Vadim Khlyudzinsky
The National Bank of Ukraine set the official exchange rate of the dollar at 42. 39 hryvnias and the euro at 49.86 hryvnias for December 31. The euro on the interbank market already costs more than 50 hryvnias.
On December 30, Russian troops lost 1,000 soldiers and 552 UAVs in the war with Ukraine. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 31.12.25 are estimated at 1,207,910 personnel.
ATESH agents in the Zheleznodorozhny district of Voronezh destroyed a locomotive that was used to transport military cargo for the Kupyansk group of Russian troops. This complicated the formation of echelons and disrupted the schedules for sending trains with weapons.
In occupied Melitopol, on the eve of the holidays, cash disappeared from ATMs, depriving residents of access to their own money. Cash is directed to the needs of the occupation structures, and the civilian population receives it on a residual basis.
On December 31, cloudy weather with clearings, light snow, and gusty winds is expected in Ukraine. The air temperature during the day will be 2-7°C below zero, in the south of the country from 4°C below zero to 1°C above zero.
The Kremlin has not provided evidence for its claims of a Ukrainian drone attack on Putin's residence on December 29, denying the need to do so. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that "no evidence is needed" and also could not answer whether debris remained.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a law that allows ignoring sentences of international criminal institutions if Russia did not participate in their creation. This law is an attempt to protect the Kremlin leadership from international responsibility for war crimes.
On the night of December 31, explosions occurred in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, likely due to a drone attack. In Tuapse, the AVT-12 unit at the oil refinery, a key primary oil refining unit, is on fire.
Ukraine has provided Europe with a list of all companies that supplied spare parts for the Russian "Oreshnik" complex. Now, Western partners are expected to make administrative decisions regarding sanctions against these firms.
In December 2025, Ukraine carried out at least 24 attacks on Russian oil refineries, tankers, and pipeline infrastructure. These actions increased pressure on Russian exports and contributed to a reduction in petrodollars, a key source of war financing.
Approximately 30 million euros in cash, gold, and valuables were stolen from a Sparkasse bank branch in Gelsenkirchen. The perpetrators broke into 3200 safes after gaining entry through an adjacent parking lot and breaching a wall.
Odesa and the region were subjected to a massive drone attack, damaging residential, logistical, and energy infrastructure. Hits on high-rise buildings were recorded in two districts of the regional center. A fire broke out in apartments in one of the buildings. There are casualties, including children.
Technicians successfully restored a power line near the ZNPP under security guarantees provided by both sides of the conflict. This allowed the resumption of electricity transmission between the ZNPP and the Zaporizhzhia TPP, which is a key route for power supply.
On the night of December 31, the enemy attacked the Kyiv region with drones. In Bila Tserkva, an apartment building was damaged, windows were blown out and balconies from the first to the sixth floor were damaged, explosions thundered in Kyiv.
Poland has appealed to the European Commission to investigate the spread of AI-generated content on TikTok that calls for the country's withdrawal from the EU. The government stated that these materials constitute a coordinated disinformation campaign and threaten democratic processes.
On the night of December 31, the enemy attacked Odesa with attack UAVs, which led to the absence of electricity, water, and heating in parts of the city. As a result of the attack, warehouses of a logistics company caught fire, and a multi-story residential building was hit.
The Kremlin is actively promoting the forced mobilization of reservists to participate in hostilities in Ukraine, as Russia suffers disproportionately high losses. Dictator Putin signed a decree allowing the deployment of reservists to training camps from 2026 to protect critical facilities.
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated that Russia's claims about Ukraine's attack on Putin's residence may not be true. He emphasized the need to review data from US intelligence agencies regarding the incident.
Russian railway company "RZD" plans to cut investments by a quarter by 2026 due to the collapse of freight traffic. This indicates deep structural risks for the Russian economy.
Venezuela has begun shutting down wells in the Orinoco region, home to the world's largest oil fields, due to the blockade by the administration of US President Donald Trump. PDVSA aims to cut production in Orinoco by at least 25% to 500,000 barrels per day.
Since the beginning of December 30, 142 combat engagements have taken place on the front. The enemy launched three missile and 34 air strikes, carried out 2574 shellings and 2759 kamikaze drone attacks.
In 2025, the aviation of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine carried out over 2,100 flights and 1,060 flight hours, eliminating the consequences of enemy attacks and extinguishing fires. Thanks to aeromedical evacuation, 435 lives were saved, and a new rapid response unit "Delta" was also created.
The Russian authorities transferred the powers to register real estate in occupied Crimea to a federal structure - Roskadastr. This deprives local gauleiters of any opportunity to dispose of the peninsula's assets.
The Institute for the Study of War predicts that the Russian armed forces will not be able to create a strategic reserve, which will force them to advance slowly at the current pace in 2026. The limitations of Russia's available military force are a significant factor preventing rapid advancement.
The State Emergency Service showed the aftermath of the December 27 attack on Odesa, where a residential building caught fire and a lyceum was damaged due to a Russian strike. Rescuers evacuated 4 people, extinguished the fire over an area of 150 square meters, and there were no casualties.
A bill has been introduced in the US Congress to prohibit renaming federal buildings or lands after the incumbent president. This came in response to the addition of Donald Trump's name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
As a result of the morning shelling of Kherson on December 28, a 75-year-old woman was injured. She was hospitalized with an explosive injury and an acute stress reaction.
On December 27, Russian troops lost 1,200 soldiers, 29 cruise missiles, and 688 UAVs. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 28.12.25 amount to 1,204,510 personnel.
Russia actively exploits the theme of "anti-colonialism" to strengthen its influence in African countries, promising compensation for colonialism. The Russian Federation's goal is to gain access to the resources of African countries to realize its geopolitical ambitions.
On the night of December 28, drones attacked the Russian city of Syzran, reportedly hitting an oil refinery and substations. Local residents report problems with electricity and central heating.