Russian regions are experiencing an increasingly deep sense of hopelessness, as sanctions and the loss of external markets have exposed the structural weakness of their budgets. The worst situation is observed in depressed regions, as well as in industrial and metallurgical regions, where significant budget deficits are predicted.
On the night of January 6, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Gercon Plus oil depot in Russia's Lipetsk region. Strikes were also carried out on UAV command posts and an S-300V radar station.
Russia claims that Ukraine has been attacking Moscow daily with drones since the beginning of 2026, considering it an escalation. By January 4, 437 drones were allegedly shot down over Russia, including 57 over the Moscow region, causing flight delays at Moscow airports.
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.
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 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.
The enemy equipment was located in the area of the settlement of Kulbaky, 7 km from the border with Ukraine. The enemy used this self-propelled artillery unit to carry out artillery strikes on the territory of the Sumy region.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the interception and destruction of 132 Ukrainian aircraft-type UAVs from 13:00 to 20:00. The drones were allegedly shot down over 10 regions and occupied Crimea.
On the night of December 23, Russia launched a combined attack on Ukraine, using 635 UAVs and 38 missiles, including 3 Kinzhals. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 587 drones and 34 cruise missiles; three Kinzhals did not reach their targets.
Ukrainian forces advanced in the central part of Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast, as confirmed by geolocated video footage from December 20. Russian forces intensified activity in Sumy Oblast but did not achieve confirmed progress.
As of the end of November 2025, the Russian armed forces had about 50 9M729 cruise missiles, which are produced at a rate of up to 250 units per year. These missiles, due to which the US withdrew from the INF Treaty, are launched from Iskander-M1 OTRK launchers.
North Korea held a welcoming ceremony for sappers who returned from Russia's Kursk region after demining. Kim Jong Un thanked the troops for their safe return, noting the loss of nine lives.
On the night of November 9, UAVs attacked a number of Russian regions, including Cheboksary and Rostov Oblast. Strikes were recorded on the Energosapchast JSC plant and energy infrastructure, which led to power outages.
Russia declared the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, wanted on charges of involvement in the death of propagandist Hanna Prokofieva. Brovdi reacted to the accusations with a quote from Bulgakov's novel.
On the night of December 3, drones attacked an oil depot in Russia's Tambov region, causing a fire. Russian authorities claimed to have destroyed 102 Ukrainian aircraft over seven regions, but the Tambov region was not mentioned in the report.
A Land Cruiser 200 Prado belonging to a 41-year-old doctor of physical and mathematical sciences, a developer of targeting systems for long-range missiles, exploded in Moscow. The owner of the car, a specialist at the Moscow Research Institute "Polyus", is currently on a business trip.
On the night of November 29, Russia attacked Ukraine with 36 missiles and 596 drones, with the main strike targeting the Kyiv region. Air defense shot down 19 missiles, including one "Kinzhal", and 558 drones.
On the night of November 25, Russia launched a combined attack on Ukraine, using 22 missiles and 464 drones. Air defense forces neutralized 14 missiles, including one Kinzhal, and 438 drones.
Overnight, Russians launched over 130 attack UAVs and Kinzhal-type missiles at Ukraine. Ukrainian defenders managed to shoot down most of the targets, but there were hits and falling debris in several locations.
Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with two Kinzhal missiles, five S-300/S-400 missiles, and 67 drones. Of these, 52 unmanned aerial vehicles were neutralized by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of the transport-loading vehicle of the Iskander missile system and the 1L122 Garmon radar station. The strike was carried out in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation jointly with the resistance movement "Black Spark".
Special forces of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) discovered and destroyed the headquarters of the Russian unit "Rubicon" in occupied Avdiivka, eliminating officers and drone operators. The enemy headquarters, which specialized in using combat drones, was located in a semi-destroyed building.
As a result of the attack, the operation of military communications and the transmission of operational data in the region were paralyzed. This led to problems in units responsible for logistics and border protection.
On the night of November 4, the enemy attacked Ukraine with missiles and 130 UAVs. Defense forces neutralized 92 drones, hits were recorded at 14 locations.
Two Russian enterprises, a petrochemical plant in Bashkortostan and an oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod, stopped operations after a UAV attack on the night of November 4. Power outages are also reported in the Kursk region.
On the night of October 30, a number of Russian regions and occupied Crimea were subjected to a UAV attack. Reports indicate damage to railway infrastructure, a school, and an agricultural enterprise, as well as flight delays in Moscow.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 135 combat engagements in 24 hours, 45 of which occurred in the Pokrovsk direction. Ukrainian defenders eliminated 113 occupiers and destroyed 11 drones.
On the night of October 25, Russia attacked Ukraine with nine ballistic missiles and 62 attack drones. Air defense forces neutralized four missiles and 50 enemy UAVs.
North Korean troops fighting on the side of the Russians may have lost more than 6,000 men in offensive combat operations in the Kursk region. This is more than half of the approximately 11,000 North Korean servicemen deployed in the region.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced the continuous development of military ties with Russia during a ceremony to lay a memorial to North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russian troops against the Armed Forces of Ukraine. South Korean intelligence reports 4,700 North Korean soldiers killed or wounded in the war against Ukraine.
