**Over 1,000 Apply to Join Ukrainian Legion in Poland**
The Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, has announced that over 1,000 people have applied to join the Ukrainian Legion in Poland. The legion is a volunteer military unit made up of Ukrainian men living in Poland and trained by the Polish Armed Forces.
**Training and Deployment**
The first contracts with the Ukrainian Armed Forces were signed in November. The next recruitment phase is set for early January. Bodnar highlighted Poland’s support for basic military training, followed by specialized training based on the soldier’s role. After training, recruits are assigned to relevant military units in Ukraine, where they operate under direct command.
**Poland’s Support**
Bodnar praised Poland’s support for Ukraine, saying that it is a “strategic interest” for both Europe and Poland itself. He noted that Poland sympathizes with Ukraine over the “terrible events” caused by Russia’s ongoing war.
**War Updates**
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has updated its projections on Russia’s ongoing war. The fund outlines two scenarios regarding Russia’s actions.
In other news, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on December 22.
**Casualties and Drone Attacks**
Reports of casualties come as Ukraine’s Air Force reported shooting down 52 attack drones launched by Russia overnight. The Air Force also lost track of 44 decoy drones that Russia launched alongside the real attack drones.
This brings the total number of Russian casualties to over 20,000 deaths confirmed over the past 12 months.
**International Developments**
In international news, Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated U.K.-born Tyson Fury by unanimous decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 22 to retain his unified heavyweight championship title.
A Ukrainian woman is in serious condition after a car plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on the evening of December 20. The incident has claimed five lives and left over 200 people injured.
The Russian embassy in London criticized the U.K.’s plan to transfer more than two billion pounds ($2.5 billion) to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, calling it a “fraudulent scheme.”
**Other News**
Ukraine will not extend the transit agreement for Russian gas through its territory, set to expire on December 31.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he had “learned unofficially” of the upcoming visit by a high-ranking Ukrainian official.
Boris Pistorius has come out in favor of a reform of the debt brake in order to increase funding for military defense.
Russian state media Kommersant reported that the airports of both Kazan and the neighboring city of Izhevsk had suspended flights.