War in Ukraine
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.
The index of business activity expectations of Ukrainian businesses in December 2025 was 49. 2 points, which is the highest indicator for December in the entire history of observations. Economic activity was constrained by the deteriorating security situation and power outages, while stable consumer demand and international aid were positive factors.
A health screening program for Ukrainians aged 40+ is launching, which can be ordered through "Diia. "
The SBU detained a 64-year-old resident of Makiivka in Kyiv, who had been working for the Russian occupation administration since 2014. She headed a kindergarten and implemented Russian educational standards, as well as agitated parents to cooperate with the occupiers.
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.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces' Unmanned Systems Forces confirmed the defeat of 10 military and infrastructure targets deep within enemy territory and in temporarily occupied territories on New Year's Eve. Among the targets were Russian oil refineries, an oil depot, a KASTA-2E2 radar, and a TOR air defense system.
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.
The CIA assessed that Ukraine did not attack Putin's residence during a recent drone attack, refuting the Russian leader's claims. CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed Trump on the assessment.
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.
Ukraine has strengthened its air defense by receiving two more Patriot systems thanks to agreements with Germany. These systems are capable of destroying aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including hypersonic ones, at a distance of up to 160 km and an altitude of up to 24 km.
In 2025, the Russian army increased the pace of its offensive in Ukraine, capturing 4,831 square kilometers of territory and reclaiming 473 square kilometers in the Kursk region. This was made possible by a new operational model, technological adaptations, and a change in attack tactics.
In Volyn, fires at critical infrastructure facilities that arose as a result of a night attack by the Russian Federation have been extinguished. Preliminarily, there were no casualties or injuries; more than 90 rescuers were involved in extinguishing the fires.
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.
Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on New Year's Eve, leading to power outages in the Volyn, Odesa, and Chernihiv regions. Power outage schedules are being applied in all regions to stabilize the energy system.
Donald and Melania Trump hosted a New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, where the president held a charity auction. A painting of Jesus was sold for $2.75 million.
French President Macron stated that European defense will begin to form faster from January 6, 2026, in Paris. Many European states will commit to protecting Ukraine.
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.
Over the past day, 131 combat engagements were recorded on the front, 33 of which occurred in the Pokrovsk direction. The enemy carried out 77 air strikes, dropped 182 guided aerial bombs, and used 6,406 kamikaze drones.
Russia attacked Ukraine with 205 attack UAVs on New Year's Eve from December 31, 2025, to January 1, 2026. Of these, 176 were shot down or suppressed, but 24 hits were recorded in 15 locations.
On New Year's Eve, Odesa was attacked by several waves of kamikaze drones, which caused fires at infrastructure facilities and damage to residential buildings. All fires were promptly extinguished, and there were no fatalities or injuries.
Enemy UAVs attacked critical infrastructure facilities in Volyn, causing fires in Lutsk and Kovel districts. Over 100,000 subscribers are without power, and there is no information about casualties.
On December 31, Russian troops lost 1060 soldiers and 769 UAVs. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 01.01.26 amount to 1,208,970 people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia never ends wars of its own free will, only under external pressure. He emphasized that trusting the Kremlin's word is a death sentence for international security.
US national security officials said Ukraine did not attack Putin or his residence, refuting Moscow's claims. The CIA confirmed that Ukraine attempted to strike a military target in the same region, but not near it.
In his New Year's address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine's belief in peace and its struggle for it. He wished for the defenders to return home and emphasized the importance of unity.
On the night of January 1, the enemy attacked Lutsk and the Kovel community with drones. Some of the UAVs were heading towards Lutsk, causing a fire.
Veteran Ruslana Danilkina and Pavlo Simakin became the winners of "Dancing with the Stars" after their performance on December 28. The couple scored a maximum of 40 points from the jury for their rumba.
As a result of an enemy drone attack on the night of January 1, the energy infrastructure of the Odesa region was damaged, causing a fire at one of the facilities. Power outages are being recorded at critical enterprises in Odesa.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia will have to end the war as soon as they find one more reason for peace than to fight. He emphasized that today everyone adds: "To be one step ahead, one hour faster, one decision braver."
Odesa was attacked by enemy UAVs on the holiday night, several explosions were recorded. Air raid sirens also sounded in Kyiv region, where air defense was operating.