Julia Shramko
British boxer Anthony Joshua was injured in a car accident near Lagos, Nigeria, in which two people died. According to preliminary data, his car crashed into a truck while overtaking.
Law enforcement officers exposed a group of individuals who illegally used trademarks of international companies, selling counterfeit equipment. More than 4,000 units of counterfeit products were seized, and the preliminary damage to the companies exceeds UAH 30 million.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 89 combat engagements on the front until 4:00 PM on December 29. In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy carried out 28 attacks.
In Kyiv, 10,079 new cases of flu and ARVI were registered in a week, which is 6% less than a week earlier. At the same time, the number of COVID-19 patients increased by more than 20%, reaching 28 adults, with three deaths.
Under the state affordable mortgage program "eOselia", 22. 5 thousand Ukrainian families have purchased housing. Of these, 7,642 Ukrainians used the program in 2025, receiving preferential mortgages totaling UAH 14.56 billion.
On December 29, at 05:29, a main gas pipeline caught fire near the village of Rososh, Mukachevo district. 21 rescuers and 7 units of equipment have been deployed to extinguish the fire; there is no threat to the population.
President Zelenskyy stated that the 20-point plan is 90% complete, with two issues still remaining. These concern the functioning of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the issue of territory.
Brent crude futures rose 2. 1% to $61.91, while WTI gained 2.3% to $58.03. This came amid talks between the Ukrainian and US presidents on ending the war and potential oil supply disruptions in the Middle East.
President Zelenskyy stated that the negotiation process is not easy, and Ukraine openly rejects proposals that do not meet its interests. This demonstrates the country's independence, for which it is fighting.
In 2025, with the support of the State Film Agency, the production of 46 film projects with a total cost of over UAH 562 million was completed, of which over UAH 319 million was state funding. Among them are 18 non-fiction, 17 feature films, 6 TV series, 4 non-fiction TV films, and 1 animated series.
President Zelenskyy stated that Putin demonstrates contradictory messages regarding the war, telling the US President about his desire to end it, but publicly declaring its continuation. The Ukrainian side is ready for a meeting, but it is important that the actions and words of the Russian leader coincide.
The SBI is investigating a road accident in Kyiv on December 27, 2025, where a serviceman in an SUV crashed into a car at a red light. As a result of the collision, a woman, a mother of two children, died, and her daughters were hospitalized with injuries.
In Odesa, servicemen of the Peresyp district TCR who beat a 27-year-old serviceman released from captivity have been identified. The victim sustained minor bodily injuries, and the suspects have been notified of suspicion.
Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that a call between Kremlin head Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump is expected "in the near future" following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Peskov also noted that the Kremlin agrees with Trump's assessment that peace in Ukraine has become significantly closer.
President Zelenskyy stated that partners will provide technical monitoring of the ceasefire in Ukraine. He noted that the issue of a free economic zone is currently being discussed, and a demilitarized zone is not yet on the agenda.
Snow is observed in most regions of Ukraine, in some places up to 30 cm. The situation is difficult in Prykarpattia, traffic on the R-24 highway is blocked, and traffic on the T-02-3 highway in Vinnytsia region is complicated.
President Zelenskyy outlined the sequence of actions to coordinate steps to end the war. A series of meetings are planned to take place in January, after which a meeting with the Russian side is possible.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that martial law would be lifted only after Ukraine receives security guarantees. And it will also require the consent of the army command.
After large-scale Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, over 9,000 consumers in Kyiv region remain without electricity. The Ministry of Energy and NEC "Ukrenergo" reported on the implementation of blackout schedules and emergency blackouts on the left bank of Kyiv and in certain districts of Kyiv region.
Seven Turkish police officers were wounded during an operation against ISIS in Yalova when their unit came under fire. Authorities suspended classes in five schools and imposed a broadcast ban on the incident.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the test launch of long-range strategic cruise missiles, calling for the development of nuclear combat forces. The exercises took place on Sunday in the Yellow Sea.
On December 28, a man suspected of attacking a serviceman of the Territorial Recruitment Center (TCR) was detained in Odesa. He inflicted a knife wound on the serviceman in early November.
Due to bad weather, power outages have been recorded in Cherkasy, Volyn, Lviv, Ternopil, Khmelnytsky, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi regions. This was reported by the State Emergency Service.
The Prosecutor General's Office has launched an investigation into the execution of two Ukrainian prisoners of war by representatives of the Russian Armed Forces on December 27, 2025, in the village of Shakhove, Pokrovsk district. The occupiers forced them to undress and then shot them, which is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions.
Over the past day, 209 combat engagements took place on the front line, a quarter more than the day before. A quarter of all combat engagements were recorded in the Pokrovsk direction.
China has launched live-fire military exercises around Taiwan after the US announced a major arms package for the island. The exercises, dubbed "Mission Justice-2025," involve the army, navy, air force, and rocket forces, serving as a "stern warning" against separatist forces.
In temporarily occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, four Russian occupiers with a "Ural" were blown up. This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Talks between Trump and Zelenskyy could pave the way for Zelenskyy's first call with Putin in over five years. This would be a diplomatic victory for Trump, who is considered the most successful mediator.
On the night of December 29, Russia attacked Ukraine with 25 Shahed-type attack UAVs. Defense forces destroyed or suppressed 21 enemy drones in the north, south, and east of the country.
US President Donald Trump said that Russia would not agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine had to hold a referendum on parts of a peace agreement.