**Christmas Chaos in Ukraine and Russia**
On December 25, a tragic plane crash occurred near the Kazakh city of Aktau. An Azerbaijani Airlines plane, carrying 67 people from Baku to Grozny in Russia’s Chechen Republic, went down. The cause of the crash is still unknown.
In Ukraine, a Ukrainian-made drone called Shchedryk was approved for military use by the Defense Ministry. This unmanned aerial vehicle has silent electric motors and can operate day or night, making it difficult to detect by enemy air defense systems.
Ukrainian troops also launched a successful attack on the command post of the 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, according to Ukrainian military reports.
Meanwhile, Japan is poised to allocate an additional $3 billion from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. This aid will be used for social and humanitarian purposes.
In related news, Ukraine has been experiencing a series of drone attacks on its territory, including the city of Millerovo in Rostov Oblast. These attacks are likely linked to Ukrainian efforts to weaken Russian military operations against its people.
**Key Developments**
* An Azerbaijani Airlines plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 67 people.
* Ukraine approved a homemade drone called Shchedryk for military use.
* Ukrainian troops attacked the command post of the 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade in Kursk Oblast.
* Japan is set to allocate an additional $3 billion from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
**Stay Informed**
For the latest updates on the situation in Ukraine, follow our coverage at kyivindependent.com.