Explosions were heard in Kharkiv on January 1; preliminarily, Russian occupiers launched a KAB attack on the suburbs. One person is known to have been injured as a result of the strike.
Most Ukrainians are optimistic about 2026, but positive sentiments are declining, and skepticism is growing. A "Rating" survey showed that 39% expect improvements, 27% – no changes, and every fourth – deterioration.
US President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of National Guard troops from several cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles. This decision was made after the US Supreme Court did not allow Trump to use troops to maintain law and order in the regions.
New Year's Eve in the capital of Ukraine passed without serious violations of public order; no crimes were recorded. Information about the launch of fireworks in the Shevchenkivskyi district turned out to be unreliable.
In 2025, Russian occupiers lost 418,170 killed and wounded. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also reported significant equipment losses, including 1,816 tanks and 3,806 armored combat vehicles.
On the night of January 1, a number of Russian regions, including Krasnodar Krai and Kaluga Oblast, were subjected to drone attacks, which caused fires at an oil refinery and an oil depot. The mayor of Moscow reported repelling two UAVs that were allegedly flying towards the capital.
In Iran, protesters attempted to break into a local government building, injuring three police officers and leading to the arrest of four individuals. Authorities declared December 31 a non-working day, closing schools and institutions to quell the unrest.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin does not seek peace in Ukraine. The Kremlin aims to restore the empire, ignoring Russia's deteriorating military position.
In 2026, new automated services will appear in Ukraine, including online divorce in Diia and data verification in the civil registry office. The Ministry of Digital Transformation announces the rejection of the concept of "certificate for the sake of a certificate" and the launch of "Trembita 2.0" for secure data exchange.
In 2025, Ukraine's energy system was supplemented with 423 MW of new balancing capacity thanks to Ukrenergo's special auctions. The largest share is accounted for by energy storage facilities (398 MW) and gas piston units (25 MW).
Residents of Australia and New Zealand welcomed the New Year 2026, thousands of people took to the streets of cities, including Canberra and Wellington. In Sydney, where a terrorist attack previously occurred, about 1 million people watched the fireworks under close police supervision.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has cost Russian taxpayers approximately $550 billion, which is equivalent to 24 annual Russian higher education budgets. A significant portion of these expenditures is hidden, and the financing of the war is shifted to the population through new taxes and rising prices.
In 2025, Russians used over 60,000 guided aerial bombs, about 2,400 missiles, and over 100,000 drones. Air raid alerts sounded at least 19,033 times across Ukraine.
This refers to UAVs, sights, thermal imagers, anti-drone rifles, and other critically important goods for Ukraine.
The man re-registered three farm land plots with a total area of over 60 hectares to controlled acquaintances, using forged inheritance certificates.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, stated that Putin is trying to withdraw from the peace process. He believes that Russia has already lost geopolitically, becoming a raw material appendage of China.
The settlement of Rodynske, Pokrovsk urban community, Donetsk region, remains under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The 14th National Guard Brigade refutes the occupiers' statements, destroying enemies who penetrate the city.
Romania has contributed 50 million euros to the PURL initiative, aimed at purchasing American weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This step, according to Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu, will strengthen regional security and is in line with Romania's NATO commitments.
The American president hopes to move to the second phase of the peace plan for the Gaza Strip "very quickly. "
Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers on December 31 after 155 days in captivity, signaling a warming of relations. The repatriation was facilitated by ASEAN and the ICRC.
Protests in Iran are in their third day, sparked by a strike of shop owners over the record fall of the rial. The protests have spread to a number of cities, with police using tear gas.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the Russian-Ukrainian war is part of the Kremlin's plan against other European countries. He emphasized that this aggression directly threatens the freedom and security not only of Germany but of all of Europe.
149 combat engagements were recorded on the fronts of the Russian-Ukrainian war on December 30. The enemy launched three missile and 58 air strikes, carried out 3495 shellings and 5791 kamikaze drone attacks.
Soldiers of the Kodatska Territorial Defense Brigade captured a group of Russian occupiers with the help of drones, escorting them to the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Defense Forces of Ukraine called on Russian servicemen to surrender, guaranteeing compliance with the Geneva Conventions.
Russians cannot capture Zaporizhzhia, and for the city there are only air threats, not infantry ones. Putin's illusion of a rapid front collapse is supported by Chief of General Staff Gerasimov.
Law enforcement officers served a notice of suspicion to a lawyer and his assistant for seizing 100 thousand US dollars from one of the developers. They fraudulently obtained funds for allegedly assisting in avoiding additional tax charges.
The High Anti-Corruption Court has begun a session to choose a pre-trial measure for People's Deputy Yuriy Kisel. He is one of the five MPs suspected of organizing the receipt of bribes.
A military unit commander in Donetsk region and his subordinate are suspected of appropriating over 17 tons of fuel. The perpetrators transported the stolen fuel to Zaporizhzhia region.
Archpriest Vasyl Kiiko, abbot of the Holy Protection Church in Hryshyne village, died on December 29 as a result of Russian shelling in Donetsk region.
A 61-year-old man was killed in Zaporizhzhia region as a result of a Russian FPV drone attack. The occupiers hit a car driving on a road in Veselianka, Zaporizhzhia district, with a drone.
