Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 295

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 295th day, we take a look at the main developments.

Here is the situation as it stands on Thursday, December 15.

Fighting

Russia says no “Christmas ceasefire” is on the cards after nearly 10 months of war in Ukraine, rejecting a call by Kyiv to start withdrawing troops by Christmas as a step to end Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II.
Multiple Russian rocket launchers hit the regional administration building on the central square of the recently liberated southern city of Kherson.
The Kremlin has said the Patriot missile defence systems would be a legitimate target for Russian attacks against Ukraine should the United States authorise them to be delivered to support Kyiv.

Rescuers and police experts examine the remains of a drone following an attack on an administrative building in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv [Sergei Supinsky/AFP]

Ukraine has said it secured the release of 64 Ukrainian members of the military in its latest prisoner swap with Russian forces, as well as a US citizen.
Echoing a comment by the Kremlin, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia needs to accept the “new reality” that Ukrainian land will not remain part of Russian territory.
A European Union speaker said the Ukrainian parliament has passed all the reforms needed before talks on joining the bloc.

The German parliament’s budget committee has approved a 10bn-euro ($10.50bn) purchase of F-35 fighter jets produced by the US, two committee members told Reuters news agency.
The US is moving to impose sanctions on Vladimir Potanin, one of Russia’s wealthiest men.