No turning point for Ukraine: The frontline reality Western media won’t show

From stalled urban battles to collapsing strongholds, developments in December highlight Russia’s growing operational advantage

By late December, the gap between political statements and battlefield realities has grown harder to ignore. Despite localized fighting and temporary slowdowns, the Russian Army continues to press forward along key sectors of the front, gradually eroding Ukrainian defenses and dictating the pace of operations.

During a press conference on December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin succinctly outlined the situation at the front: since March, when Kursk Region was cleared of enemy forces, the full strategic initiative on the battlefield has been in the hands of the Russian Army. This means that Russian forces are advancing along the entire front line.

A counter-question was immediately posed: what about Kupyansk? The Ukrainian military claims to have recaptured the city, and Vladimir Zelensky has reportedly even visited it. So, let’s start our overview there.

Kupyansk

The Russian Army faces challenges in Kupyansk because the ‘West’ group of forces has failed to encircle the city from three sides before engaging in battles. Kupyansk is divided from north to south by the Oskol River; to encircle the city, the Russian Army needs to establish reliable and well-protected crossings north and south of the city, and also advance from the east.

Russian forces were able to establish, fortify, and expand a foothold north of Kupyansk, in the Kondrashovka area; however, they didn’t establish a foothold south of the city, along the Senkovo-Krugliakovka line (1 on map). However, this summer, the Ukrainian defenses in Kupyansk weakened significantly, prompting the Russian command to decide to enter the city from the north.

©RT/Sergey Poletaev based on data from Lostarmor.Ru

Until mid-October, battles for Kupyansk progressed fairly well. To reach the city, it was said that troops would have to navigate through a heating pipeline at the bottom of the river (2) and then continue on foot or crawl their way forward. Logistics were complicated and relied on personal delivery or drones. But the risk was worth taking.

By mid-October, the central part of Kupyansk, located on the right bank of the river, was fully under Russian control. Due to logistical challenges, it was not possible to deploy large troop formations in Kupyansk; estimates suggest that no more than 150-200 Russian soldiers were present there at a time.

However, the left-bank portion of the city, where a major railway hub is located, remains under Ukrainian control (3); up to 3,500 soldiers are operationally encircled there.

Ukrainian forces recognized the weak points of the Russian positions on the right bank and launched a local counteroffensive. In late October, Ukrainian forces reinforced their troops and attempted to cut off Russian supply lines between Kupyansk and Kondrashovka (4). As a result, the area north of the city has become a gray zone. Supplies are mainly delivered by drones, despite the fact that the supply routes haven’t been physically cut off.

However, the pace of combat in the city has noticeably slowed, forcing the command of the ‘West’ group of forces to revert to a more conservative approach, shifting the focus to the left bank. The goal is to liberate the area, capture the Kupyansk-Uzlovoy railway station, and establish a physical link with the right bank within the city itself.

Could this local failure of the Russian Army have a noticeable impact on the future course of the conflict? Not really. Kupyansk will only gain strategic importance if the front shifts back by 25-30km, beyond the reach of FPV drones. Only then can the railway be utilized for supplying the army, which would ease logistics in this remote corner of the front.

Liman

In addition to Kupyansk, the ‘West’ group of forces is advancing towards Liman, the second major city north of the Seversky Donets River. Russian forces abandoned Liman during Ukraine’s counteroffensive in 2022. Liman needs to be recaptured by Russian troops not just because it is located in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic, but also in order to secure the northern flank for potential future battles over Slavyansk.

In the past month, the eastern flank of the city has been fully isolated, and a 7km stretch of the road between Liman and Seversk has been severed. The partial encirclement on the western flank has expanded, and intense fighting continues within the city itself.

© RT / Sergey Poletaev based on data from Lostarmor.Ru

All of this signifies that the Ukrainian garrison in Liman has entered a phase of exhaustion. If it weren’t for orders to hold the city at all costs, Ukrainian forces would likely have retreated long ago, as supplying the city across the river is quite challenging.

Seversk

On December 11, Seversk was officially liberated. The city was captured in less than a month, which is remarkably quick by the standards of the current conflict. Once the Russian army took control of both main routes leading into the city at the end of November, its fate was sealed.

The Ukrainian garrison here could have held out longer, as for example, in Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk). However, unlike in other ‘strongholds’, the Ukrainian forces chose not to launch suicidal counterattacks here and wisely left the area in a timely manner.

© RT / Sergey Poletaev based on data from Lostarmor.Ru

The capture of Seversk paves the way to Ukrainian forces’ major stronghold: the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk urban agglomeration. If Russian forces manage to cross the river west of Seversk (1 on map) and establish a foothold on higher ground, Ukraine would have to abandon another defensive line and retreat towards Slavyansk.

Such a maneuver is quite possible. For example, it was the crossing of the Seversky Donets River near the railway bridge in the area of Dronovka that allowed the Russians to cut off one of the routes to Seversk, leading to success in battles for the city.

Pokrovsk – Mirnograd

The Pokrovsk-Mirnograd urban agglomeration was the second most populous area remaining under Ukrainian control in Donbass. Moreover, open steppes stretch for nearly 100km west of Pokrovsk, so beyond the city there are no major settlements where Ukrainian forces can establish durable defense.

Fighting in this area has continued since spring; we’ve covered it in detail before.

In the past month, two key events have occurred. Firstly, the Ukrainian counteroffensive has failed. The Ukrainian attempt to break through the encirclement of Mirnograd from the north via Rodninskoye hasn’t produced any result, and Rodninskoye has partially come back under Russian control.

Secondly, by the end of November, the Russian Army completely liberated Pokrovsk. A tight physical encirclement was formed (for the first time since battles for Mariupol), leaving the garrison in Mirnograd trapped. Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers surrendered, a few dozen managed to escape through the fields; the fate of the rest is clear.

© RT / Sergey Poletaev based on data from Lostarmor.Ru

According to reports, as of December 25, 90-95% of the urban area of Mirnograd had been cleared. Due to our conservative reporting standards, the map shows a smaller area of control – it is based on video evidence, which usually lags behind compared to the situation on the ground.

The fates of Pokrovsk and Mirnograd have been sealed. It’s likely that official announcements of their liberation will come before the end of the year.

Gulaipole

In the past several months, the greatest advance of the Russian Army has been noted between Gulaipole in Zaporozhye Region and Pokrovskoye in Dnepropetrovsk Region. This front is crucial for two reasons: first, it runs along one of Ukraine’s major defensive lines, rendering it largely ineffective.

Second, Russian forces are advancing across open steppes and favorable terrain toward Zaporozhye, and as we can see, the Ukrainian military is currently unable to stop them, as it struggles to establish a stable front there.

Over the past month, Russian forces have taken full control over the eastern bank of the Gaichur river without fighting; troops advanced up to 15km along a 30km front.

© RT / Sergey Poletaev based on data from Lostarmor.Ru

Russian troops also established a foothold across the river on the northern flank of the offensive, and captured Peschanoye and Gerasimovka without major resistance.

Ukrainian forces managed to establish a certain defense only in the city of Gulaipole. The Russian Army couldn’t capture it right away; only the part of the city on the eastern bank of the Gaichur river was liberated without battles.

However, Russian troops managed to cross the river and battles are now underway in the central districts of the city. Ukrainian reinforcements sent in to defend the city found themselves operationally encircled, as a 30km stretch of the only road leading into the city is under intense fire control

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By Sergey Poletaev, information analyst and publicist, co-founder and editor of the Vatfor project

Dolar AS Jatuh Dititik Nadir Rekor Terburuk Dalam 20 Tahun Terakhir

Dolar Amerika Serikat (AS) sepanjang tahun ini tidak berjalan mulus. Kini Greenback^* menghadapi tekanan kuat seiring tren pelemahan indeks dolar AS (DXY), yang mengukur kekuatan dolar terhadap enam mata uang utama dunia.

Berdasarkan data Refinitiv, indeks dolar AS di awal tahun masih berada di level 108,526. Namun seiring dalam perjalanannya, DXY terus tertekan hingga pada perdagangan pada hari Rabu, 24/12/2025, dan sempat menyentuh di level 97,749.

Hasil perhitungan secara kumulatif, DXY tercatat melemah 9,93% sepanjang tahun ini. Penurunan tersebut menjadi yang terdalam secara tahunan sejak 2003, atau lebih dari dua dekade terakhir, ketika pada tahun tersebut indeks dolar AS anjlok hingga 14,6% dalam setahun.

Pelemahan dolar AS terjadi seiring dengan meningkatnya keyakinan investor bahwa bank sentral AS (The Federal Reserve/The Fed) masih memiliki ruang untuk memangkas suku bunga lebih lanjut ke depan.

Meski data ekonomi Amerika Serikat, termasuk pertumbuhan produk domestik bruto (PDB), tercatat solid, hal tersebut belum mampu mengubah ekspektasi pasar terhadap arah kebijakan suku bunga. Investor masih memperkirakan adanya sekitar dua kali pemangkasan suku bunga lanjutan.

Di pasar global, pelemahan dolar AS tercermin dari pergerakannya terhadap mata uang negara-negara dengan ekonomi besar dunia. Sepanjang tahun berjalan, greenback tercatat melemah dan kalah bersaing melawan sejumlah mata uang, baik dari Eropa maupun Asia.

Dolar Terpuruk dari Swiss Franc

Melansir data Refinitiv, dolar AS mencatat pelemahan paling dalam terhadap Swiss franc sepanjang tahun ini. Pada awal tahun, nilai tukar berada di level CHF 0,9072/US$, namun hingga perdagangan oada hari Rabu, 24/12/2025, bergerak ke posisi CHF 0,7868/US$.

Secara kumulatif, dolar AS tercatat melemah 13,27% terhadap franc Swiss.

Dolar Keok dari Euro

Tekanan juga datang dari mata uang kawasan Eropa. Sepanjang tahun berjalan, dolar AS tertekan terhadap euro. Nilai tukar bergerak dari EUR 0,9657/US$ di awal tahun menjadi EUR 0,8475/US$ pada akhir periode, atau setara dengan pelemahan sebesar 12,24% secara tahunan bagi greenback.

Dolar Tertekan oleh Yen Jepang

Meski pergerakannya relatif lebih terbatas, dolar AS tetap mencatat pelemahan terhadap yen Jepang. Nilai tukar JPY 157,18/US$ di awal tahun bergeser ke JPY 155,74/US% yang mencerminkan pelemahan dolar AS sebesar 0,92% secara kumulatif.

Dolar Kalah dari Yuan China

Dari Asia, yuan China juga mencatat kinerja lebih kuat dibanding dolar AS. Nilai tukar bergerak dari CNY 7,2996/US$ pada awal tahun menjadi CNY 7,0131/US$ di akhir periode perdagangan, yang berarti dolar AS melemah sekitar 3,92% sepanjang 2025.

Note:

Greenback adalah salah satu mata uang yang paling banyak diperdagangkan di dunia, dan merupakan mata uang cadangan utama

Updates - Korban Bencana Sumatera 1.129 Meninggal 174 Hilang

Korban jiwa bencana alam di Sumatra Utara. ANTARA/HO-Pusdalops Sumut

Jumlah terbaru korban terdampak banjir bandang hingga tanah longsor di Aceh, Sumatera Barat, dan Sumatera Utara, meninggal dunia 1.129 dan korban hilang menjadi 174.

Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) mencatat ada penambahan 17 korban meninggal dunia akibat bencana alam banjir dan longsor di Aceh, Sumatera Utara dan Sumatera Barat.

"Per hari ini, terdapat penambahan daftar korban meninggal dunia sebanyak 17 jiwa, sehingga total korban jiwa secara keseluruhan kini mencapai 1.129 orang," ujar Abdul dalam konferensi pers yang digelar virtual, pada hari Rabu, 24/12/2025.

Abdul juga menyampaikan bahwa, jumlah korban hilang berkurang 2 orang. Untuk itu, jumlah korban hilang menjadi 174 jiwa. Sedangkan untuk korban mengungsi, BMPB mencatat ada 496.293 jiwa.

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"Untuk status dari kabupaten/kota yang terdampak, saat ini per hari ini, 12 kabupaten/kota sudah bergeser dari status Tanggap Darurat ke status Transisi Darurat. Itu di Provinsi Aceh ada 4 kabupaten/kota, Sumatera Utara 4 kabupaten/kota, dan Sumatera Barat 4 kabupaten/kota," ungkap Abdul.

"Adapun penambahan korban jiwa di Aceh Utara 14 jiwa, Tapteng, Sibolga, dan Sumbar masing-masing 1 jiwa," sambungnya.

Sementara untuk korban hilang menjadi 174 jiwa. Dan yang mengungsi masih mencapai ratusan ribu jiwa.

"Untuk korban hilang berkurang 2 jiwa, jadi 174 jiwa. Sedangkan untuk pengungsi 496.293 jiwa," tuturnya.

Dalam jumpa pers ini, Muhari juga menjelaskan proses evakuasi korban dan pembangunan jalan dan jembatan yang putus terus dilakukan.

Menurut email jaksa, Donald Trump terbang dengan jet Epstein delapan kali pada tahun 90-an

Ghislaine Maxwell dan Donald Trump ditampilkan dalam gambar ini yang dirilis oleh Departemen Kehakiman di Washington, D.C., AS, pada 23 Desember 2025 sebagai bagian dari kumpulan dokumen baru dari... Beli Hak Lisensi

Presiden AS, Donald Trump terbang dengan jet pribadi milik terpidana pelaku kejahatan seksual Jeffrey Epstein "jauh lebih banyak daripada yang dilaporkan sebelumnya," menurut sebuah email dari seorang jaksa New York yang merupakan bagian dari kumpulan dokumen baru tentang Epstein yang dirilis Selasa oleh Departemen Kehakiman AS.

Dalam sebuah email tertanggal 7 Januari 2020, jaksa penuntut yang tidak disebutkan namanya menulis bahwa catatan penerbangan menunjukkan Trump telah terbang dengan jet pribadi Epstein sebanyak delapan kali selama tahun 1990-an.

Di antara penerbangan tersebut terdapat setidaknya empat penerbangan di mana rekan Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, juga berada di dalamnya. Maxwell menjalani hukuman penjara 20 tahun karena membantu mendiang pengusaha Epstein melakukan pelecehan seksual terhadap gadis-gadis di bawah umur.

Dalam unggahan media sosial pada tahun 2024, Trump mengatakan dia "tidak pernah berada di pesawat Epstein, atau di pulau 'bodoh' miliknya." Tidak ada tuduhan dalam email jaksa penuntut bahwa Trump telah melakukan kejahatan apa pun. Gedung Putih tidak segera menanggapi permintaan komentar tentang email tersebut.

Pada satu penerbangan yang dijelaskan dalam catatan yang baru dirilis, hanya ada tiga penumpang yaitu Epstein, Trump, dan seorang wanita berusia 20 tahun yang namanya dirahasiakan. "Pada dua penerbangan lainnya, dua penumpang, masing-masing, adalah wanita yang mungkin menjadi saksi dalam kasus Maxwell," demikian pernyataan dokumen tersebut.

Trump mengenal Epstein secara sosial pada tahun 1990-an dan awal 2000-an. Trump mengatakan hubungan mereka berakhir pada pertengahan 2000-an dan bahwa dia tidak pernah mengetahui pelecehan seksual yang dilakukan oleh pemodal tersebut. Epstein dihukum di Florida pada tahun 2008 karena menyediakan seseorang di bawah usia 18 tahun untuk prostitusi. Departemen Kehakiman mendakwanya dengan perdagangan seks pada tahun 2019.

Departemen Kehakiman memposting pernyataan di X yang mengatakan: "Beberapa dokumen ini berisi klaim yang tidak benar dan sensasional yang dibuat terhadap Presiden Trump yang diserahkan ke FBI tepat sebelum pemilihan 2020. Untuk memperjelas: klaim tersebut tidak berdasar dan salah, dan jika memiliki sedikit kredibilitas, klaim tersebut pasti sudah digunakan sebagai senjata melawan Presiden Trump.

"Meskipun demikian, karena komitmen kami terhadap hukum dan transparansi, Departemen Kehakiman merilis dokumen-dokumen ini dengan perlindungan yang diwajibkan secara hukum untuk para korban Epstein," katanya.

Rilis terbaru berkas Epstein mencakup sekitar 30.000 halaman dokumen, dengan banyak penyuntingan, dan puluhan klip video, termasuk beberapa yang diduga diambil di dalam pusat penahanan federal. Epstein ditemukan meninggal pada tahun 2019 di penjara New York. Kematiannya dinyatakan sebagai bunuh diri.

Dalam email lain, seseorang yang tidak dikenal menulis pada tahun 2021 bahwa mereka baru-baru ini telah melihat data yang diperoleh pemerintah dari ponsel mantan ajudan Trump, Steve Bannon, dan menemukan "gambar Trump dan Ghislaine Maxwell." Pemerintah menyunting sebagian pesan yang menunjukkan siapa yang mengirim dan menerima pesan tersebut.

Berkas lain dalam rilis pemerintah menyertakan foto buram Trump yang duduk di sebelah Maxwell. Foto itu cocok dengan gambar keduanya di sebuah peragaan busana di New York pada tahun 2000.

Pengungkapan tersebut mencakup sejumlah catatan lain yang merujuk pada Trump, meskipun catatan-catatan itu tidak menunjukkan bahwa pemerintah menganggapnya kredibel.

Di antara dokumen-dokumen tersebut terdapat gambar kartu yang diduga berasal dari Epstein kepada Larry Nassar, seorang mantan dokter senam yang dihukum karena melakukan pelecehan seksual terhadap gadis-gadis di bawah perawatannya. Sebuah pesan tulisan tangan di kartu tersebut merujuk pada Trump tanpa menyebut namanya.

Departemen Kehakiman kemudian menyebut kartu tersebut sebagai "palsu" dan mengatakan akan terus merilis dokumen-dokumen berkas Epstein sebagaimana diwajibkan oleh hukum.

Pemerintah juga mengungkapkan beberapa laporan panggilan telepon ke saluran informasi FBI yang merujuk pada Trump, meskipun mereka tidak mengidentifikasi orang-orang yang melakukan panggilan atau memberikan indikasi apakah penyelidik menindaklanjuti panggilan tersebut atau menganggapnya kredibel.

Seorang penelepon mengklaim bahwa ia pernah mengemudikan limusin untuk Trump pada tahun 1995 dan mendengar Trump melakukan panggilan telepon di belakang mobil di mana ia menyebut seseorang sebagai "Jeffrey" dan pada satu titik menyebutkan pelecehan terhadap seorang gadis.

Pemerintah AS pada hari Selasa juga merilis sebuah video yang diduga menunjukkan Epstein berlutut di dalam sel penjaranya, tetapi pemeriksaan Reuters menemukan bahwa video tersebut tampaknya merupakan klip yang dihasilkan komputer yang pertama kali muncul di media sosial pada tahun 2020, setahun setelah kematiannya. Video tersebut diserahkan ke Departemen Kehakiman oleh seseorang yang mengatakan bahwa video itu diduga menunjukkan kematian Epstein, menurut sebuah email yang juga dirilis pada hari Selasa.

TRANSPARANSI HUKUM

Pemerintahan Trump pekan lalu menerbitkan sejumlah besar berkas Epstein dalam upaya untuk mematuhi undang-undang baru yang memaksa pengungkapan topik yang sarat dengan muatan politik tersebut.

Namun, rilis pada hari Jumat dan Sabtu berisi banyak bagian yang disensor, yang membuat marah beberapa anggota Partai Republik dan tidak banyak membantu meredakan skandal yang mengancam partai tersebut menjelang pemilihan paruh waktu 2026.

Pada hari Senin, Trump meremehkan pentingnya berkas Epstein. Berbicara kepada wartawan, ia mengatakan materi tersebut "hanya digunakan untuk mengalihkan perhatian dari kesuksesan luar biasa" yang diraihnya dan rekan-rekan Republiknya.

Undang-undang transparansi baru, yang disahkan secara mayoritas oleh Kongres bulan lalu, mewajibkan pengungkapan semua berkas Epstein, meskipun upaya Trump selama berbulan-bulan untuk merahasiakannya.

Perwakilan Partai Republik Thomas Massie, yang membantu memelopori undang-undang yang mewajibkan rilis berkas tersebut, menanggapi komentar Trump pada Senin malam yang menyatakan ketidaksetujuannya terhadap rilis dokumen Epstein.

Politisi Partai Republik Kentucky itu menulis di X: "Trump menyalahkan saya atas RUU yang akhirnya dia tandatangani, sementara membela teman-teman bankirnya, Bill Clinton, dan para pengunjung 'tak bersalah' ke pulau pemerkosaan. Sementara itu (Jaksa Agung Pam) Bondi bekerja keras untuk menyunting, menghilangkan, dan menghapus berkas Epstein yang secara hukum wajib dia rilis berdasarkan RUU kami."

Saudi Arabia sees first snowfall in 30 years - 4°C desert cold

Rare snowfall blankets Saudi Arabia after 30 years,turning Tabuk’s mountains and deserts into white landscapes/Image: X

For the first time in three decades, snow has graced parts of Saudi Arabia, turning desert-framed mountains into icy landscapes and surprising residents with a rare winter spectacle. From snow-capped peaks to desert plains dusted in white, the Kingdom experienced a weather event that many had only imagined.

Snowfall across parts of Tabuk and the Trojena Mountains has transformed the regions into an unexpected winter playground, prompting residents to step outside to ski, play, and capture the rare icy scenes.

The Trojena Highlands were draped in white, turning the rugged northern mountains into a striking winter landscape. Visitors shared videos and photos on social media, capturing snow settling on rocky slopes.

Snow reportedly covered thousands of sq km in Saudi Arabia, from the Tuwaiq range to areas near Riyadh | Screengrab: X/@nexta_tv

Residents of Al-Ahsa in the country’s eastern province, usually a warm area, also saw snowfall. The cold wave was accompanied by widespread rainfall across northern and central Saudi Arabia. Light to moderate rain was recorded in areas such as Bir Bin Hermas, Al-Ayinah, and Ammar.

So, why is it snowing in a country better known for extreme heat? And how rare is it?

Winter Games dreams

Snowfall in Saudi Arabia’s northern regions is rare but not unheard of. Elevated parts of Tabuk province have seen snow intermittently over the decades. What is different now is the scale and spread of snowfall across desert areas, something weather observers say has not been seen for decades.

The Saudi National Center of Meteorology (NCM) has said the most intense cold wave recorded in Saudi Arabia occurred in 1992. At its Hail station in the country’s northwest, temperatures dropped to a record low of –9.3°C in January that year. Reports also claim that in January 1973, a massive polar surge from Siberia brought nearly 20 cm of snowfall to Riyadh.

For the current cold wave, climate change is seen as a contributing factor. Experts from the World Meteorological Organisation have said the Arab region is warming at nearly twice the global average. This leads to what scientists call the “warming paradox”: as temperatures rise, the atmosphere holds more moisture, increasing the intensity of extreme weather events.

TV channels are calling it a “historic event”. In videos shared by social media users, residents can be seen playing with snow, with some clips even showing people snowboarding on desert slopes.

Snow blanketed Saudi Arabia this week, transforming the usually rugged, desert-framed mountains into a winter landscape.pic.twitter.com/0lMIazJe9b

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) December 19, 2025

Saudi Arabia, notably, is already making a colder future part of its economic strategy. Under Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, it is developing Trojena, a high-altitude winter destination in the Sarawat Mountains. Part of the larger $1.5 trillion Neom megacity project, it is set to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029.

Will there be more snow?

According to the National Centre for Meteorology, snowfall has also been observed in Al-Majmaah and Al-Ghat. Hussein Al‑Qahtani, the NCM’s official spokesperson, said the conditions were driven by a cold air mass pushing into central and northern regions, interacting with rain-bearing clouds. He added that temperatures were expected to remain low, especially across northern and central Saudi Arabia.

A deep low-pressure system moving in from the Mediterranean Sea has pushed very cold air south into the Arabian Peninsula. While snow does occasionally fall on Saudi Arabia’s high mountain peaks, it is far more unusual for it to blanket flat desert plains, as it has this week. In some areas, temperatures dipped to as low as -4°C, while other parts of the Kingdom were swept by rain.

Justice Department releases huge trove of Jeffrey Epstein files

The Justice Department released more files related to the investigations into convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell Saturday morning — a day after initially making tens of thousands of records public.

The Department of Justice has not responded to a request for comment about the discrepancy, and it's unclear why the files are missing a day after they were initially released.

However, in a social media post to its × account Saturday night that seemed to touch on the issue, the DOJ wrote: "Photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information."

One of the missing files showed a mass of framed photos on a desk. They include former President Bill Clinton and the pope. In an open drawer in the same image, there was a photo of Mr. Trump, Epstein and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Other missing files included photos of a room with what appeared to be a massage table and nude photos and nude paintings.

As of early Saturday afternoon, seven batches of materials had been posted on the department’s website. During an interview on Fox News Friday morning, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had said the Justice Department would continue to release materials in the weeks ahead.

The much-anticipated materials tied to Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York City jail cell in 2019, and Maxwell, his longtime confidant and former girlfriend, have largely consisted of documents, some of which are heavily redacted, and images of Epstein’s homes in New York City and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well some photos of powerful people in politics and entertainment. None of those pictured have been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and Maxwell.

Maxwell, 63, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in luring victims to be abused by Epstein over the course of a decade. She was moved to a prison camp in Texas from a federal prison in Florida in August.

DOJ says additional disclosures to come by year’s end

In a letter to Congress Friday, Blanche wrote that the Justice Department was continuing to review files in its possession and planned to share additional records by the end of the year.

The trove of materials made public to date came after a small group of bipartisan lawmakers — including Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., — joined forces with Epstein’s accusers in a campaign to force the government to release its files related to the wealthy financier.

Following the partial release Friday afternoon, Democrats and some Republicans criticized the Justice Department, contending that officials failed to meet Friday’s congressionally set deadline to make all of the files public.

Khanna called Friday’s release “deeply disappointing” during an interview with CNN, saying many of the records had been overly redacted and other documents, which may have implicated additional people in Epstein’s crimes, were not made public.

“We do not know then who these other rich and powerful men were who abused these survivors,” he said. “And we know from the survivors and the survivors' lawyers that that information is in the files.”

Massie said on social media that the trove released by the Justice Department so far “grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law.”

On Saturday, the Associated Press and NPR identified files among those initially released that appear to have been removed from the Justice Department's webpage.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee pointed out that one of the images — showing a table with various photographs, including two with President Donald Trump –– was among those no longer posted online.

A request for comment made to the Justice Department by Spectrum News Saturday about the change was not immediately returned.

Records released Saturday

Court records made public Saturday shed more light on how authorities were aware of allegations that Epstein sexually abused several teenage girls and young women more than two decades ago.

Among the trove were grand jury materials from the 2007 federal investigation in Florida into Epstein — a case that ultimately ended without federal charges. In 2008, the notorious financier instead pled guilty to lesser state prostitution charges involving a person under 18.

The newly released records included grand jury testimony from FBI agents who described interviews with several girls as young as 14 and young women who said they were paid to perform sex acts for Epstein. One had told authorities about how Epstein sexually assaulted her after she initially resisted his advances during a massage.

The files also included 2007 grand jury testimony from a 21-year-old woman who described being molested by Epstein when she was 16 after she was recruited by a high school classmate. She also detailed Epstein asking her to bring him other girls and confirmed that he had told her “the younger the better.”

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith had allowed for these grand jury records from nearly two decades ago to be released. In his decision, he said that the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act –– which was approved nearly unanimously by Congress and signed into law by President Trump in November –– overode the usual rules about secrecy.

Epstein’s accusers have long sought more information about why the federal case from that time seemed to have been set aside for the plea agreement.

Grand jury records in the state case against Epstein were released last year, and the Miami Herald reported at the time that the records showed the Palm Beach County prosecutor had presented two girls molested by Epstein unsympathetically to the grand jury.

Saturday’s release also included a several-hundred-page transcript of the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility’s interview of former U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta in 2019 –– in which officials asked Acosta how the case against Epstein ended in a plea deal.

Acosta cited concerns from the time about whether a jury would believe Epstein’s accusers as part of the reasoning.

His remarks came several months after a federal judge ruled that prosecutors had violated the Crime Victims’ Rights Act when they failed to tell accusers about the agreement not to prosecute Epstein on federal sex trafficking charges.