The EU has prepared a plan to deploy up to 15,000 EU and NATO troops to Ukraine as a deterrent force following a possible ceasefire, according to Die Welt citing European diplomats, as posted by @front_ukrainian on X between 6:16 PM and 7:15 PM UTC on December 31, 2025. French and British troops would be able, if necessary, to use force to support the truce even without a UN or EU mandate, with an invitation from Ukraine sufficing, the report stated. Discussions are ongoing for other European countries' participation, with multinational forces to ensure security from the sea, air, and neighboring states' territories; Turkey could play a significant role in the Black Sea. Over the same 59-minute period ending at 7:15 PM UTC, Russian forces struck Zaporizhzhia city, damaging a high-rise building, igniting cars, and injuring one person, according to the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration as reported by the Реальное ⚡️Запорожье | Свет Telegram channel. Emergency services are eliminating the consequences and providing medical assistance. A series of explosions rang out in the occupied city of Ilovaisk in Donetsk region, according to Exilenova+ citing @bromemss on X during the reporting window. Andriy SmoliY reported 10 UAVs from Chernihiv Oblast heading to areas north of Kyiv Oblast in a post shared over the past hour. These developments follow earlier reports of Russian forces approaching Zaliznychne west of Huliaipole on the Zaporizhzhia front and UAV detections in Russia's Bryansk region, as noted in previous updates on December 31.
