**Ukrainian Forces Regain Control of Village in Donetsk Oblast**
On December 5, Ukrainian forces drove Russian units out of Novyi Komar village in Donetsk Oblast. The village has a pre-war population of less than 500 people and is located about 50 kilometers west of the Russian-occupied town of Vuhledar.
Ukrainian forces have gained control over the village, according to Nazar Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces. Russian forces suffered heavy losses, with some soldiers fleeing to the highway near the village.
However, Ukraine’s counteroffensive actions are not as significant as Russia‘s ongoing assaults in the country’s east. Russia captured 234.79 square kilometers in one week in mid-November, which is the highest number in 2024.
**Ukrainian Mayors Held Captive by Russia**
At least six Ukrainian mayors and community heads remain in Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on December 5. Zelensky confirmed that Yevhenii Matvieiev, the mayor of occupied Dniprorudne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, died in Russian custody.
Matvieiev was one of several Ukrainian mayors and officials who were kidnapped by Russian forces earlier this year. The deaths of these officials have been widely condemned by Ukraine and its international partners.
**Ukraine Invests in Domestic Defense Production**
Ukraine is working to scale up domestic defense production, aiming to produce 1.5 million drones by the end of 2024. The country has invested in producing part of the DeepStrike drone, which will be supplied to Ukrainian troops next year.
The production of these drones was financed by international partners who have invested in Ukraine’s defense industry. Ukraine is also working on a 10-point resilience plan presented by President Zelensky, which includes measures to stabilize the front line and increase technological capabilities.
**Ukrainian FM Opposes New Agreements with Russia**
Speaking at an OSCE meeting in Malta on December 5, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha strongly opposed any agreements resembling past Yalta or Minsk deals that could legitimize Russian aggression.
Sybiha accused Russia of using “peace plans” as a pretext to continue its aggression and warned the international community to focus on Moscow‘s actions rather than its words. Several foreign ministers and diplomats walked out in protest ahead of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov‘s address.
The Ukrainian government has been critical of past agreements with Russia, which have failed to bring an end to the war in Donbas.