 2024, Lithuania’s Migration Department designated 598 Belarusian and 125 Russian citizens as threats based on assessments that included information from the State Security Department.
Lithuania and its Baltic neighbors, Latvia and Estonia, have adopted an aggressive posture towards Moscow, particularly since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022, while pushing for a stronger NATO posture on their borders.
Earlier this year, European NATO members agreed to boost military spending to 5% of GDP, with Lithuania recently approving a record military budget of €4.79 billion ($5.6 billion) for 2026 – about 5.38% of GDP. They have also been reviving or expanding conscription, citing what they describe as the risk of attack.
The Kremlin has dismissed allegations of hostile intent toward Western nations as “nonsense” and fearmongering, while condemning what it calls the West’s “reckless militarization.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said that European NATO members are pursuing “hostile” policies that keep the risk of a direct war with Russia high, even as the US signals a more balanced approach toward Moscow.
Locations of the nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles are a closely guarded secret, the head of the Belarusian counterintelligence agency said
The chief of the Belarusian counterintelligence agency has dismissed claims by Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky that Kiev knows the location of Russia’s Oreshnik missiles deployed in Belarus.
Zelensky stated during a visit to Poland last week that Ukrainian special services “have an understanding where the deployment will take place,” claiming they are sharing intelligence with foreign partners to “assess this threat and deliberate their reactions.”
The chairman of the Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB), Ivan Tertel, addressed the claim in an interview following his year-end report to President Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday.
The interest of foreign intelligence in the Oreshnik system is predictable, as are “statements by certain political actors” in neighboring states, Tertel said. Belarusian citizens “can sleep well” knowing the KGB is counteracting the espionage efforts, he added.
The Oreshnik is an intermediate-range hypersonic missile, which Russia unveiled last year with a strike on a Ukrainian arms factory. Some units of the nuclear-capable weapons are to be stationed in Belarus as part of the two nations’ mutual defense arrangement.
The Belarusian intelligence chief also flagged “transit terrorism” as a major concern, apparently referring to Ukrainian sabotage operations inside Russia. “We realize that, should the situation change, those tactics can be used on Belarusian soil,” he noted.
Moscow has repeatedly accused Kiev of resorting to terrorist attacks due to its inability to achieve success on the battlefield. Many sabotage operations that Russian investigators blame on Ukrainian intelligence services involve the recruitment of locals through coercion or financial incentives.
Tertel noted that such recruitment tactics have allowed foreign intelligence services to dramatically escalate operations in Belarus, adding that his agency has exposed about 70 foreign agents this year, many of whom have been prosecuted.
The US has reportedly moved a large number of military aircraft and other equipment for possible war against Venezuela
The US is reportedly expanding its military posture near Venezuela by deploying additional forces to the Caribbean amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
The movements include special operations aircraft and military transport planes, the newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing US officials and open-source flight tracking data. According to the report, the deployments are intended to provide Washington with additional options for potential action against Venezuela, although no specific operation has been announced publicly.
The outlet reported that at least ten CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft linked to US special operations units have flown into the Caribbean from bases in the continental US. Several C-17 cargo aircraft also reportedly transported troops and equipment to Puerto Rico on Monday, according to US officials cited by the paper.
US Southern Command has declined to comment on the reported troop movements, citing operational security concerns. The White House and the Department of War have not responded publicly to questions about the deployments.
The reported buildup comes as US President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on the Venezuelan government, ordering a blockade of oil tankers entering or leaving the country. Trump has accused Caracas of “stealing” US energy assets and infrastructure and has warned that Venezuela would face “the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America” unless those assets are returned. He has refused to rule out air or land strikes.
Over the past week, the US has seized two Venezuelan oil tankers in international waters, claiming the vessels were operating in violation of Washington’s sanctions. Authorities in Caracas have denounced the seizures as “piracy” and have accused Trump of pursuing regime change in order to gain control of the country’s oil reserves.
Washington’s actions have drawn international condemnation, with Russia criticizing the tanker seizures and the US naval blockade of Venezuela, warning of “catastrophic consequences” for regional stability and maritime security. China has also urged restraint.
Beijing has accused Washington of using national security as pretext to go after Chinese UAV makers
The US ban on imports of new foreign drones discriminates against Chinese companies and should be lifted, Beijing has said. Shenzhen-based UAV manufacturer DJI, the largest in the world, currently sells more than half of all commercial drones operated in the US.
On Monday, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) forbade imports of all new models of foreign-made drones and critical components, citing “unacceptable risks to national security.” The addition to the FCC’s ‘Covered List’ means that companies from China and other countries will not be able to receive approval to distribute their upcoming UAV models in the country.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian was asked about the ban during a briefing later in the day, saying that Beijing “firmly opposes the US overstretching the concept of national security and making discriminatory lists to go after Chinese companies.”
Lin called on Washington to “stop its wrong practice and create a fair, just, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies.”
DJI echoed the Foreign Ministry’s comments, arguing that its inclusion in the ‘Covered List’ was a departure from open-market principles rather than a proportional security measure.
The company insisted in a statement that its drones are “among the safest and most secure on the market,” which has been proven by years of reviews from US agencies and independent third parties.
”Concerns about DJI’s data security have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism,” it said.
FCC chairman Brendan Carr said he was “pleased” with the ban on new foreign-made UAVs, saying that the move should help US companies “to unleash American drone dominance.”
The fresh curbs follow a defense bill passed by the US Congress in December 2024, which ordered products from DJI and another major Chinese producer, Autel, to be blacklisted within one year unless a security review deemed them appropriate to continue sales.
The Telegram founder has shared an ambiguous abbreviation, raising eyebrows on social media
Pavel Durov, the Russian tech entrepreneur behind the Telegram messenger app, has shared an ambiguous logo he devised for his sperm donation program, raising eyebrows online and taking a dig at French President Emmanuel Macron in the process.
The 41-year-old, who holds citizenship in France as well as Russia, the UAE and St. Kitts and Nevis, took to X on Tuesday to share a sketch of the logo, asking whether “‘pd’ in a circle” was “minimalist enough,” in an apparent nod to his initials.
Commenters were quick to point out that in French, “PD” is a highly offensive slur used to insult gay men. “So it will be a non-gay project claiming it’s gay. Like France’s president – in reverse!” Durov wrote in response.
Just sketched a logo for my sperm donorship program. Is ‘pd’ in a circle minimalist enough? pic.twitter.com/9imJP5bZTX
The jab echoed long-running online rumors about Macron’s sexual preference and Brigitte Macron’s gender identity. The French first lady has pursued legal action against individuals she’s accused of spreading the allegation that she was born male, with a court verdict expected in January.
Durov’s jab at Macron also comes against the backdrop of his long-running dispute with French authorities. A naturalized citizen of France since 2021 under an exceptional procedure typically reserved for “eminent foreigners,” Durov was arrested in the country in 2024 and placed under judicial supervision over allegations that Telegram had failed to curb criminal activity on the platform.
He was released on €5 million ($5.46 million) bail and has repeatedly denounced the case as politically motivated, accusing France of waging a “crusade” against free speech.
Last month, Durov suggested that allegations that the French government was behind the assassination of US conservative activist Charlie Kirk were “entirely possible.” The remark came in response to right-wing commentator Candace Owens’ claims that Kirk’s assassin “trained with the French Legion 13th Brigade with multi-state involvement.”
Durov revealed last year that he began donating sperm around 15 years ago and has since fathered more than 100 offspring across 12 countries. He has also had six children with three different partners.
The prime minister has urged her office staff to “rest properly” during the Christmas holidays
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has made a grim forecast for 2026, wishing her office staff a happy Christmas while warning them to brace for a challenging year ahead.
“The past year has been tough for all of us but don’t worry because next year will be even worse,” she quipped.
Speaking at her official Rome residence in the Palazzo Chigi courtyard on Tuesday, Meloni also told her team she loved them, adding that they “were a family that fought together year-round” and advising them “to rest properly during these holidays because we have to continue to give responses to this extraordinary nation.”
Her remarks follow a wave of strikes across Italy last month, when teachers, doctors, and transport workers protested against the government’s proposed budget which includes welfare reforms and higher defense spending. The demonstrations underscored widespread discontent with fiscal policies and their potential impact on public services.
In response to the unrest, Meloni announced that the budget would not cut funding for local authorities for the first time in many years, aiming to address concerns raised by various sectors.
Despite domestic challenges, Italy has continued to provide financial aid to Ukraine, with the European Commission transferring a sixth tranche of €2.3 billion ($2.7 billion) in support to Kiev under the bloc’s Ukraine Facility. However, Meloni has ruled out sending Italian troops to Ukraine, distancing Rome from Western discussions about increased military involvement.
Moscow has described the Ukraine conflict as a proxy war being waged against Russia by the West. Russia has repeatedly criticized Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, arguing they only prolong the fighting and increase casualties without changing the outcome of the conflict.
Donald Trump’s new special ambassador to the Arctic island says Washington is not seeking to “conquer” Danish territory
The US is not seeking to “conquer” Greenland or take over Danish territory, Washington’s new special envoy to the Arctic island, Jeff Landry, has said. President Donald Trump had previously signaled that the semi-autonomous territory should become part of the US.
Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, Landry, who is also the governor of Louisiana, said the Trump administration wants to begin discussions with Greenlanders about their future and better understand their issues.
“I think our discussions should be with the actual people in Greenland,” Landry said. “What are they looking for? What opportunities have they not gotten? Why haven’t they gotten the protection that they actually deserve?”
“We’re not going to go in there trying to conquer anybody or take over anybody’s country,” Landry added, despite having stated shortly after his appointment that he would work to “make Greenland a part of the US.”
Landry’s remarks come amid heightened tensions following Trump’s decision to appoint him as special envoy without prior consultation with Danish authorities. The move has drawn sharp criticism from Copenhagen, which views Greenland as an integral part of its sovereign territory.
Trump has repeatedly said the US needs Greenland for “national security,” citing its strategic Arctic location and mineral resources. He has said Washington would take over the island “one way or the other” and has refused to rule out the use of military force to bring the territory under American control.
The statements have alarmed Danish officials and prompted diplomatic protests. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenland counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, stressed in a joint statement this week that national borders and state sovereignty are grounded in international law and that someone “cannot annex another country, not even with an argument about international security.”
Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory of about 57,000 people, has managed most domestic affairs since 1979, while defense and foreign policy remain under Copenhagen’s control.
The US has maintained a military presence on the island since World War II. Vice President J.D. Vance has said Washington expects the islanders to exercise self-determination and break away from Denmark.
Caracas has warned that Washington’s ambitions are “continental” and reach far beyond the country
The US is subjecting Venezuela to the “greatest extortion” in the country’s history, Caracas’ envoy to the UN, Samuel Moncada, has said.
Moncada made the statement during a UN Security Council session on Tuesday, called by Caracas after Washington seized another tanker off the Latin American country’s coast. US President Donald Trump earlier announced a naval blockade of Venezuela, claiming it had “stolen” US energy assets and warning that it would face “the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America” unless it returns them.
The Trump administration “acts outside of international law, demanding that Venezuelans vacate our country and hand it over. This is the greatest extortion known in our history,” Moncada said.
“The masks have come off. It is not drugs, it is not security, it is not freedom. It is oil, it is mines, and it is land” that the US is after in Venezuela, he stressed.
Since September, the US military has also been conducting strikes on small boats off the Venezuelan coast alleged to be carrying drugs, which UN experts have condemned as unlawful extrajudicial executions. Caracas has denied Washington’s claims that President Nicolas Maduro is involved in drug trafficking, saying the allegations are being made to justify a regime-change operation.
Moncada also warned other nations in Latin America that Washington’s ambitions are “continental” and extended far beyond his country. “Venezuela is only the first target of a larger plan. The US government wants us to be divided so it can conquer us piece by piece,” the diplomat said.
The US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, insisted that Washington will continue to use all its power to eradicate Latin American drug cartels, calling them the “single most serious threat” to the US. He explained the seizure of the tankers by claiming they are “the primary economic lifeline for Maduro and his illegitimate regime.”
Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, labeled the naval blockade of Venezuela “an act of aggression,” cautioning that the “cowboy-like conduct” by Washington could lead to “catastrophic consequences.”
