Stepan Haftko
Tensions in Venezuela and Donald Trump's statements regarding Iran have provoked expectations of rising oil prices. Venezuelan oil exports have almost stopped due to the US embargo, which led to a reduction in PDVSA's production.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized the Trump administration for renewing claims on Greenland, stating that the US has no right to annex territories of the Kingdom of Denmark.
On December 4, 154 combat engagements took place on the front, the Russian army carried out over 3,000 shellings and used 4,663 kamikaze drones. The highest intensity of fighting is concentrated in the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole directions, where 47 and 53 attacks were repelled, respectively.
The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine has published clarifications regarding the procedure for planning employee vacations for 2026. The vacation schedule is mandatory for all employers, including individual entrepreneurs, and must be agreed upon with the trade union.
On the night of January 4, 2026, Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with 52 attack drones. The Defense Forces shot down or suppressed 39 enemy targets, including about 40 "Shaheds."
Over the past day, the enemy engaged in 211 combat clashes and used over 4,800 kamikaze drones for attacks. More than 2,700 shellings of Ukrainian troop positions and peaceful cities were recorded.
Fraudsters in Ukraine have invented a new way to extort personal data from users under the guise of parcels that allegedly got lost at the post office.
The death toll in Gaza has risen to 71,384 as of January 4, 2026, with 171,251 injured. Since the ceasefire agreement came into effect, 418 people have been killed and another 1,171 injured.
Ukrainian footballer Roman Yaremchuk won the Greek Super Cup with Greek club Olympiacos. This trophy is Yaremchuk's third during his time with the club.
The Ukrainian partisan movement ATESH recorded emergency measures to increase security at the facilities of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Novorossiysk. The command of the occupation forces switched to an intensified camouflage regime for logistics centers after a series of successful strikes by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
The US has lifted restrictions on flights in Caribbean airspace, imposed after overnight strikes on Venezuela. Airlines have already begun to resume flights, but full stabilization is expected in a few days.
Over the past day, the Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated 900 occupiers. The total enemy losses as of the morning of January 4, 2026, amount to over 1.2 million people.
Myanmar's military government has pardoned 6,134 prisoners, including 52 foreigners, on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of independence. This happened amid preparations for the 2026 elections and ongoing armed confrontation.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that the Russian capital was attacked by more than two dozen drones late on Saturday evening. The capital's airports temporarily suspended operations.
On January 4, Ukraine is expected to experience a deterioration in weather conditions due to an atmospheric front, which will bring wet snow, rain, and black ice. Air temperatures will range from 5-10°C below zero in the North to 1-6°C above zero in the South.
Venezuelan President Maduro, captured during a military operation, has arrived at a detention center in Brooklyn. He is accused of narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and illegal possession of weapons.
Grok, integrated into X, generates sexualized images of real people, including minors. xAI denies the accusations, and Elon Musk responds with a laughing-crying emoji.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called on security forces to brutally suppress protests, calling the demonstrators "rioters. " According to human rights activists, the death toll has risen to 15 people.
K-pop group BTS will return to the stage as a full group on March 20, 2026. This will happen after an almost four-year hiatus, during which all members completed their military service.
Former world champion Anthony Joshua has returned to the UK after a car crash in Nigeria that killed his trainer Sina Gami and personal coach Latif Ayodele. Joshua sustained minor injuries, and the driver has been charged.
Venezuela's Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the powers of head of state. This happened after the detention of Nicolás Maduro by American special services.
Syria has begun issuing new banknotes, with two zeros removed from the denomination and portraits of the Assads replaced by national symbols. The process of exchanging old currency will last 90 days through special centers and private banks.
A rare US Air Force RQ-170 "Sentinel" drone was spotted in Puerto Rico after a night operation against the infrastructure of the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela. The RQ-170 Sentinel is one of the most classified developments of the US Army, designed for high-resolution image collection and electronic intelligence.
The US Army deactivated the 5th Air Squadron of the 17th Regiment, based in South Korea, on December 15, 2025. This event is part of a global reform and does not involve a reduction in the US military presence in the region.
American Democrats accuse the Trump administration of misleading them about its true intentions in Venezuela, stating that they were promised no military intervention. Senators are demanding a plan from the White House for governing the country after a night assault on Caracas and the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
On January 4, the DPRK launched several ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan. The launches were recorded from the Pyongyang area at about 07:50 a.m. local time.
Latvia will hand over 21 confiscated cars to Ukraine, seized from drunk drivers or as part of criminal proceedings. Among them is a 22-year-old luxury SUV, a 2003 Lincoln Navigator.
Trump stated that he is not considering a military operation against Cuba, as the communist regime on the island is on the verge of collapse. He noted that Cuba has depended for decades on Venezuelan oil and financial support, which will cease after the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
In the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson region, the invaders are intensifying the militarization of youth, planning to open cadet classes of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in schools in Henichesk, Chaplynka, and Novotroitske districts starting from 2026.
The number of victims of the Russian shelling of Kharkiv has risen to four. Rescuers found the remains of another person, and search operations are ongoing.