Alla Kiosak
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decision on sanctions against individuals who justify aggression and are involved in Russian propaganda. He also announced further sanction steps.
An explosion of a gas-air mixture occurred in a high-rise building in the Saltivskyi district of Kharkiv on the night of January 17. Two people died, and the inter-floor ceilings were destroyed.
Every year on January 17, World Pizza Day is celebrated, a dish that has become part of global culture. Neapolitan pizza is included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Since the beginning of 2026, 28 air raid alerts have been recorded in Kyiv, with a total duration of over 29 hours. This is fewer alerts but longer in time than in the same period last year.
The Chinese New Year in 2026 will fall on February 17, marking the 4723rd year according to the Eastern calendar. The celebrations will last two weeks, concluding on March 3.
Pinterest introduced Palette 2026, a selection of five colors that will shape visual trends next year. The palette is based on user search behavior and service analytics.
The Verkhovna Rada recommended approving the updated orthography by February 1, 2026. However, the National Commission on State Language Standards states that it has not received any materials, so there will be no changes to the norms of the current orthography.
The Cabinet of Ministers is preparing a decision to introduce an emergency in the energy sector for a quick response to damage and power shortages. This formalizes the current state, allowing for operational repair work and infrastructure protection.
The plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada ended due to an insufficient number of votes to make decisions. The First Deputy Chairman of the Parliament, Oleksandr Kornienko, announced a break in the work.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted bill No. 11328, which prohibits the use of pets in advertising and exhibitions without proper conditions. The document also prohibits surgical operations on animals not related to treatment.
Astrologer Ksenia Bazylenko stated that the events surrounding Yulia Tymoshenko coincided with the peak of the planetary alignment on January 13-14. This configuration affects political leaders, intensifying political processes and public scandals.
Winter grain crops in Ukraine are dormant, which is normal. Snow cover protects crops from freezing, but in the central and southern regions, it is insufficient.
Kyiv's critical infrastructure is supplied with electricity. The operation of water supply and heating systems remains under control.
Acting First Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration Petro Panteleyev stated that there is a separate work plan for heating for each building in Kyiv. This allows the situation to be considered under control, despite the draining of water from heating systems.
In Kyiv, heating has been stopped in 6,000 residential buildings due to damage to energy facilities. These are unprecedented measures, related to the merging of systems at low temperatures.
Oleh Popenko, head of the Union of Utility Service Consumers, spoke about the consequences of multi-apartment buildings freezing and the process of their restoration. Freezing affects heating and water supply networks, making the building uninhabitable and requiring extensive repair work.
Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov announced significant financial and personnel challenges affecting the planning of payments to military personnel. Decisions on increasing payments will be made after analyzing the available capital.
Mykhailo Fedorov, the new Minister of Defense, stated the need for a comprehensive audit of the TCCs. This will allow accumulated problems to be eliminated without weakening defense capabilities.
Mykhailo Fedorov, a candidate for the position of Minister of Defense, announced a forthcoming deep audit of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The audit aims to identify additional opportunities to improve the financial and social welfare of military personnel.
People's Deputy Yulia Tymoshenko reported that during the searches in the office, law enforcement officers were looking for a safe and personal savings. She stated this in the Verkhovna Rada.
On the left bank of Kyiv, 42 mobile aid points of the State Emergency Service are operating. In total, about 7,000 such facilities have been deployed across the country.
Last year, Russian troops carried out about 150,000 shellings of State Border Guard Service positions, which is twice as many as the year before. This year, the enemy is significantly increasing the use of drones.
Deputy Minister of Energy Mykola Kolesnyk stated that the situation in the energy system is difficult, and forecasts are unavailable due to emergency restoration work. A return to hourly blackouts will occur after their completion.
People's deputies are forced to work in cold premises of the Rada. Deputy head of the Verkhovna Rada committee Oksana Dmytrieva confirmed the low temperature during meetings.
The Verkhovna Rada supported the motion to dismiss Vasyl Malyuk from the post of head of the Security Service of Ukraine. 235 deputies voted for the dismissal.
The Verkhovna Rada supported Mykhailo Fedorov's resignation as Minister of Digital Transformation. 270 people's deputies voted for this.
The head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation noted that over five years, digital services have saved citizens and the state 184 billion hryvnias.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported the dismissal of Denys Shmyhal from the post of Minister of Defense. 265 people's deputies voted for this decision.
SAPO has completed the pre-trial investigation in the case of the embezzlement and legalization of over UAH 54 million from the state budget. The former MP organized the scheme by misleading the ECHR regarding Kyivenergo's debt, and the funds were legalized through conversion centers.
The prosecutor's office uncovered several schemes of evasion from mobilization and illegal transportation of conscripts abroad. The documented amount of illicit gains exceeds UAH 5.8 million, and 11 individuals have been notified of suspicion.