Ukraine

After the military operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kursk region, Russia took the initiative to exchange prisoners for the first time. This helped to return the most difficult Ukrainians to exchange, including the defenders of Mariupol.

A former university employee who took 74,000 hryvnias from foreigners for a promise to help them with admission will be tried in Kyiv. In fact, the applicants received regular invitations to study in the general order.

A preliminary agreement has been reached on systematic exchanges of prisoners with Russia in 2025, with priority given to seriously ill prisoners. The last exchange took place on December 30, 2024, when 189 Ukrainians were released.

In Donetsk region, the occupiers shot two captured Ukrainian soldiers near the village of Vremivka. Donetsk prosecutor's office has launched a war crime investigation.

Disney and Sony received £13. 5 million from a joint venture in Russia after the war in Ukraine broke out. Payments were received in March 2022 and the second half of 2023, despite the announcement of the cessation of operations.

Ukraine has extradited to Turkey a convict who was hiding in Kyiv region from punishment for sexual harassment of minors. The man, sentenced to 6 years and 8 months, was handed over to Turkish authorities.

The occupiers have introduced new rules for replenishing mobile balances in the TOT - now only with a Russian passport or through the state portal. This is part of the forced passportization and increased control over the population.

In the Russian city of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, there is heavy smoke. The city is home to a chemical plant and military warehouses. The plant produces fuel for Uragan, Smerch, Tornado-S and Iskander missiles.

The Center for Countering Disinformation denies Russian claims of Ukrainian attacks on ZNPP. The IAEA confirms explosions and a possible drone attack near the plant, as well as increased military activity.

A power bank exploded in the locker room of the gymnasium of School-Lyceum No. 16 in Bila Tserkva, causing a fire. Rescuers promptly extinguished the fire, and there were no injuries.

Over the last day, 108 combat engagements took place in various sectors of the frontline. Most enemy attacks were registered in the Pokrovsk sector - 16 attempts to attack.

On the H-09 highway in Rakhiv district, a Volkswagen Touran crashed into the Chorna Tysa river. The driver managed to escape, but his 35-year-old wife died, her body was found 300 meters downstream.

The President signed a decree to establish the State Special Transport Service Day. The holiday will be celebrated annually on February 5 in honor of the service's contribution to the functioning of the transport system.

The journalist discovered a possible connection between Semen Kryvonos' wife and the business of Eduard Samotkal, a suspect in the Energoatom case. Halyna Polshynska manages companies owned by Samotkal's wife.

The SBU has served a notice of suspicion in absentia to Oleksiy Khavetskiy, deputy head of Correctional Colony No. 7 in the Vladimir region of the Russian Federation. He personally participated in the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war from May 2023 to February 2024.

Due to the cessation of Russian gas supplies, the energy deficit in Transnistria reached 30%. Moldova offered Tiraspol alternative options for purchasing gas, but received no response.

In 2024, the general fund of the state budget received UAH 2. 2 trillion, of which a significant share is personal income tax and military duty. Total state budget revenues amounted to UAH 3.12 trillion, while expenditures amounted to UAH 4.48 trillion.

The advisor to the head of the Presidential Administration explained why Ukraine needs international security guarantees, not just agreements with Trump. In 4 years, Putin may attack again when Trump is no longer president of the United States.

Lukashenko's spokeswoman denied Zelensky's statement that he had apologized for the missile strikes from Belarus. According to her, the conversation took place through Lukashenko's son, who had contact with Zelensky.

ARMA signed an agreement with the State Space Agency to gain access to satellite imagery of seized assets. Experts doubt the effectiveness of this initiative and consider it a distraction from the agency's real problems.

TCC employees may not enter reservation data into the Oberig register and mobilize the booked workers. After such mobilization, it is difficult for employees of critical enterprises to demobilize.

U. S. Secretary of State Blinken announced Russia's intention to share advanced space technologies with North Korea. This may happen after the DPRK provided military support to Russia in the war against Ukraine.

Russian military forces likely executed three Ukrainian prisoners of war near the village of Neskuchne in Donetsk Oblast on January 3. According to DeepState, the prisoners had their hands bound and were shot in the back of the head.

Chinese hospitals are experiencing a surge in human metapneumovirus cases, especially among children under 14. The virus causes respiratory symptoms and can lead to pneumonia, but the risk of a pandemic is low.

The French president said that a quick solution to the conflict in Ukraine is impossible and that realistic negotiations are needed.

The head of the Verkhovna Rada subcommittee, Serhiy Nagornyak, said there was no need to raise the electricity tariff above UAH 4. 32/kWh in 2025. He recommends that the government extend the current tariff until the end of the 2025-2026 heating season.

Intelligence has received evidence of an order from the commander of the 60th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Federation to kill a captured Ukrainian serviceman. This is another case of violation of international humanitarian law by the Russian army.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has approved new criteria for determining important sports enterprises during a special period. The new order No. 7742 replaced the previous document of February 2023.

The Vice Prime Minister said that the return of Ukrainians from abroad would be exclusively voluntary.

Estonian Navy Commander Ivo Värk said there is no dominance of any side in the Black Sea. Both sides have freedom of action close to the coast with air defense, mines and shore support.