President Zelenskyy announced upcoming diplomatic meetings in Europe aimed at protecting Ukraine and accelerating the end of the war. Ukraine is preparing for both scenarios: diplomacy and active defense.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made demands on Venezuela, warning against turning the country into a hub for gangs, drugs, and states hostile to the US. He also noted that the US is not interested in Venezuela's oil but seeks to limit competitors' investments in its oil infrastructure.
Russian troops are trying to bypass Lyman, but are also attempting to infiltrate the city directly. Viktor Trehubov, head of the communications department of the Joint Forces Grouping, reported on the situation in the Lyman direction.
The film "Avatar: The Way of Water" has officially grossed over $1 billion at the global box office. This was reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes it is too early to discuss holding elections in Venezuela. He noted that the US oil embargo on Venezuela will remain, and American troops could land.
At least 16 people have died in Iran during a week of unrest as protests against soaring inflation spread across the country, leading to violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
After entering Hrabovske in Sumy region, the Russians are conducting remote mining to prevent Ukrainian counterattacks. They are using drones and infantry, who are taking up positions in houses.
Tomorrow, January 5, hourly blackout schedules and power restrictions for industrial consumers will be applied in most regions of Ukraine. These are the consequences of Russian missile and drone attacks on energy facilities.
Leonardo DiCaprio missed the Palm Springs International Film Festival due to travel restrictions caused by US airstrikes in Venezuela. The actor was supposed to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his role in the film "One Battle After Another," but accepted it via video link.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held interviews with candidates for the positions of heads of regional administrations. Appointments will take place in Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Ternopil, and Chernivtsi regions in the near future.
On January 4, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Valeriy Vavryniuk as acting head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. This happened after Serhiy Deyneko was dismissed from the post of head of the SBGS.
Head of the RMA Syniehubov reported the discovery of body fragments of a deceased person in Kharkiv. This increased the number of victims of Friday's explosions to 6, after the Russian forces' strike on January 2 on the central part of the city.
From 2026 to 2028, Earth will experience a cascade of double solar eclipses, including three total and three annular solar eclipses. This is a repetition of a pattern last observed from 2008 to 2010.
Former Disney Channel singer Dove Cameron and Damiano David of the band Måneskin have announced their engagement. The couple has been dating for two years and first met at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.
In Switzerland, 24 of the 40 victims of the bar fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort have been identified. Among the deceased are citizens of Switzerland, Italy, the UAE, Romania, France, and Turkey, aged between 14 and 39. A national day of mourning is scheduled for January 9, 2026, with a minute of silence and church bells ringing.
A young driver decided to drift under the New Year tree on the square in front of the Opera House in Lviv. He was quickly identified thanks to the cameras of the City Security Center and brought to administrative responsibility.
All flights in Greece have been canceled due to a radio frequency signal failure that paralyzed air traffic communications. The problem is related to failures of central radio frequency systems in the Athens and Macedonian zonal air traffic control services, with over 75 flights delayed.
Since the beginning of the day, 95 combat engagements have occurred on the front, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In the Pokrovsk direction, 33 enemy attacks have been repelled, and in the Huliaipole direction – 25.
Kyiv region police are investigating animal cruelty. An 18-year-old girl threw a kitten against a wall, filming it on video, and now the animals are receiving help at a veterinary clinic.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to hold Rodynske, the enemy has not taken control of Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, Huliaipole. Heavy fighting continues.
OPEC+ agreed to maintain stable oil production, despite an 18% price drop in 2025 and tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Eight countries raised their production targets by 2.9 million barrels per day from April to December 2025.
Ukrzaliznytsia announced an adjustment to the train schedule due to complicated traffic on the Fastiv section and changes in routes for safety reasons. Ticket sales for domestic flights will open on January 8 at 08:00, for international flights - at 09:00.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko have decided on candidates for the new head of the State Border Guard Service. The appointment will take place soon, as Zelenskyy announced on social media.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is appointing Oleh Ivashchenko to a position in Ukraine's military intelligence. This happened after Kyrylo Budanov agreed to head the Presidential Office.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has amended the rules for providing household waste management services. The new rules provide for a containerless collection system and the consumer's right not to pay for the service if absent for more than 30 days.
As a result of a Russian missile strike on the center of Kharkiv, a shopping center was destroyed, and high-rise buildings and an educational institution were damaged. One woman is in critical condition, while the rest of the injured are in moderate condition.
As a result of a Russian missile strike on residential buildings in the center of Kharkiv, 19 people were injured, including a 6-month-old infant. The strike, according to the prosecutor's office, was carried out by an "Iskander" missile around 2:30 PM.
On January 2, in Poltava, a man threw a live grenade on Mykhaila Hrushevskoho Street, damaging several cars. There were no casualties, and the offender, born in 1990, was detained.
The number of injured in the Russian strike on the center of Kharkiv has risen to 12. This was reported by the city mayor Ihor Terekhov.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry said that Russian athletes will not be able to represent their country at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. They will only participate as individual athletes without a national flag or anthem.
