Russia, which consistently violates international humanitarian law and the rules and customs of war, has been persecuting journalists in Ukraine since the beginning of the full‑scale invasion. The Kremlin is doing everything it can to halt the work of the media who report daily on the war crimes committed by the Russian Federation. The aggressor state’s propaganda machine works intensively to sow informational chaos in Ukrainian cities.

From the beginning of the week, Russian drone attacks targeted frontline and border regions. In Okhtyrka, Sumy region, Russian forces struck a residential high‑rise; in Shostka, they hit a sports school where children were training at the time. Later in the week, the enemy launched another strike on Fastiv in Kyiv region. A massive combined missile‑and‑drone attack hit Kremenchuk in Poltava region. Overall, the largest number of strikes was directed at critical infrastructure in southern Ukraine. Photo reports from Odesa after the Russian attacks were prepared by Oleksandr Himanov and Tymofii Melnykov.

“City of Goodness” is a nationwide project founded by philanthropist Marta Levchenko in 2016. Today, it is a large‑scale space that provides comprehensive support for women and children who find themselves in difficult life circumstances — for example, survivors of domestic violence, those at risk of homelessness, those in need of support, socialization, and reintegration, or families living below the poverty line. Since the beginning of Russia’s full‑scale invasion, the center has also been helping children who were forced to evacuate because of the war.

On Kherson’s streets, now wrapped in anti‑drone netting, people still celebrate birthdays, hold weddings, and go to the theatre. Amid the surreal scenery of war, life in the city continues. Yet the city center is emptying out as residents move to relatively safer districts — farther from the Dnipro riverbank and closer to the residential neighborhoods. Photographer Stanislav Ostrous once again visited his hometown of Kherson to capture the many facets of its existence.

While world leaders negotiate a so‑called “quick peace” for Ukraine, Russia is intensifying its efforts to destroy peaceful Ukrainian cities. Since the beginning of the week, frontline Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, and Kherson have been under heavy shelling. In Dnipro, four civilians were killed in a missile strike. During the night of December 6, on St. Nicholas Day, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine with drones and missiles. The enemy continues to modernize its lethal weapons. According to *Ukrainska Pravda*, citing radio‑technology specialist Serhii (Flesh) Beskrestnov, Russian forces are now equipping Shahed drones with air‑to‑air missiles. These missiles are designed to target tactical aircraft and helicopters that intercept the Shaheds.

This is Kherson in November 2025 in a photograph by Stanislav Ostrous. My eye caught on the howitzer mounted on its pedestal just a moment before I would pack a small backpack to set off for Kherson myself.