Anastasiia Levchenko
Reporting from Kyiv

Image source, Oleksandr Dushakov

Oleksandr Dushakov is a well-known Ukrainian ballet dancer who has graced international stages.

He has now swapped the stage for the frontline.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, he was about to perform in France. He rushed back to Ukraine to start volunteering.

He dismantled rubble of houses destroyed by Russian strikes and built protective structures for Kyiv’s monuments.

Olexandr is my ballet teacher. During one of our lessons, he told me that “victory begins with each of us”. He said even small individual actions can contribute to victory and that he wanted to lead by example.

Having no military experience, he decided to enlist. After months of intense training, he is now defending Ukraine in the east, on the frontline.

Image source, Oleksandr Dushakov

Oleksandr's wife and daughter - also ballet dancers - are abroad.

His daughter Elina tells me: “My mother and I are very worried about my dad and are always waiting for a message from him... But I understand that it was his desire and it is very necessary for our country.”

Oleksandr tells me things are very difficult on the front line. He says there’s a lack of ammunition. Family, friends and colleagues from all over the world are raising money for his unit and hope this will enable the Ukrainian military to secure more ammunition.

Sure of a future victory, Oleksandr dreams of reuniting with his family.

We're about to end today's live coverage of the war in Ukraine. You can read more on our index here, and see the war in maps here.

This page was run by Owen Amos, Nadia Ragozhina, and Emily McGarvey in London, with contributions from Jessica Parker and Hanna Chornous in Kyiv, Steve Rosenberg in Moscow, Bernd Debusmann in Washington, Nick Thorpe in Budapest, plus Paul Adams, Jonathan Beale, Abdujalil Abdurasulov, Vitaliy Shevchenko, Olga Ivshina, Daniele Palumbo, and James Waterhouse.

Our final post, coming next, is from Anastasiia Levchenko, part of our team in Ukraine.

Are we in danger of ignoring Ukraine?published at 17:41 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

17:41 GMT 21 December 2023

Paul Adams
Diplomatic correspondent, answering from London

Image source, Reuters

Mark Ponsford writes in: With the Ukrainian war being largely absent from the BBC news and national papers are we in danger of ignoring "a country, faraway, of which we know little"?

It’s definitely the case that Ukraine has dropped out of the headlines in recent months, and this must be of concern to Kyiv.

The reasons aren’t that complicated. The war is grinding on with few signs of any breakthrough.

Ukraine’s counter-offensive, launched in the summer, has done little to change the front lines, while Russia’s assault on Avdiivka looks like a repeat of the Bakhmut “meat grinder” of 2022-23.

Events in the Middle East have given politicians, and news editors, something new and urgent to grapple with.

Western audiences, and governments, aren’t very good at “strategic patience”, something Vladimir Putin is probably counting on.

A year from now, the world could be getting ready for a second Trump administration. Another thing Putin doubtless has in his sights.

So 2024 will be a test for everyone. Will Ukraine’s allies continue to stand by Kyiv for “as long as it takes”, as Joe Biden was saying back in the summer?

Or will they start to look for ways to bring this war to an end, something that will inevitably involve difficult questions of territorial compromise?

The West’s resolve was bolstered by evidence of Ukrainian determination, ingenuity and success on the battlefield.

Those qualities haven’t disappeared, but they’ve been matched by Russian firepower and apparent indifference to its own human cost.

The result, not surprisingly, has been a growing sense of weariness among those countries on which Ukraine depends so heavily.

How is the West helping Ukraine train its pilots?published at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

17:30 GMT 21 December 2023

Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent, reporting from London

Image source, EPA

Neil asks: What is the status/ timing of pilot training and provision of aircraft for Ukraine to fight from the air?

Ukrainian pilots are already being trained in several European countries. The training ranges from improving their English, to classroom training as well as flying.

A number of Ukrainian pilots have been undergoing specific training to fly US F-16 jets in Romania. A number of European countries have said they will provide Ukraine with the aircraft.

After initial US reluctance, it is now supporting this initiative.

But there is still no firm commitment of numbers – or a timetable as to when they will arrive.

And without that clarity it’s impossible to judge what impact this could have on the war.

Could Ukraine hold onto any regained land?published at 17:22 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

17:22 GMT 21 December 2023

Abdujalil Abdurasulov
Ukraine reporter

Here's a follow-up question from Dr Tarashankar Rudra, who asks: Even if Ukraine regains most of its occupied territories, will they be able to hold on to them? How would Nato help?

If and when Ukraine restores its territorial sovereignty, it hopes to become a full member of Nato.

Kyiv regards this membership as a security guarantee to ensure that Russia will not make new attempts to seize its land.

Article 5 of the Nato Charter says that an attack on one or more members is considered as an attack on all of them and therefore, Nato states will be obliged to respond and protect Ukraine if it becomes its member.

Kyiv is already receiving advanced Western weapons, which enhances its interoperability with armies of Nato member states.

Additionally, according to the Ukrainian authorities, Kyiv has requested the US to provide THAAD air defence systems, Black Hawk helicopters, F-18 fighter jets, C140 planes and other military hardware.

Deputy Defence Minister Ivan Havryliuk told the BBC that they do not expect to get those weapons now but by 2030.

This request is made to prepare Ukraine to meet the standards of Nato.

Such weapons, together with the support of other countries, will serve as a formidable protection against Russian air and land attacks.

What would happen in a Ukrainian presidential election?published at 16:53 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

16:53 GMT 21 December 2023

Vitaliy Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring, answering from London

Image source, Reuters

Joaren asks: What will Ukrainian presidential elections look like next year [the last election was in 2019; the next was due in 2024]? What would it look like if the Ukrainian people voted in a new president?

Under Ukrainian law, elections cannot be held as long as martial law is in place.

Various Ukrainian politicians, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have also said no polls should take place until the war is over.

But recent opinion polls show that Zelensky would stand a very realistic chance of winning if elections were held now.

For example, a survey carried out by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), external suggested that he was the most trusted Ukrainian politician (trusted by 77% of those polled), followed by Serhiy Prytula (a volunteer who has been collecting funds for Ukrainian troops, 69%) and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko (52%).

Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhny is another hugely popular public figure. According to another survey by KIIS, external, he is trusted by 88% of Ukrainians.Zaluzhny, however, never suggested he was interested in running in any elections.

Can Ukraine really recover its occupied territory?published at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

16:34 GMT 21 December 2023

Jessica Parker
Europe correspondent, answering from Kyiv

Dr Tarashankar Rudra asks: Can Ukraine really recover its occupied territories from Russia?

The Ukrainian government’s stated aim is to return the country to its 1991 borders - that’s when the country gained its independence.

That would mean taking back all the occupied territories including the southern peninsula of Crimea that was illegally annexed by Russia all the way back in 2014.

No one can be sure what course this war will take but the prospect of such a large recovery of land by Kyiv seems very unlikely in the near future and beyond that - a huge military challenge.

Kyiv’s summer counter-offensive saw only marginal gains and it’s unclear when a new push will begin.

According to commanders, troops are also struggling with ammunition shortages and Ukraine appears to be moving into a predominantly defensive posture this winter.

But the total recovery of Ukraine’s territories is not up for political debate, according to President Zelensky, because the country’s borders are written into the constitution.

Will Western support slowly wane?published at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

16:20 GMT 21 December 2023

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Answering from Washington

Image source, EPA

Oksana asks whether Western support will slowly wane as the war drags on?

That's certainly a possibility.

Here in the US, for example, we've already seen public support begin to shift. A recent Gallup poll found that 41% of Americans believe the US is doing too much to help Ukraine, up from 24% in August 2022 and 29% in June this year.

This shift has been reflected on Capitol Hill, where Republicans lawmakers - particularly in the House of Representatives - have also begun questioning how Ukraine aid is used and what the eventual end goals are.

If that figure continues to rise, it's possible that US lawmakers will be less likely to help Ukraine, as it will no longer be politically expedient for them to do so. These are, after all, elected officials who have to answer to constituents.

Public support for Ukraine seems to be much higher in the UK and Western Europe.

But it's hard to predict how public opinion will change if the war drags on, and there seems to be no end in sight.

Nadia Ragozhina
Live reporter

We are now closing the Q&A section of our live page, so please don't send in any more questions - we don't want you to be disappointed as they won't be answered.

But our coverage doesn't stop here.

Our correspondents in Kyiv, Moscow, London and Washington are still busy replying to the questions already in, and we'll also continue bringing you updates and reporting from Ukraine.

So stay with us.

What happens if Nato puts boots on the ground in Ukraine?published at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

15:49 GMT 21 December 2023

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Answering from Washington

David Francis writes: what happens if Nato puts boots on the ground now? Would this stop the war?

This is an interesting question, and perhaps not as far-fetched as many observers seem to think.

Among those who have floated the possibility is former Nato Secretary-General Anders Rasmussen.

Ahead of the organisation's summit in Vilnius in July, Rasmussen said that some Nato members - particularly Poland - may be wiling to put troops on the ground in Ukraine if Nato is unable to provide security guarantees for Ukraine.

Such an overt deployment has not materialised. But that isn't to say that small numbers of Nato troops haven't already quietly been in Ukraine.

Documents leaked earlier this year suggested that a number of Nato countries - including the UK, France, US and Netherlands - have deployed special forces units to Ukraine.

At the time, the UK did not directly comment, but warned the leak of alleged classified information had demonstrated a "serious level of inaccuracy".

Here in the US, the Pentagon previously acknowledged that US troops were in Ukraine to conduct inspections of US weapons deliveries, rather than to fight.

None of these deployments have seemingly had any impact on the course of the war - or Russia's willingness to conduct offensive operations in Ukraine. Instead, the news was quickly seized upon by Russian officials and media outlets.

Overall, Nato's policy is unlikely to change in the near future - particularly as the US and other Nato allies focus on containing the conflict to Ukraine.

How is Western taxpayers' money being spent by Ukraine?published at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

15:22 GMT 21 December 2023

Jessica Parker
Europe correspondent, answering from Kyiv

Michael asks: How are the billions of pounds of tax money being pumped into Ukraine by the UK and other governments being spent - are detailed accounts published or is it just sent on trust?

Money sent to Ukraine largely falls under three categories: military, humanitarian and financial.

Some of it is, for example, used to help Kyiv pay for public services including teachers’ and doctors’ wages.

It can be a mix of grants and loans like the proposed, but currently blocked, €50bn EU economic aid package.

On defence, that money can in fact end up being ploughed back into the donor country.

US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, recently claimed, external that 90% of security assistance provided to Ukraine has been spent in America, with domestic manufacturers.

There is a publicly available domestic website (in Ukrainian), external that details public expenditure on everything from helping displaced people, to buying train carriages to carrying out energy grid repairs.

But it doesn’t list the expenditure’s source.

We’ve also asked the UK Government Treasury to explain exactly how they track where British taxpayers' cash has gone – and we’re waiting for an answer.

What happened to the tanks Western governments promised Ukraine?published at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

15:08 GMT 21 December 2023

Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent, answering from London

Image source, EPA

James asks what happened to the tanks that western governments promised to Ukraine?

Western nations sent around 200 modern tanks and hundreds more armoured vehicles to Ukraine for its highly anticipated summer offensive.

The hope was that Ukraine could use them to break through the heavily prepared Russian defences.

But within the first week of that offensive the losses started to mount. Around a dozen Leopard tanks and US supplied Bradley armoured vehicles were damaged or destroyed in just one day – trapped in dense Russian minefields backed up by artillery fire.

Newly formed Ukrainian mechanised brigades struggled to advance.

Rather than lose entire fleets of precious western armour, Ukraine switched tactics – often using dismounted infantry to try to clear a path through the mines.

It meant small incremental gains rather than a breakthrough.

Ukraine has continued to suffer losses, but not on the same scale as in the first weeks of its offensive.

It still has many of the Western tanks supplied – now bolstered by the arrival of 31 US Abrams tanks and more Leopards from Germany.

But without air support and more mine clearing technology, the western tanks are unlikely to make a decisive difference on the battlefield.

So far the greatest advantage of Western armour has made is in saving lives – giving Ukrainian troops better protection.

And so far Russia has lost more than 2,000 tanks – more than double Ukraine’s losses.

Jessica Parker
Europe correspondent, answering from Kyiv

Image source, Reuters

Nicola Horsey in Winchester writes: We are hosting a Ukrainian guest. The sister of my guest is living over here at the moment; previously she was a teacher in Ukraine. But her school and her house have been destroyed by the Russians. Do you know what plans are being drawn up to help Ukrainians rebuild their homes and their lives?

Reconstruction is something that’s frequently discussed – here in Ukraine and amongst Kyiv’s supporters abroad.

President Zelensky has pledged to rebuild “everything” that has been destroyed.

But that would, of course, require a lot of money.

International organisations such as the EU have said a “major global financial effort” will be needed once the war is over.

Currently, within Ukraine, if your home has suffered relatively minor damage then there is help up to a value of just over £4,000 ($5,000).

Plans are also in motion to give financial support to families whose homes have been destroyed.

And some people – who have nowhere to stay – have already been placed in specially built, temporary prefab homes.

For those who come from areas near the frontline or within the occupied territories, their ability to return and rebuild their lives will of course depend on the course of the war.

Why is Viktor Orban opposed to EU funding of Ukraine?published at 14:27 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

14:27 GMT 21 December 2023

Nick Thorpe
Answering from Budapest

Image source, Reuters

John writes from Accra, Ghana: Why is Viktor Orban opposed to EU funding of Ukraine?

Viktor Orban has been giving his end of year press conference in Budapest.

Fresh from the EU summit, a lot of the journalists' questions were about Ukraine.

In a bright pink tie, Orban was at pains to emphasise Hungary is not against supporting Ukraine. He just wants the EU to find a better way to do that.

To pay €50 billion for the next four years, he says, when we don’t even know what condition Ukraine will be in three months, would be reckless.

He’s also against funding Ukraine from either the existing, seven-year EU budget, or from a specially raised loan.

Instead of the distant promise of EU membership, he says, Ukraine should be offered a strategic partnership with the EU.

Individual EU member countries, including Hungary, would then be able to contribute to Ukraine whatever they want, within that new framework.

When I asked him whether he wanted Ukraine as a neutral, buffer-zone on his eastern border - the sort of "demilitarised, neutral Ukraine" which Vladimir Putin speaks about - or rather a Ukraine which was a Nato and EU ally, he dodged the question.

First a ceasefire, then peace negotiations, and only then might the form of a future state emerge.

"Surely you must have a vision of what kind of eastern neighbour you want?" I pressed him.

"It's our interest not to share a border with Russia," Orban replied.

Why does Ukraine not target Russian supply convoys?published at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

14:12 GMT 21 December 2023

Abdujalil Abdurasulov
Who recently reported from the front line in eastern Ukraine

Image source, Reuters

Paul asks why the Ukrainian army does not target Russian convoys carrying food, ammunition and equipment to their front line in Ukraine?

In this war, when drones are used extensively by both sides, any move on the front line will be likely spotted by the adversary.

So, neither Russia nor Ukraine usually send large convoys to get supplies to the front line – those deliveries are usually distributed among small groups.

Often food, ammunition and other supplies are delivered in one vehicle and usually at night, since the threat of kamikaze drones is very high.

Of course, Russian supply bases in the deep rear that have fuel and ammunition depots are a major target for Ukrainian troops.

However, firstly they need to gather intelligence to identify their location and secondly, Ukrainian forces must have the means to destroy them.

This is the reason why Kyiv wants to receive long-range weapons like ATACMS missiles.

One of Ukraine's aims is to disrupt supply routes used by Russian troops in occupied Ukraine - one of the most recent such attacks was on an oil depot in Luhansk earlier this month.

However, Ukrainian forces never report how they hit those facilities.

It’s largely believed that they use drones or long-range missiles, such as Storm Shadows, that were donated by western partners, to target Russian storage facilities and supply bases.

What would a Russian win look like?published at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

13:55 GMT 21 December 2023

Steve Rosenberg
Russia editor, answering from Moscow

Norman asks: If Russia wins this war, what will a Russian win be? Would they stop at taking part of Ukraine or would they obliterate it all? Let’s say in a decade from now, what would a Russian win look like?

In Moscow a giant video screen proclaims: “Victory will be ours!” and “Russia is the country of winners.”

Right outside the US embassy the Russians have put up a sign: “To victory!”

But for the Kremlin what exactly would constitute victory in this war?

Among his objectives Vladimir Putin still lists “demilitarising” and “denazifying” Russia’s neighbour, persisting with the false claim that Ukraine has been overrun by neo-Nazis.

But recently he also called Odesa “a Russian city” and claimed that “Russians and Ukrainians are one people”.

That suggests President Putin hasn’t given up on what many see as his main objective: forcing the whole of Ukraine back into Russia’s orbit.

He certainly has no intention of handing back any Ukrainian territory his forces have already occupied.

On international relations, keep in mind there are parts of the world with which Russia remains on good terms.

Putin is busy building relations with the Gulf states, with African nations and in Asia.

As far as ties with the West are concerned, a decade from now much will depend on who is in power in the Kremlin and in the White House.

But one likely result of a Russian victory in Ukraine would be a perception in Moscow of the West’s weakness.

Why isn't Ukraine doing more to demolish the Crimean Kerch Bridge?published at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

13:40 GMT 21 December 2023

Paul Adams
Diplomatic correspondent, answering from London

Denise asks why more isn't being done to demolish the Crimean Kerch Bridge?

The Kerch Bridge has been in Kyiv’s sights since October 2022 when a huge explosion caused a section of the road bridge to collapse and severely damaged the adjacent railway line.

There have been other, more recent attempts to target the bridge, but it’s now better defended than it was before.

And despite the success of the 2022 operation - generally believed to have involved a truck bomb - destroying a bridge is not that easy.

It would almost certainly involve a significant salvo of long range precision weapons, like the British Storm shadow or US ATACMS missiles.

Ukraine’s western allies have supplied some of these missiles, but probably not enough for Kyiv to use up precious weapons on a single target.

Can Ukraine win the war without US military aid?published at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

13:23 GMT 21 December 2023

Jessica Parker
Europe correspondent, answering from Kyiv

Aaron asks if Ukraine can win the war without US military aid, given the present uncertainty over continued funding?

That’s a question that’s looming large over Ukraine as a massive package of US defence aid remains marooned in Congress.

No one can be sure what will happen in a war. But a recent Institute for the Study of War analysis by scholar Frederick W Kagan warned that ending or significantly curtailing American military support would "enable Russia to win this war on the battlefield".

Those words were echoed by President Zelensky’s own chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, who said a failure by the US to approve more aid could make it "impossible" to liberate further territory and "create a great risk of losing this war".

Ukraine has, of course, defied expectations before.

The country’s also seeking to ramp up domestic arms production, and it gets significant weapons support from nations such as Germany and the UK.

However - as the chart below shows - the US has been Kyiv’s main military backer by a country mile.

Will Vladimir Putin succeed in Ukraine?published at 13:14 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2023

13:14 GMT 21 December 2023

Steve Rosenberg
Russia editor, answering from Moscow

Here's our first question, from Tony in Cornwall. He asks:

Do you think that Putin will hold out and bide his time, hoping that the West will lose interest in Ukraine's fight to retain and take back its occupied territory? Do you think that Putin will succeed?

Imagine you’re Vladimir Putin. You’re an autocrat. You’ve removed all your rivals from the political stage.

You’ve been in power for 24 years. And you’re expecting at least another six after March’s presidential election.

One thing you’d believe you have plenty of is time.

It’s something Western leaders don’t have. They are constantly having to think about the next election, debating with the opposition, the mood of the voters.

But as well as time, Putin has resources.

True, in Ukraine his army has suffered heavy losses on the battlefield.

But he still has plenty of money for recruiting military volunteers (a reminder that Western efforts to cap the price of Russian oil have pretty much failed).

There are plans to expand the Russian armed forces to 1.5 million personnel.

Russia’s defence budget has been significantly increased.

Vladimir Putin believes he has the staying power - and that the West doesn’t.

But what happens next in Ukraine depends on many factors, including the scale of Western military assistance to Kyiv, the fate of the Russian economy - and the outcome of the US presidential election.

Hanna Chornous
Reporting from Kyiv

Image source, BBC/Dmytro Vlasov

To the outsiders, life in Ukrainian cities away from the frontline may seem “normal”.

Take Kyiv. Public transport is running, restaurants are open, and the busy rush hour is back. Even the main Christmas tree, though modest and without surrounding festive market stalls, is up in its usual location on St Sophia’s square.

A curfew is in place from midnight to 5am, but with it still comes a routine. Days are interrupted by the haunting wails of air raid sirens over the city, signalling that Russian missiles or drones may be heading towards the capital. This may not happen for weeks - or take place several times in a day or night. It disrupts sleep, plans and the country’s economy.

The metro doubles up as a way to get around and somewhere to hide from the strikes. But if you live on the left (eastern) bank of the city, an air raid alert means you can’t take it to get to the centre. Because this line, one of the three in Kyiv, runs overground and across the bridge, it stops operating when the threat is high.

Children at schools and kindergartens have to go to underground shelters until the alert is over. And if you had plans for grocery shopping or sending a parcel at the post office, these have to wait too.

Trying on a dress to the sound of sirens or sitting in the dentist’s chair while hearing booms of the air defences outside? Both happened to me this year.

While events like these will never feel normal, you have to remind yourself there is a real danger too. Even if a missile or a drone is intercepted, debris fall, causing destruction. Over 50 people were injured when missile fragments damaged an apartment block last week. No one knows where it may happen next.

It’s a weird kind of Russian roulette every time.