Vadim Khlyudzinsky
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.
The US calls on China for restraint and dialogue after large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. The State Department believes that China's military actions are unnecessarily escalating tensions in the region.
Mykolaiv was attacked by enemy drones on the night of Friday, January 2. Mayor Sienkevych reported explosions and the threat of UAVs.
On the night of January 2, the Russian city of Samara was attacked by drones. It is likely that the attack UAVs targeted the Novokuibyshevsk and Kuibyshev oil refineries.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in his New Year's address, called on Europe to follow his country's example. He highlighted the secure eastern border, strict asylum policy, and the largest modern army in the EU.
As a result of the enemy's night attack on Zaporizhzhia on January 2, another fire broke out. The head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Ivan Fedorov, reported 9 strikes, and the air raid alert is ongoing.
Czech Parliament Speaker Tomio Okamura spoke out against providing weapons to Ukraine, calling the war "senseless. " He stated that the money of Czech pensioners should not go to support "pro-war propaganda."
The head of the Russian GRU handed over to the representative of the US military attaché materials with decrypted routing data of a Ukrainian drone. Russian special services claim that the target of the attack was Putin's residence in the Novgorod region.
Late in the evening on January 1, Russians attacked Zaporizhzhia with two attack UAVs, causing a fire. The attack took place in the Voznesenivskyi district.
According to the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, in November 2025, Russia's GDP grew by only 0. 1% year-on-year, which is the worst indicator since the beginning of 2023. Industrial production went into negative territory for the first time in nine months (-0.7%), signaling the exhaustion of the economic model.
Dutch police arrested about 250 people during a "violent New Year's Eve" marked by mass riots and attacks on emergency workers. Two people died, many were injured by fireworks, and the number of fires sharply increased.
The National Bank of Ukraine has set the official dollar exchange rate for January 1 at 42. 39 hryvnias, which is higher than the previous indicator. The euro exchange rate is 49.79 hryvnias, and the zloty is 11.80 hryvnias.
On December 31, Russian troops lost 1060 soldiers and 769 UAVs. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 01.01.26 amount to 1,208,970 people.
On the night of January 1, a large fire broke out in the 150-year-old Vondelkerk church in Amsterdam. The fire, which started on the roof, quickly engulfed the entire building.
On January 1, cloudy weather with clearings, frosts, and light snow are expected in Ukraine in the west, east, and northeast. In Kyiv and the region, variable cloudiness without precipitation is forecast, with air temperatures of -10°...-8°.
The UK government has decided to lower the voting age from 18 to 16. This expansion of the electorate could affect the results of the next elections in 2029.
The Trump administration sanctioned four companies from Hong Kong and mainland China, as well as associated oil tankers, accusing them of evading sanctions against Venezuela. These measures are aimed at cutting off financial flows supporting the regime of Nicolas Maduro.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia never ends wars of its own free will, only under external pressure. He emphasized that trusting the Kremlin's word is a death sentence for international security.
US national security officials said Ukraine did not attack Putin or his residence, refuting Moscow's claims. The CIA confirmed that Ukraine attempted to strike a military target in the same region, but not near it.
In his New Year's address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine's belief in peace and its struggle for it. He wished for the defenders to return home and emphasized the importance of unity.
On the night of January 1, the enemy attacked Lutsk and the Kovel community with drones. Some of the UAVs were heading towards Lutsk, causing a fire.
As a result of an enemy drone attack on the night of January 1, the energy infrastructure of the Odesa region was damaged, causing a fire at one of the facilities. Power outages are being recorded at critical enterprises in Odesa.
As a result of the Russian forces' attack on Zaporizhzhia on New Year's Eve, five people were injured, including a 15-year-old boy. The victims received medical and psychological assistance, and one was hospitalized.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the war in Ukraine is part of Russia's plan against the whole of Europe, directly threatening Germany's freedom and security. He emphasized that Germany is subjected to sabotage, espionage, and cyberattacks from Russia every day.