On January 3, from 00:00 to 06:00, planned technical work will be carried out in the "Oberih" register. During this period, the Reserve ID update and service provision will be temporarily unavailable in the "Reserve+" application.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold a telephone conversation with Donald Trump regarding the peace process in Ukraine and the Palestinian issue. The Turkish leader is also in contact with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders on these issues.
The US dollar started 2026 with a strengthening after last year's difficulties, while the yen approached a 10-month low. Traders are awaiting US economic data to forecast changes in interest rates this year.
President Zelenskyy met with Kyrylo Budanov and offered him to head the Office of the President of Ukraine. Budanov should focus on security issues, the development of the Defense Forces and the diplomatic track, as well as update the strategic foundations of defense.
In Switzerland, investigators are identifying charred bodies after a bar fire that killed about 40 people at a New Year's Eve party. Among the first identified is a 16-year-old Italian golfer.
China received 22 shipments of liquefied natural gas from Russia's Portovaya and Arctic LNG-2 projects in 2023. All deliveries arrived at the Beihai LNG terminal in Guangxi.
On January 2, snow fell in five regions of Ukraine, up to 8 cm in places. State roads are passable, 454 units of special equipment and 550 workers are involved.
Precious metals resumed their rally at the beginning of the new year, continuing the unprecedented growth of 2025, supported by geopolitical tensions and expectations of interest rate cuts. Gold rose 1.4% to $4372.35 per ounce, silver rose 3.6% to $73.79 per ounce.
Meteorological winter in Kyiv began on December 24, almost a month later than the norm. December 2025 was among the ten warmest since observations began, with an average monthly temperature of 1.0°C.
The Russians tried to use the logistical route between Shevchenkove and Pokrovsk to accumulate additional forces, using more than 30 units of light equipment. Units of the 7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces destroyed part of the equipment during the march, and the rest directly within the southeastern borders of the city.
Law enforcement officers have dismantled an international cocaine supply channel to Ukraine, organized by a group of citizens from Ukraine, Armenia, the Czech Republic, and Germany. The organizer, who had previously served a sentence for drug offenses in the US, planned to import up to 2 kg of cocaine weekly, with the value of a single shipment exceeding $200,000.
Vinnytsia police identified a 45-year-old man who launched fireworks from a building on January 1. He was taken to the police station, where it was found that he was intoxicated.
In Kherson, heat supply disruptions are possible due to enemy strikes on a heat generation facility. Also, in the Dniprovskyi district of the city, there is a partial power outage and possible water supply disruptions.
Deteriorating weather conditions have been recorded in the high-altitude Carpathians: on Mount Pip Ivan, it is cloudy, snowing, with winds up to 25 m/s and a temperature of -14°C. Rescuers recommend refraining from hiking and installing the "Mountain Rescue" application.
Russia attacked energy infrastructure in Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia regions. In Odesa region, more than 11,000 consumers remain without electricity after previous attacks.
The Donald Trump administration is trying to expedite the review process for the White House ballroom project to get final approval as early as March. This would allow construction to begin a month later, despite lawsuits and criticism.
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine warns of the Kremlin's preparation of an armed provocation with significant human casualties. It may occur on the eve or during Christmas according to the Julian calendar, likely in a religious building or another symbolic object.
Three tankers carrying almost 2. 2 million barrels of Urals crude are heading to Reliance Industries Ltd.'s Jamnagar refinery in India. This comes after the plant resumed purchases of Russian oil for domestic production.
Russian troops attacked Semenivka with drones yesterday evening, damaging the city hospital, service vehicles, garages, and a food unit. Also, at night, a "Geran" drone hit a forestry in Koriukiv district, causing a fire in an outbuilding.
The Ukrainian Football Association has named the best goal of the Ukrainian national team in 2025. It was Ruslan Malinovskyi's second goal against Iceland.
In Iran, demonstrations caused by the deteriorating economic situation have spread to rural provinces, claiming the lives of at least seven people. These deaths may indicate increased measures by the Iranian authorities in response to the protests.
Chinese company BYD reported a 28% increase in EV sales last year, exceeding 2. 25 million units. This allowed it to overtake Tesla for the first time, which, according to analysts, sold about 1.65 million cars during the same period.
Russia launched 116 attack UAVs over Ukraine overnight, of which 86 were shot down or suppressed. 27 drones were recorded hitting 23 locations.
Brent and WTI crude futures rose by 35 and 34 cents respectively on the first trading day of 2026. This followed the largest annual decline since 2020, caused by drone attacks on Russian oil facilities and US sanctions against Venezuela.
Over the past day, 98 combat engagements took place, the enemy launched 1 missile and 51 air strikes, and used 151 guided aerial bombs. The Defense Forces hit four concentration areas and two enemy command posts.
Laws regulating the naming of alcoholic beverages of Ukrainian origin and ceasing the use of a number of EU geographical indications have come into force in Ukraine. Ukrainian producers will no longer be able to call their products "cognac" and "champagne."
On New Year's Eve, from December 31, 2025, to January 1, 2026, 12 babies were born in Kyiv's maternity hospitals: 6 girls and 6 boys. The largest number of babies – seven – were born at the Kyiv City Perinatal Center.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a sharp reduction by the US of proposed tariffs for Italian pasta producers. The revision of rates occurred after accusations of selling at unfairly low prices, which affected La Molisana and Garofalo.
Starting January 1, an electronic audit system (E-audit) was launched in Ukraine. It automatically checks taxpayers' accounting data, identifying risks and inconsistencies.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov in Ankara. The meeting took place on the eve of the talks between national security advisers of the "coalition of the willing" countries on January 3.
