War in Ukraine
Defense Forces have eliminated over 7,000 Russians and wounded over 2,600 in the Pokrovsk agglomeration over the past 5 months. Ukrainian soldiers destroyed hundreds of enemy equipment, thwarting attempts to capture Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad.
The commander of the "Russian Volunteer Corps", Denis Kapustin, is alive, and the Russian special services paid $500,000 for his elimination. The GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine conducted a special operation, saving Kapustin's life and receiving funds that will strengthen special forces.
On January 1, explosions occurred in Kerch, with more than 10 blasts recorded. Russian air defense systems are also reported to be operating.
Starting today, the salaries of pedagogical and scientific-pedagogical staff in Ukraine will increase by 30%. The State Budget for 2026 allocates 64.6 billion hryvnias for salary increases.
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.
In 2026, the salary requirements for granting deferrals to employees of critically important enterprises will change, increasing to 21,617. 5 hryvnias. This is due to an increase in the minimum wage, which will be 8,647 hryvnias from January 1.
As a result of an enemy KAB strike on the territory of the ecopark in Kharkiv, a 40-year-old volunteer was injured. Birds also died and were injured.
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.
On January 1, Russian troops struck the Zaporizhzhia district, causing a power outage for almost 4,000 subscribers. Restoration work has already begun.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed damage to the Ilsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar Krai and the Almetyevskaya oil preparation plant in Tatarstan. A UAV warehouse, a Tor-M2 anti-aircraft missile system, and a fuel and lubricants warehouse in the occupied Donetsk region were also hit.
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.
President Zelenskyy reacted to Russia's massive drone attack on at least 7 regions on New Year's Eve. He emphasized the need for partners to supply air defense systems without delay.
On New Year's Eve, emergency services in Ukraine received over 5,500 reports, processing 1,105 calls. Among them, two concerned pyrotechnics: in Kyiv, the information was not confirmed, and in Dnipro, those involved are being sought.
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.