Donald Trump is increasingly disappointed with Vladimir Putin, considering him a greater obstacle to peace in Ukraine than Zelenskyy. The American leader has changed his position on the Russian dictator.
Following Ukraine, Latvia will initiate a UN Security Council meeting due to intensified Russian shelling near EU and NATO borders and Russia's use of the "Oreshnik" missile.
President Zelenskyy initiates discussions on a free trade agreement between Ukraine and the US with zero tariffs. He also proposes special economic zones and a buffer zone along the contact line.
Ukraine warned Poland about the threat of using the Oreshnik missile against the Lviv region. Poland put its air defense systems, including a Patriot battery, on high alert.
Border guards "Pastor" and "Korea" from the "Steel Border" held their positions for 131 days without rotation. They repelled six massive enemy assaults, and their evacuation lasted two weeks under fire.
Ukraine initiates an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council and the Ukraine-NATO Council after Russia's statements about the use of the "Oreshnik" missile in the Lviv region. This strike near the borders of the EU and NATO poses a serious security threat.
On the night of January 8, Russia attacked Ukraine with 97 attack UAVs, 70 of which were shot down or suppressed. 27 drones hit 13 locations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the third session of negotiations in two days with US representatives in France. The most difficult issues regarding ending the war will be discussed, including the Zaporizhzhia NPP and territories, as well as formats for leaders' meetings.
Border guards rescued a man from Dnipro who had been wandering in the mountains for five days, trying to illegally cross the border with Romania. He was found exhausted after a 12-hour search operation, provided with assistance, and an administrative protocol was drawn up.
An official of the automotive service of a State Border Guard Service military unit was detained for extorting 10% of the cost of auto parts supplied for military needs. The total amount of the bribe was UAH 110,000, and three instances of receiving funds were documented.
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.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine struck the 100th arsenal of the Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense in the Kostroma region. A fire was recorded at the facility, and the evacuation of the local population was announced.
A 53-year-old Italian, who expressed pro-Russian views and justified Russia's aggression, was not allowed into Ukraine. He was banned from entering the country for three years after an incident on a bus where he called Ukraine a "bad country."
Italian Rocco, who was traveling by bus to Ukraine, declared his respect for Putin and called Ukraine a "bad country. " Passengers of the bus stated that they would not allow him to enter the country.
On January 2, the Peresypsky District Court of Odesa chose a pre-trial detention measure in the form of detention without bail for the organizer of a transnational drug supply channel. The value of one batch of cocaine, which was planned to be imported weekly, exceeded 200 thousand US dollars.
Pedestrian and cyclist crossing has been introduced at the international checkpoint "Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké" on the Ukrainian-Slovak border. As of January 5, almost a thousand citizens have already used the pedestrian lane.
According to a KMIS poll, 59% of Ukrainians trust President Zelenskyy. The majority of respondents (59%) believe that elections are only possible after the complete end of the war and the signing of a peace agreement.
The spokesman for the State Border Guard Service reported on active areas on the border of Sumy and Kharkiv regions, where the enemy is trying to expand the combat zone. The enemy uses small assault groups, without using equipment, and suffers heavy losses.
On the night of January 5, Russia attacked Ukraine with 9 ballistic and anti-aircraft guided missiles, as well as 165 attack drones. The Armed Forces of Ukraine reported shooting down or suppressing 137 enemy UAVs in the north, center, and east of the country.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed changes in the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine with Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. This happened after Valeriy Vavryniuk was appointed interim head of the SBGS on January 4.
After entering Hrabovske in Sumy region, the Russians are conducting remote mining to prevent Ukrainian counterattacks. They are using drones and infantry, who are taking up positions in houses.
Since the beginning of the day, 95 combat engagements have occurred on the front, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In the Pokrovsk direction, 33 enemy attacks have been repelled, and in the Huliaipole direction – 25.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko have decided on candidates for the new head of the State Border Guard Service. The appointment will take place soon, as Zelenskyy announced on social media.
Serhiy Deineko, head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, has been appointed advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko. After rehabilitation, he will lead a combat unit of the State Border Guard Service.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine control the northern part of Pokrovsk and hold the defense in Myrnohrad, eliminating the enemy on the approaches to the city. Since the beginning of January 3, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have repelled 49 Russian assaults, 16 of which were in the Pokrovsk direction.
Russian troops are actively storming and shelling, particularly the border settlements of Sumy Oblast. In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, the enemy carried out 42 shellings, and in the Huliaipole direction, 19 combat engagements were recorded.
After the New Year holidays, the longest queues at the border are observed in the Polish direction, which complicates crossing for drivers and passengers. The State Border Guard Service advises taking into account the possible unstable operation of electronic systems of control services at checkpoints.
On the night of January 3, air defense forces neutralized 80 out of 95 Russian attack drones that attacked from various directions. Hits were recorded at 8 locations and debris fell at two.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko will present new candidates for the position of the head of the State Border Guard Service. Serhiy Deineko, who has headed the service for over six years, will continue to work within the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
In early January 2026, the capacity for electricity imports from the EU to Ukraine-Moldova increased to 2450 MW. This was the result of cooperation between transmission system operators and increases the resilience of Ukraine's energy system.
