Numerous ice rinks are available in Kyiv, including "Winter Country at VDNH", "Crystal Ice Rink" and the futuristic arena at Cosmo Multimall shopping center. These locations offer both outdoor and indoor venues for winter entertainment.
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.
During the night, the enemy again attacked Bila Tserkva, injuring a man born in 1964 and causing an acute stress reaction in a woman born in 1977. Two multi-story residential buildings were damaged, with broken windows and mangled balconies.
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.
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.
Simple rules for drinking alcohol that help avoid unpleasant consequences.
The final episode of Netflix's "Stranger Things," which will run for 2 hours and 8 minutes, will be released on January 1 at 3 AM Kyiv time.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported that Santa crossed the border, bringing gifts and "security guarantees. " A Ukrainian border guard stopped Santa, who confirmed that he was bringing gifts not only for children.
Five mulled wine recipes, including classic, black tea-based, white wine-based, non-alcoholic, and one from Yevhen Klopotenko. Each recipe includes a detailed list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions.
The Coca-Cola New Year's caravan, which has been traveling through Georgia since December 19, was unable to complete its planned route due to heavy snowfall and unfavorable weather conditions. Coca-Cola Bottlers Georgia announced that safe movement of the caravan proved impossible in the western regions of the country, and it did not reach Batumi and a number of other settlements.
Four children aged 8-11 fell through the ice while caroling in Kolomyia. They were rescued by a cadet, a student, and a local resident who provided first aid.
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine states that Russia is spreading fake news about a 91-drone attack on Putin's residence in response to successful negotiations between the presidents of Ukraine and the United States. This information operation is aimed at disrupting agreements, justifying future attacks on Ukraine, and discrediting the Ukrainian leadership.
Actor Idris Elba has been awarded a knighthood for his services to youth. He founded the Elba Hope Foundation, which provides grants to organizations in the UK, USA, and Africa.
Oleh Blokhin, a Soviet and Ukrainian athlete, former Dynamo Kyiv footballer and ex-coach of the Ukrainian national team, won the European Player of the Year award - the "Ballon d'Or" - in 1975.
In Ukraine, snow and frosts down to -14 degrees are expected on New Year's Eve, with ice on the roads. Warming will begin on January 2, but frosts will return.
The State Energy Supervision announced that standard hourly power outage schedules will be in effect in Ukraine on New Year's Eve. The situation may depend on security factors, despite the expected decrease in the load on the system.
The number of criminal proceedings related to domestic violence in Ukraine has decreased by 28% since the start of the full-scale invasion. At the same time, the number of calls to the National Hotline for the Prevention of Domestic Violence increased by 9%, reaching 35,000 in three quarters.
Coach-psychologist Mykola Oliynyk explained why people often enter the new year with unresolved emotional problems and unanswered questions. He also gave advice on how to deal with this.
Turkish police have detained 357 suspects in 21 provinces as part of an operation against the Islamic State. This followed a shootout in which three police officers and six militants were killed.
On January 1 and 2, 2020, the train schedule on all three lines of the Kyiv Metro will be changed due to the predicted decrease in passenger traffic. On January 1, the interval between trains will be 3-4 minutes in the morning and 5-6 minutes in the afternoon, on January 2 - 3-4 minutes throughout the day.
New Year on the planet lasts almost a day, starting from the Line Islands in the Pacific Ocean and ending in Samoa. Find out the exact time of the 2026 New Year celebration in different countries of the world according to Kyiv time.
The largest passenger traffic, accounting for 50% of the total, is recorded at the Ukrainian-Polish border. Although there are no queues like before Christmas, certain checkpoints, such as "Krakovets," "Shehyni," and "Ustyluh," remain the busiest.
Astrologer Ksenia Bazylenko said that 2026, the Year of the Red Fire Horse, will be a year of movement and bold decisions, starting on February 17. It promises success to active and ambitious people, especially those born in the years of the Horse, bringing positive changes in the financial sphere and opportunities for leadership.
Russia is aggressively forcing citizens to use the state messenger Max, which is becoming a tool of control. Schoolchildren and students face threats for refusing to install the application, and in the occupied territories, Max only works with Russian and Belarusian SIM cards, isolating Ukrainians.
At a meeting with the military, Putin heard about the "liberation" of 334 settlements and the advance to Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Orikhove. He also ordered the expansion of the "security zone" until 2026.
An interactive installation "Heart in an Ice Block" has been installed on Sofia Square in Kyiv, which will be open until January 6, 2026. It symbolizes the importance of emotional support and human warmth during the war, allowing visitors to melt the ice with their touches.
The housing rental market in Ukraine is sensitive to events in the country, with a seasonal "lull" in December-January and May-June, which are the most favorable periods for searching. One-room apartments in new buildings remain the most expensive, and western regions show a price peak due to the war.
The SBI is investigating a road accident in Kyiv on December 27, 2025, where a serviceman in an SUV crashed into a car at a red light. As a result of the collision, a woman, a mother of two children, died, and her daughters were hospitalized with injuries.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that much could be resolved in diplomacy before the New Year, and Ukraine is doing everything for this. He noted that decisions depend on partners, important sanctions and pressure on Russia, missiles for air defense, and the finalization of formats for ending the war and security guarantees.
The Defense Forces hold the northern part of Pokrovsk, blocking enemy attempts to advance westward. In Myrnohrad, the situation is difficult, the enemy resorts to propaganda, but Ukrainian units are strengthening their grouping.
