Victoria Kafka Jones, daughter of Hollywood star Tommy Lee Jones, was found dead in the Fairmont San Francisco hotel on New Year's Day. The 34-year-old actress, known for her roles in "Men in Black II" and "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada," died of unknown causes.
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.
Russia launched 116 attack UAVs over Ukraine overnight, of which 86 were shot down or suppressed. 27 drones were recorded hitting 23 locations.
On January 1, Russian troops lost 910 soldiers and 590 UAVs. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 02.01.26 are estimated at 1,209,880 personnel.
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.
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.
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.
On January 1, 97 combat engagements were recorded at the front, the enemy used 92 guided aerial bombs and over 4,000 kamikaze drone strikes. The greatest enemy activity was observed in the Pokrovsk, Lyman, Kostiantynivka, and Huliaipole directions.
On New Year's Eve in Peru, an attack on illegal gold miners resulted in at least three deaths and seven missing. This happened in the city of Patas, where 13 miners had already died last year due to criminal gangs.
Donald Trump hosted a charity auction at his Mar-a-Lago club, where a portrait of Jesus Christ was sold for $2. 75 million. The proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the local sheriff's office.
Ghanaian law enforcement officers arrested self-proclaimed prophet Evans Eshun for deceiving the public about the end of the world on December 25, 2025. The arrest took place on December 31, 2025, after his prophecy failed to materialize, causing mass psychosis and social tension.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced efforts to resume prisoner exchanges. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov is holding meetings in Turkey to facilitate this process.
Mamdani became New York's first Muslim mayor, taking the oath of office on January 1. He used the Quran for the ceremony, a first in the city's history.
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.
As of January 1, changes to the Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations came into force in Ukraine, aligning it with European standards. The document includes 11 mandatory free vaccinations, including a new vaccination against human papillomavirus infection for girls aged 12-13 and revised dates for MMR vaccination.
On December 31, in Horodyshche, Cherkasy region, a gas cylinder explosion caused a fire in a residential building. Two women sustained burns, one of whom was hospitalized.
The Center for Countering Disinformation has uncovered a new Russian tactic on TikTok: mass registration of accounts before holidays with emotional AI content. After gaining an audience, the profiles change their theme, promoting manipulative narratives.
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.
On New Year's Eve, from December 31, 2025, to January 1, 2026, 12 babies were born in Kyiv's maternity hospitals: 6 girls and 6 boys. The largest number of babies – seven – were born at the Kyiv City Perinatal Center.
Russia is preparing for the militarization of children, including adding drone control to GTO standards and expanding state regulation of military-sports training. Militarization has been extended to New Year's events, where children are given rides on military equipment and allowed to shoot.
Oleksandr Usyk congratulated Ukrainians on the New Year 2026 on Instagram, emphasizing that victory is possible only through unity. The boxer thanked soldiers, teachers, and doctors for their work.
The National Resistance Center published New Year greetings from Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories. Residents of the captured cities conveyed words of support and holiday wishes, demonstrating their loyalty to Ukraine.
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.
Near Rivne, patrol officers stopped a Mercedes-Benz, driven by an intoxicated man in a Santa Claus costume. An alcohol test showed 2.25 ppm, and the car was evacuated.
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.
Russia attacked ports in Odesa region and railway infrastructure in Kovel and Konotop on New Year's Eve. Piers, equipment, machinery, transport and infrastructure were damaged, but the attack did not affect train traffic.
Former special prosecutor Jack Smith said that Republicans, allies of Trump, were ready to testify against him in investigations into attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Smith emphasized that his arguments were based on the testimony of Republicans who put loyalty to the country above party.
On January 1, Russian troops struck the Zaporizhzhia district, causing a power outage for almost 4,000 subscribers. Restoration work has already begun.
