In 2025, Russians damaged 307 monuments and 261 cultural infrastructure objects in Ukraine. In total, since the beginning of the war, 1640 cultural heritage sites and 2446 cultural infrastructure objects have been destroyed.
Vasyl Malyuk confirmed that he is stepping down as Head of the Security Service, but will remain in the SBU system to implement world-class asymmetric special operations. He thanked the President of Ukraine for supporting changes in the defense sector and expressed belief in a just peace.
In the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson region, the invaders are intensifying the militarization of youth, planning to open cadet classes of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in schools in Henichesk, Chaplynka, and Novotroitske districts starting from 2026.
Overnight, the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP lost power from one of its high-voltage lines as a result of hostilities. Russian shelling has repeatedly damaged the ZNPP's power lines, causing 12 blackouts at the plant.
The partisan movement "ATESH" reports that Russian commanders in the Kherson direction are depriving soldiers of payments and throwing them into "pits" for refusing to go on assaults. The fighters are held without communication, sleep, or medical care, and their bank cards are blocked.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 116 combat engagements at the front on January 2. The enemy launched 1 missile strike with two missiles, 57 air strikes using 153 guided aerial bombs, 6358 kamikaze drone strikes, and 3223 shellings. Aviation, missile forces, and artillery of the Defense Forces struck four areas of personnel concentration and two other important enemy targets.
Over the course of 2025, sappers of the State Special Transport Service inspected and cleared over 45,000 hectares of Ukrainian territories of explosive ordnance. A total of 52,499 explosive devices were neutralized, with the largest number found in the Kherson region.
In Vinnytsia region, a court took into custody a 39-year-old resident of Haisyn district, suspected of raping his 13-year-old stepdaughter. The crime occurred in August 2025, when the child's mother was in the hospital giving birth.
Over the past day, 98 combat engagements took place, the enemy launched 1 missile and 51 air strikes, and used 151 guided aerial bombs. The Defense Forces hit four concentration areas and two enemy command posts.
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.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made 25 working trips across Ukraine in a year, focusing on the security situation, especially in frontline regions. He visited Kyiv, Donetsk, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Sumy, Odesa, and other regions.
The Cabinet of Ministers has allowed healthcare facilities to purchase housing for medical workers in frontline regions. Housing will be provided for the period of employment in the settlement or within 30 km of it.
In 2025, Russians used over 60,000 guided aerial bombs, about 2,400 missiles, and over 100,000 drones. Air raid alerts sounded at least 19,033 times across Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that withdrawal from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions contradicts the law and public opinion. The issue of territories remains a key disagreement in peace talks, despite 90% agreement on a 20-point plan.
In Ukraine, due to bad weather, roads are snow-covered in 9 regions and wet in 12, but passage on state-level roads is ensured. To ensure passage, 1312 units of equipment and 1484 workers have been deployed.
The Russian dictator stated that the issue would be resolved by military means if Ukraine does not seek peace on the Kremlin's terms. The Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation, Valery Gerasimov, reported on advances in Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.
On December 26, 258 combat engagements took place on the Russian-Ukrainian front. The Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 63 assault actions of the aggressor in the Pokrovsk direction.
Sweden transferred 63. 82 million euros to the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine, increasing the total amount of contributions to 203.08 million euros. These funds are aimed at purchasing equipment and materials for restoring the energy system, particularly in frontline regions.
Southern regions of Ukraine are preparing for worsening weather conditions with snowfalls, and in some areas, particularly Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions, snowfalls and ice are already being recorded. In Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, snow is also observed, roads are being treated with anti-icing agents, and traffic on state-level roads is ensured.
Russia attacked Ukraine's energy infrastructure overnight, leaving subscribers in Donetsk, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Kharkiv regions without power. Due to constant attacks, electricity consumption restriction schedules are applied in almost all regions of Ukraine.
Over the past day, 121 combat engagements were recorded at the front, half of which occurred in the Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, and Oleksandrivka directions. The enemy launched 1 missile and 66 air strikes, using 1 missile and 172 guided aerial bombs.
An underground hospital-shelter with more than twenty beds, including intensive care units, has been set up in the Kherson region. This will allow for the provision of assistance in safe conditions, despite shelling.
ISW analysts believe that the Kremlin will have to compromise on its demands that are incompatible with the peace plan. Russia is not interested in a compromise-based settlement, as evidenced by its constant references to the 2024 demands.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to withdraw Ukrainian troops from parts of eastern Donetsk Oblast to create a demilitarized zone. This is a potential condition for peace talks, although Russia has not shown willingness to withdraw its troops.
For the first time, Russia used over 600 attack drones simultaneously during a massive attack on Ukraine, launching 673 "Shaheds" and missiles at energy infrastructure facilities. This is the ninth massive attack on energy facilities this year, and it has become the largest in terms of the number of drones used in all previous years of the full-scale war.
The Ministry of Development has decided on the mandatory evacuation of children from 19 settlements in Donetsk Oblast. About 200 people with limited mobility are also being evacuated from Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
During the night, the enemy attacked energy facilities in several regions, leading to new power outages in Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions. Today, hourly blackout schedules and power restrictions for industry and business are applied in all regions of Ukraine until 23:59.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has for the first time unveiled 20 points of a "basic document on ending the war. "
7,826 churches of the Moscow Patriarchate remain in Ukraine, despite a law prohibiting their activities. Only 934 religious communities have transferred to the OCU in almost 4 years of full-scale war.
The European Union has extended economic sanctions against Russia for another six months, until July 31, 2026. These measures, introduced in 2014 and expanded since February 2022, cover trade, finance, energy, and other sectors.
