17 December 2025
Venezuela
With yesterday’s news that at least five oil tankers reversed course from Venezuela after the US boarded and seized one recently, President Trump announced the naval blockade of the country from sanctioned oil tankers. President Trump’s remarks on designating the Venezuelan government as a foreign terrorist organization and potential war have many US politicians raising concerns over a possible war that Congress did not approve.
Russia
The Kremlin rejected the notion of a Christmas truce in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that such a truce would allow Ukraine a respite from heavy fighting and that the war must continue. This comes after many religious-day truces observed between Russia and Ukraine. The Easter truce, which Putin declared, was violated nearly 3,000 times by Russian troops.
Russia deployed all eight of its nuclear-powered icebreakers to keep the Northern Sea Route open for export. This is the first time that Russia has done this, and it is to ensure the export flow of oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and mineral cargoes from Russia’s Arctic production regions, including the Arctic Gate oil terminal, Yamal LNG, and Norilsk Nickel.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Cautious hope in the DRC as the M23 rebel group announced it will voluntarily withdraw from the city of Uvira. They are doing so as a “trust-building measure,” but of course, not launching an offensive as a peace treaty is being signed would do the same thing.
Canada
More details on the alleged intelligence leak to a foreign body, the Department of National Defence claims that Master Warrant Officer Matthew Robar met with a Ukrainian contact in Lithuania and passed on sensitive information to assist in Ukrainian efforts against Russia.
The Department of National Defence is also seeking US military assistance as part of its $400 million Canadian Space Command and Control (Space C2) project. The original estimate of the Space C2 project was $200 million.
Pakistan
Pakistan Navy’s fourth Hangor-class submarine, named Ghazi, was launched at Shuangliu Base in Wuhan, China. This is the last of the four submarines contracted to Chinese shipyards for the Pakistani Navy. After sea trials, it will be handed over to the Pakistani Navy.
.
Social media wires
Sweden believes Russian military personnel are on oil tankers.
Ukrainian attack on a Russian column
Featured Photo: “Christmas Truce statute in Mesen” – Wikimedia Commons, 2025
The Wires Brief is a daily breaking news report incorporating wire service news and social media updates. DefRep cannot verify the authenticity of social media reporters nor the accuracy of social media updates. Feature photos are altered with grayscale.