Olga Rozgon
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner played tennis during a blackout that affected 45,000 households. The opposition is calling for his resignation, but Wegner states that he was in contact and restored power ahead of schedule.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha noted the US's resolve after the detention of a Russian ship in the North Atlantic. He emphasized that acting instead of fear is key to effective relations with Russia and bringing peace closer.
The state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" sold 91. 4 thousand New Year trees, generating 16.5 million hryvnias in revenue. The highest demand was recorded in the Volyn and Rivne regions, and the lowest in the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions.
Ukraine has announced the titles of the nine finalist songs for the national selection for Eurovision 2026. The tenth finalist will be chosen via the "Diia" app, and a live presentation of the songs will take place on January 15.
Starting January 8, an operational headquarters will begin work to eliminate the consequences of emergencies on state roads. Significant snow, blizzards, and ice are forecast in many regions of Ukraine.
In Ivano-Frankivsk region, a serviceman of the district TCC security platoon was detained for humiliating and beating conscripts. The court remanded him and an officer in custody without the right to bail, and one of the victims sustained serious injuries.
US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to accelerate arms production for allies to shorten the multi-year delivery times for aircraft and helicopters. He plans to strictly control defense companies to avoid delays in the supply of military equipment.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to ensure that young Ukrainian men perform military service in their country. This will prevent them from leaving for Germany, Poland, or France.
Since the beginning of the day, 200 combat engagements have been recorded at the front, with Russian troops launching missile and air strikes, using kamikaze drones and artillery. In the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian soldiers neutralized 84 occupiers and a significant amount of equipment.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha held talks with the newly appointed Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka on January 6. The parties agreed to strengthen political dialogue and discussed defense cooperation.
China reaffirmed its consistent position on the war in Ukraine, emphasizing respect for state sovereignty and the principles of the UN Charter. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated that China advocates for peace and dialogue, promoting a political settlement of the crisis.
The enemy launched three missile and 24 air strikes, used 10 missiles, and dropped 79 guided aerial bombs. The invaders carried out 3038 shellings of our troops' positions and settlements.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi announced a 13% increase in the штатна чисельність (staffing level) of the instructor staff and changes in the basic combined arms training program. He also emphasized the need to improve the quality of training and control over its conduct.
Dniprovskyi, Desnianskyi, and Darnytskyi districts of Kyiv are returning to their power outage schedules. Emergency outages were introduced after the massive shelling of the capital on December 27.
US special forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, depriving Vladimir Putin of an ally and strengthening US oil influence. Moscow views this as an attempt to control Venezuela's oil wealth and a possible sign of the Monroe Doctrine's revival.
President Zelenskyy stated that Russia does not take diplomatic efforts seriously, striking civilian targets. Russia is prolonging the war, trying to inflict as much damage as possible on Ukraine.
The court chose a preventive measure for a Kyiv resident suspected of committing a terrorist act in Obolon in the form of detention for 60 days without the right to bail. As a result of the explosion, a National Guard serviceman and his companion were injured.
Due to deteriorating weather conditions from January 6 to 10, snowfalls, fog, and black ice are possible in Kyiv and the region. This may lead to temporary restrictions on the entry of large vehicles into the capital.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed appointing Denys Shmyhal as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine. He thanked Shmyhal for his work at the Ministry of Defense and emphasized the importance of systematic approach for Ukrainian energy.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding further diplomatic actions. They also discussed preparations for the upcoming leaders' meeting.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Senator Mike Lee about the arrest of Nicolás Maduro by the US military for trial in the US. Military operations in Venezuela have concluded, as the capture of Maduro was the main objective of the operation.
After the New Year holidays, the longest queues at the border are observed in the Polish direction, which complicates crossing for drivers and passengers. The State Border Guard Service advises taking into account the possible unstable operation of electronic systems of control services at checkpoints.
Doctors from the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine successfully operated on a wounded soldier in the open sea, despite the threat of enemy fire and the lack of proper equipment. The soldier, suffering from blood loss and hypothermia, was brought to a platform where, after warming up, a 45-minute operation was performed.
US President Donald Trump announced a successful operation against Venezuela, during which Nicolas Maduro and his wife were detained and removed from the country. Details of the operation, conducted jointly with US law enforcement agencies, will be released later at a press conference.
National security advisers from European countries have arrived in Kyiv. They will hold consultations on security and economic issues, and coordinate further steps with partners.
Overnight, the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP lost power from one of its high-voltage lines as a result of hostilities. Russian shelling has repeatedly damaged the ZNPP's power lines, causing 12 blackouts at the plant.
The body of a woman, extricated from under the rubble of a Kharkiv high-rise building, has been preliminarily identified as the mother of the three-year-old boy found earlier. The identities of the deceased were preliminarily established after recognition by an acquaintance.
In the Obukhiv district of Kyiv region, two private houses, a garage, and two cars were damaged as a result of a night drone attack on January 3. There were no casualties among the population, and critical infrastructure facilities were not affected.
On the night of January 3, air defense forces neutralized 80 out of 95 Russian attack drones that attacked from various directions. Hits were recorded at 8 locations and debris fell at two.
In the occupied Luhansk region, reservists from the mobilization reserve will guard critical infrastructure facilities, including oil depots, instead of Russian military personnel. The document came into force on December 30, providing for six-month training for citizens with the promise of financial assistance to the unemployed.