The partisan movement "ATESH" reports that Russian commanders in the Kherson direction are depriving soldiers of payments and throwing them into "pits" for refusing to go on assaults. The fighters are held without communication, sleep, or medical care, and their bank cards are blocked.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 116 combat engagements at the front on January 2. The enemy launched 1 missile strike with two missiles, 57 air strikes using 153 guided aerial bombs, 6358 kamikaze drone strikes, and 3223 shellings. Aviation, missile forces, and artillery of the Defense Forces struck four areas of personnel concentration and two other important enemy targets.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation prevented a possible terrorist act in North Carolina. An 18-year-old resident planned to attack a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant on New Year's Eve.
On the night of January 3, Russians shelled the Marhanets community with a "Grad" MLRS and the Vasylkiv community with a UAV. 5 private houses were damaged, with no dead or injured.
Vladimir Putin remains steadfast in his maximalist demands, despite Western sanctions and Ukrainian drone strikes. His stubbornness has frustrated Trump, who believed a deal was possible.
Russian troops suffered significant losses on January 2, losing 750 soldiers and 539 UAVs. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 02.01.26 amount to 1,210,630 personnel.
On January 3, most of Ukraine will be cloudy, with wet snow and rain in the southern, central, eastern regions and the Carpathians. In Kyiv, variable cloudiness is expected without precipitation, with temperatures ranging from -1° to +1°.
A 6. 5 magnitude earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km in the state of Guerrero, near the city of San Marcos. As a result of the natural disaster, at least two people died and 12 were injured.
The United States of America will allocate over $500 million to develop the infrastructure of four military bases in Poland. These investments will strengthen the country's defense and NATO's eastern flank.
Two avalanches struck the Italian Alps, killing two people and injuring several others. Strong winds hampered rescue efforts, limiting the use of helicopters.
More and more oil tankers are turning away from Venezuela as the US threatens to seize vessels carrying oil to finance the regime of Nicolas Maduro. At least seven ships have changed course, and four more have turned away after US forces boarded the vessel Skipper.
On January 2, a reactor at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant in Finland shut down due to a technical malfunction. The fault automatically caused an emergency shutdown of the OL2 reactor, which has been operating since 1982, but the incident did not affect nuclear safety.
Occupying media stopped covering the water crisis in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region, focusing on New Year holidays, while local residents on social networks report the absence of systemic solutions. A "water business" is thriving in the region, and residents receive bills for a non-existent service, creating a caste system of access to water.
The death toll from the enemy strike on Kharkiv has risen to two, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported. The second victim was a woman, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.
China has abolished the tax exemption on contraceptives and birth control methods, introducing a 13% VAT. This is a step in response to the declining birth rate and the third consecutive year of population decline.
Mykolaiv was attacked by enemy drones on the night of January 3. Explosions were heard in the city, and an air raid alert was announced.
President Zelenskyy proposed Mykhailo Fedorov for the post of Minister of Defense to develop drone technologies. Kyrylo Budanov will head the Presidential Office, taking one of the most influential positions in the country.
Russian troops continue to use drones at low altitudes, attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. This is part of Russia's strategy to prolong the war and delay peace negotiations.
Polls show that 59. 6% of Poles do not expect the war in Ukraine to end by 2026. This trend has been growing since 2024, reflecting war fatigue and expectations of peace among voters.
Rescuers showed the consequences of the enemy attack on Kharkiv on January 2. Over 80 volunteers are helping to clear the destruction, search for people under the rubble, and provide support to the victims.
The National Bank of Ukraine set the official dollar exchange rate for January 2 at 42. 17 hryvnias, which is 22 kopecks less than the previous day. The euro depreciated by 24 kopecks, settling at 49.55 hryvnias, and the zloty by 10 kopecks, to 11.71 hryvnias.
In Kyiv, 57% of survey participants supported renaming the section along Mariinsky Park in honor of Andriy Parubiy. This refers to the section from Hrushevsky Street to Parkova Road.
On January 1, Russian troops lost 910 soldiers and 590 UAVs. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 02.01.26 are estimated at 1,209,880 personnel.
Ukraine's defense forces are under heavy pressure in the south, outnumbered by Russian brigades that have seized hundreds of square kilometers. The Russians have advanced in the Zaporizhzhia region, the situation remains tense, with the most intense fighting taking place in Huliaipole.
On January 2, most of Ukraine is expected to have cloudy weather. Light snow is forecast in the north and west of the country, with black ice on the roads.
A poll by The Economist/YouGov showed that 49% of Americans disapprove of Donald Trump's actions regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine. Only 30% of respondents support his approach.
The 2026 European Fencing Championships in Tallinn are under threat of cancellation, as Estonia refuses to guarantee the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus. The International Fencing Federation demands written confirmation of the admission of all athletes, but the Estonian authorities do not issue visas to citizens of these countries.
The daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Ju Ae, made her first public visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum, accompanying her parents. Her frequent appearances in state media fuel speculation that she may become her father's successor.
143 Israeli judges, including all current and former court presidents, have expressed concern for the safety of Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit. This follows threats against him from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who called Amit a "cruel, predatory totalitarian."
Yemen's main air gateway, Aden International Airport, has suspended operations due to a dispute between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over flight restrictions. This happened amid the biggest crisis in relations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in a decade.
