The CIA assessed that Ukraine did not attack Putin's residence during a recent drone attack, refuting the Russian leader's claims. CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed Trump on the assessment.
Ukraine has strengthened its air defense by receiving two more Patriot systems thanks to agreements with Germany. These systems are capable of destroying aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including hypersonic ones, at a distance of up to 160 km and an altitude of up to 24 km.
On December 31, in Zhovkva, the driver of a BMW 520 collided with a locomotive at a red light. As a result of the accident, a 58-year-old passenger died on the spot, and the driver was hospitalized.
In Volyn, fires at critical infrastructure facilities that arose as a result of a night attack by the Russian Federation have been extinguished. Preliminarily, there were no casualties or injuries; more than 90 rescuers were involved in extinguishing the fires.
Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on New Year's Eve, leading to power outages in the Volyn, Odesa, and Chernihiv regions. Power outage schedules are being applied in all regions to stabilize the energy system.
Several people died and others were injured in a fire of unknown origin at the bar «Le Constellation» in the ski resort of Crans-Montana in southwestern Switzerland.
French President Macron stated that European defense will begin to form faster from January 6, 2026, in Paris. Many European states will commit to protecting Ukraine.
Over the past day, 131 combat engagements were recorded on the front, 33 of which occurred in the Pokrovsk direction. The enemy carried out 77 air strikes, dropped 182 guided aerial bombs, and used 6,406 kamikaze drones.
Consumers will face up to a 20% increase in electronics prices this year. The price increase is due to a shortage of memory chips caused by increased demand for artificial intelligence.
Russia attacked Ukraine with 205 attack UAVs on New Year's Eve from December 31, 2025, to January 1, 2026. Of these, 176 were shot down or suppressed, but 24 hits were recorded in 15 locations.
On New Year's Eve, Odesa was attacked by several waves of kamikaze drones, which caused fires at infrastructure facilities and damage to residential buildings. All fires were promptly extinguished, and there were no fatalities or injuries.
US President Donald Trump has postponed tariff increases on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities until January 1, 2027. This decision was made amid growing voter dissatisfaction with price levels, maintaining the existing 25% tariff.
Enemy UAVs attacked critical infrastructure facilities in Volyn, causing fires in Lutsk and Kovel districts. Over 100,000 subscribers are without power, and there is no information about casualties.
Starting January 1, 2026, Ukrainians in the EU will be able to use mobile communications and the internet at domestic rates. This became possible thanks to Law No. 4345-IX, which integrates Ukraine into the EU's "Roam Like at Home" policy.
The first full moon of 2026, known as the "Wolf Moon," will be the fourth consecutive supermoon. It will peak on January 3 at 12:02 PM Kyiv time and will appear larger and brighter due to its proximity to Earth.
Over the past week, 120,764 new cases of ARVI were recorded in Ukraine, which is 12. 7% less than the previous week. The epidemic threshold has been exceeded only in Lviv Oblast, while in most regions the incidence remains at a background level.
In 2025, Ukrainian ports transshipped 76. 1 million tons of cargo, of which 89% accounted for the ports of Greater Odesa. The Ukrainian sea corridor transported over 163 million tons of cargo, including about 100 million tons of agricultural products.
The government approved the procedure for implementing the Medical Guarantees Program for 2026, allocating over UAH 191. 6 billion, which is UAH 16.1 billion more than last year. This will allow for an increase in medical workers' salaries, and increased funding for primary healthcare and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Two trains collided near Machu Picchu, killing the driver and injuring at least 40 people. Among the injured are citizens of the United States and Great Britain, 20 of whom are in serious condition.
Warner Bros. Discovery plans to reject Paramount's latest $108 billion offer, even after Larry Ellison agreed to personally guarantee the deal. The WBD board considers a deal with Netflix more favorable, despite increased termination fees and financing guarantees from Paramount.
EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas said that Russia's statements about Ukraine's attack on government facilities are a deliberate distraction. She emphasized that Moscow seeks to disrupt the progress of Ukraine and its Western partners towards peace.
Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday but are expected to fall by more than 15% over 2025. This is due to fears of oversupply, despite wars, tariffs, and sanctions.
In Kharkiv on December 31, a man shot a serviceman of the TCR, damaging his uniform but not injuring him. The assailant was detained after a special police operation was launched.
The director of the Department of Defense Work of the Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration was dismissed after a road accident involving a service car. The driver of the Ford Ranger, who caused the accident, refused to be tested for alcohol intoxication.
The European Union plans to impose a 20th package of sanctions against Russia on the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. Measures will include travel restrictions, asset freezes, and sanctions in the energy and banking sectors.
About 12,000 passengers will celebrate New Year's Eve on Ukrzaliznytsia trains. More than 8,000 railway workers will be on duty on the holiday night, ensuring the movement of over 120 trains.
On New Year's Eve, the curfew will operate on its usual schedule, and police will patrol in an enhanced mode. Pyrotechnics are prohibited, but party poppers and sparklers are allowed.
From January 1, 2026, Ukrainians will be able to use mobile communication in 27 EU countries at domestic rates. Ukraine has become the first non-EU country to join the European Union's roaming zone.
Several European states have developed plans to ensure a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Between 10,000 and 15,000 servicemen from European countries could be deployed during the first six months.
Russia again attacked energy facilities in several regions of Ukraine, causing blackouts in five regions, including over 170,000 consumers in Odesa region and thousands in Brovary district of Kyiv region. Bad weather also left part of the residents of Khmelnytskyi and Ternopil regions without electricity.
