Mobilization
Russia is using the online game ARMA3 and the Discord app to recruit South Africans for the war against Ukraine. Two men in their 20s left South Africa, one of whom was killed in battle in Luhansk Oblast.
In Odesa, the illegal sale of three Nissan and Mazda cars, imported as humanitarian aid, was exposed. The suspect was detained after selling the car to a serviceman for 17.8 thousand dollars.
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation announced the elimination of 45,000 paid places in universities, which is about 13% of the total. Universities are sharply increasing tuition fees, and the state is depriving students of preferential loans.
In Ivano-Frankivsk region, a serviceman of the district TCC security platoon was detained for humiliating and beating conscripts. The court remanded him and an officer in custody without the right to bail, and one of the victims sustained serious injuries.
In Kyiv, a 47-year-old private entrepreneur was detained for demanding $100,000 from the head of a district TCR department in one of the western regions. He introduced himself as an "intermediary" from the SBI, promising to "resolve an issue" regarding an alleged criminal proceeding.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to ensure that young Ukrainian men perform military service in their country. This will prevent them from leaving for Germany, Poland, or France.
The Reserve+ application now offers the option to receive notifications about the dispatch of a paper summons by mail from the TCC. This is an informational message, which does not constitute the delivery of a summons, and can be enabled or disabled as desired.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Russia overfulfilled the state order for long-range drones by 106%, producing over 400 UAVs daily. The Russians plan to expand their unmanned systems troops to 210,000 servicemen by 2030.
An official of the automotive service of a State Border Guard Service military unit was detained for extorting 10% of the cost of auto parts supplied for military needs. The total amount of the bribe was UAH 110,000, and three instances of receiving funds were documented.
European officials are discussing sending 15,000-30,000 troops to Ukraine, with France and Great Britain leading the ground and air components, and Turkey ensuring the security of transport routes in the Black Sea, ahead of the summit in Paris, where specific commitments regarding Ukraine's security are expected.
ATESH agents have recorded a sharp decline in morale among the occupation forces on the Pokrovsk front. Officers of the 39th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade are attempting to transfer to the rear, but the command is threatening them with disciplinary action.
In December, passengers exchanged kilometers for almost 80,000 tickets, making their dream journeys. In the first month of the program, 500,000 Ukrainians registered.
Political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko believes that the personnel changes initiated by President Zelenskyy are aimed at renewing power, strengthening the defense sector, and demonstrating his key role. The appointments of Budanov and Fedorov are aimed at forming a new defense strategy and technologizing production.
The law expands the list of bodies maintaining the Unified State Register of Conscripts, Persons Liable for Military Service, and Reservists. This will allow the recruitment centers of the Armed Forces to more effectively recruit for military service under contract.
The Odesa TCR denied information about a man being injured in Ovidiopol, calling it fabricated. No events described in social networks were recorded on the territory of the Odesa district TCR.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko have decided on candidates for the new head of the State Border Guard Service. The appointment will take place soon, as Zelenskyy announced on social media.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on adaptive badminton as a fast racket sport that is ideal for veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war. This sport is recommended for physical recovery, especially for injuries to limbs, spinal cord, and PTSD.
K-pop group BTS will return to the stage as a full group on March 20, 2026. This will happen after an almost four-year hiatus, during which all members completed their military service.
In the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson region, the invaders are intensifying the militarization of youth, planning to open cadet classes of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in schools in Henichesk, Chaplynka, and Novotroitske districts starting from 2026.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha reacted to the US military operation in Venezuela, stating support for the right of peoples to a free life. Ukraine did not recognize Maduro's legitimacy after the rigged elections and violence against protesters.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will face a US court for narco-terrorism and illegal arms trafficking. Maduro has already been detained and will be brought to New York after an operation conducted by the Delta Force special operations group.
In occupied Luhansk region, miners were left without full payments on the eve of the New Year, and residents of Alchevsk and Perevalsk faced a sharp reduction in water supply. Russian investors did not pay the miners of the "Bilorechenska" mine, and water supply to Alchevsk was reduced by 80%.
The Venezuelan government accused the United States of military aggression after a series of explosions in Caracas and other regions. President Nicolás Maduro declared a state of emergency and mobilized defense forces.
The German CSU party proposes sending men fit for military service back to Ukraine. It is also proposed to use refugees' personal funds and assets to cover their living expenses.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a change in the format of the Ministry of Defense's work, proposing Mykhailo Fedorov to head it. Denys Shmyhal remains in the team; he has been offered another important area of state work.
On January 3, from 00:00 to 06:00, planned technical work will be carried out in the "Oberih" register. During this period, the Reserve ID update and service provision will be temporarily unavailable in the "Reserve+" application.
In the occupied Luhansk region, reservists from the mobilization reserve will guard critical infrastructure facilities, including oil depots, instead of Russian military personnel. The document came into force on December 30, providing for six-month training for citizens with the promise of financial assistance to the unemployed.
Yurii Yastremskyi, a soldier of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, sustained a shrapnel wound to the head and underwent complex rehabilitation. The MHP-Hromadi Charitable Foundation and the Makitra volunteer space provided him with adaptive clothing.
In Bashkortostan, payments for signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense have been increased again from 500,000 to 1 million rubles. New payments will take effect on January 1, 2026, despite previous reductions and budget problems.
As of January 1, an updated procedure for military training of reserve officers, stipulated by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1612, is in force in Ukraine. The program allows citizens to obtain an officer rank and prepare for contract or conscription service.