Yevhen Ustimenko
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine held a meeting on the state of engineering arrangement of defensive lines, discussing fortifications, barriers, and preparing settlements for defense.
The full implementation of the Electronic System for the Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Products has been postponed until November 1, 2026. This provides for a phased implementation of the system and gives businesses additional time to prepare.
The share of oil and gas revenues in Russia's budget will decrease to 23% this year, compared to 50% a few years ago. The reason is the war against Ukraine and sanctions that force Russia to sell oil at significant discounts.
Vasyl Zvarych, Ukraine's Ambassador to the Czech Republic, called the anti-Ukrainian statements by Czech Parliament Speaker Tomio Okamura disgraceful. Okamura spoke out against providing weapons to Ukraine, calling the war "senseless," and expressed unwillingness to see Ukraine in the EU.
A five-day mourning period has been declared in Switzerland following a bar fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort on January 2. More than 40 people died, and 115 were injured, many of them teenagers and tourists.
On the night of January 2, Russian occupiers attacked Zaporizhzhia twice with attack UAVs, causing fires and damage. A significant part of the enemy targets was destroyed, which allowed to avoid injuries.
On January 1, Ukraine celebrated the 117th anniversary of the birth of OUN leader Stepan Bandera. Ceremonies took place in cities in the west, south and east of the country.
Rescuers in Poltava region saved two men and a woman from a boat stuck in the ice on the Dnipro River in Hradizk village. One man fell through the ice, while the other man and the woman were brought to shore with the help of an airboat.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored 53 Ukrainian men and women from various regions of the country with state awards. Among the awardees are people who rescued the wounded, restored power plants, performed surgeries, and engaged in volunteering.
Several people died in clashes between police and protesters in western Iran on January 1. The protests began due to the fall of the rial and inflation.
In Kyiv, traffic is difficult on Olena Teliha Street in the direction of the Shuliavska metro station due to a road accident. Drivers are asked to take this information into account when planning their route.
On January 1, explosions occurred in Kerch, with more than 10 blasts recorded. Russian air defense systems are also reported to be operating.
Kyiv law enforcement officers receive thousands of calls every day, some of which are unusual. The Kyiv police shared a selection of curious calls received on the 102 line.
On January 1, Russian troops struck the Zaporizhzhia district, causing a power outage for almost 4,000 subscribers. Restoration work has already begun.
Viktor Trehubov, head of the communications department of the Joint Forces Group, reported on Russia's goals for January 2026. They plan to bypass Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region and infiltrate Lyman in the Donetsk region.
From January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine will begin a new stage of defense procurement reform, where all procurements for the Defense Forces will be carried out by a single Defense Procurement Agency. This reform, which has been ongoing since 2023, has already shown effectiveness thanks to digitalization and the DOT-Chain system.
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.