War in Ukraine
The "Impulse" system has started to be implemented in the units of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to automate accounting and increase work efficiency.
EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas said that Russia's statements about Ukraine's attack on government facilities are a deliberate distraction. She emphasized that Moscow seeks to disrupt the progress of Ukraine and its Western partners towards peace.
Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday but are expected to fall by more than 15% over 2025. This is due to fears of oversupply, despite wars, tariffs, and sanctions.
In Kharkiv on December 31, a man shot a serviceman of the TCR, damaging his uniform but not injuring him. The assailant was detained after a special police operation was launched.
Since PURL was launched in August, 24 countries have joined it, and the total amount of contributions is $4. 3 billion. This allows for the purchase of American weapons, including missiles for Patriots, and strengthening Ukraine's defense.
The director of the Department of Defense Work of the Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration was dismissed after a road accident involving a service car. The driver of the Ford Ranger, who caused the accident, refused to be tested for alcohol intoxication.
The Coordination Headquarters for the first time released data on more than 10,000 Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine over almost four years of war. In the incomplete year 2025, more Russians were captured than in 2022 and 2023 combined.
The European Union plans to impose a 20th package of sanctions against Russia on the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. Measures will include travel restrictions, asset freezes, and sanctions in the energy and banking sectors.
This refers to UAVs, sights, thermal imagers, anti-drone rifles, and other critically important goods for Ukraine.
On New Year's Eve, the curfew will operate on its usual schedule, and police will patrol in an enhanced mode. Pyrotechnics are prohibited, but party poppers and sparklers are allowed.
In Ukraine, volunteer registration has been simplified, and it is now possible to obtain extracts from the Register electronically. These changes are stipulated by the order of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine dated 25.09.2025 No. 494.
The Federation Council of the Russian Federation approved a resolution codifying the Kremlin's foreign policy course for long-term confrontation with the West. The document provides for the reorientation of foreign relations to Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine attacked a sea oil terminal and an oil refinery in the city of Tuapse, Krasnodar Krai, Russia.
Several European states have developed plans to ensure a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Between 10,000 and 15,000 servicemen from European countries could be deployed during the first six months.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, stated that Putin is trying to withdraw from the peace process. He believes that Russia has already lost geopolitically, becoming a raw material appendage of China.
Russia again attacked energy facilities in several regions of Ukraine, causing blackouts in five regions, including over 170,000 consumers in Odesa region and thousands in Brovary district of Kyiv region. Bad weather also left part of the residents of Khmelnytskyi and Ternopil regions without electricity.
Two Ukrainian citizens have been sentenced to life imprisonment for treason. They provided the enemy with coordinates of Ukrainian Armed Forces units and military facilities for air strikes on Zhytomyr, Donetsk, and Odesa regions.
Units of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted damage on a number of military and infrastructure facilities in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia regions and in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Among the hit targets are an oil depot, a floating craft base, a radar station, deployment points and substations.
The settlement of Rodynske, Pokrovsk urban community, Donetsk region, remains under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The 14th National Guard Brigade refutes the occupiers' statements, destroying enemies who penetrate the city.
Romania has contributed 50 million euros to the PURL initiative, aimed at purchasing American weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This step, according to Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu, will strengthen regional security and is in line with Romania's NATO commitments.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has ordered the expansion of the buffer zone in Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv regions by 2026. This statement was announced by the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov.
During the night, Russia attacked two DTEK energy facilities during an enemy strike on the Odesa region, causing significant damage that will require time to restore. In December, 10 substations were damaged, and since the beginning of the year, 25 energy facilities in the region have been attacked.
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.
Agents of the ATESH partisan movement burned down a communication tower in Novosibirsk, which provided command and communication for Russian army units. This facility was also used to intercept civilian and military communications.
After Russian attacks in the Pivdennyi port near Odesa, sunflower oil polluted the coast and the Adzhalyk estuary. According to Greenpeace Ukraine, the pollution could remain on the seabed for over 6 years, harming wildlife.
In Vyshhorod, Kyiv region, electricity supply has been fully restored after almost 100 hours of absence. Energy workers restored light for 356,500 families in 46 settlements of Kyiv region.
The hryvnia exchange rate at the end of 2025 turned out to be stronger than predicted, which casts doubt on the government's pessimistic expectations for 2026. Expert Ihor Garbaruk points to the risk of budget non-fulfillment due to an overestimated planned exchange rate.
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.
The German government shares Ukraine's concern that Russia's claims of an alleged drone attack on the president's residence could be used for escalation. President Zelenskyy rejected the accusations, and the Kremlin threatens to strengthen its negotiating position.