Ukraine

The Royal British Armed Forces Sports Council officially recognizes the Army Drone Association. The competition will be held without GPS and stabilization, where 8 pilots will control the drones through a VR headset.

Russia is creating a chatbot to organize illegal elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine in 2025-2026. The goal is to increase the number of “deputies” from the occupied regions in the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

The German opposition has noticed signs that a meeting between Scholz and Putin is being prepared for February 23. Roderich Kiesewetter warns that such talks could harm Ukraine's interests.

American podcaster Lex Friedman had a three-hour conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The podcast episode is scheduled to be released on Monday.

Ukraine is discussing extending the deadline for the voluntary return of soldiers after they leave their units without permission. The issue is being discussed at an interagency meeting and with the Verkhovna Rada Defense Committee.

There were 149 combat engagements in the frontline, with the most difficult situation in the Pokrovske and Kursk sectors. The enemy carried out 31 air strikes, used 709 kamikaze drones and fired 3,500 times.

Soldiers of the 79th Air Assault Brigade captured 14 Russian soldiers after a drone attack. The paratroopers took the enemy by surprise by throwing grenades at a dugout, after which the occupiers surrendered.

A stele with the name of the city, which was destroyed by Russian shelling on January 2, has been restored in Pokrovsk. Utility workers installed a new, lighter structure in one day on January 4.

The Polish government is developing detailed rules for the evacuation of the population and cultural property in case of emergency. The plan envisages the allocation of 0.3% of GNP and should be ready in three months.

Tim Cook plans to personally donate $1 million to Donald Trump's inaugural committee. The inaugural committee aims to raise more than $150 million from various companies and individuals.

During the day, the enemy attacked 30 UAVs from the northeast. Air defense forces shot down 14 Shaheds, and another 16 imitator UAVs were lost locally without any negative consequences.

Near the village of Makhnovka in the Kursk region, the Russian army lost up to a battalion of infantry soldiers and Russian paratroopers. Fierce fighting continues in the Pokrovsk sector.

President Zelenskyy announced preparations for a meeting in the Ramstein format this week. The meeting will discuss strengthening Ukraine's air defense with the participation of dozens of partner countries.

Ukraine's border saw a significant increase in passenger traffic during the New Year and Christmas period. On peak days, the number of crossings reached 150,000 people per day, while on holidays, the figures dropped to 32,000.

Ukraine and Poland signed a memorandum on the establishment of a joint gas hub. It is planned to supply liquefied gas through the port of Świnoujście to Ukrainian underground storage facilities.

The USA prepared for the conflict in advance and secretly supplied weapons to Ukraine since September 2021. Among the weapons supplied were Stinger and Javelin, which played an important role in Kiev's defense.

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland reported progress in the “constructive historical dialogue” on the exhumation of the victims of the Volyn tragedy. The relevant authorities of both countries are actively working to resolve this issue.

Law and Business accuses Poroshenko of promoting the Kharkiv agreements and financing Russia through the Lipetsk factory. Journalists call on the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions for treason.

The Civil Registry Office has restored the ability to enter data on births, marriages, divorces and other acts of civil status. Tomorrow, data exchange with the tax office, the Pension Fund of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense, as well as online services in Diia, will resume.

The US Secretary of State announced his intention to put Ukraine on the path to NATO and warned of the risks of the ceasefire. According to him, the ceasefire will give Putin the opportunity to regroup for a new attack.

Up to 20 unidentified drones have been spotted in the port of Køge near Copenhagen. Police confirmed sightings of four large UAVs and launched an investigation into the incident amid fears of Russian hybrid attacks.

The 25th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense will take place on January 9 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. During the meeting, Ukraine will present its “victory plan” to its partners.

In the village of Svesa, a five-story building was damaged by two bombs and the entrance was destroyed as a result of an air strike. Five people were injured, including two two-year-old children.

Ukraine is introducing limiting coefficients for pensions exceeding UAH 23,610. The restrictions will not apply to combatants and military personnel who have been defending the country since 2014.

There were 107 combat engagements at the front, with the most active fighting in the Pokrovske, Lyman and Vremivske sectors. Ukrainian defenders repelled numerous enemy attacks, including nine in the Kursk region.

There are 62 thousand orphans and children deprived of parental care in Ukraine, which is 2 thousand less than in 2023. The number of foster families has increased by 160 and now exceeds 400.

An explosion occurred in the city of Shuya, as a result of which Russian Captain Konstantin Nagayko was seriously injured. He was involved in a missile attack on the village of Groza, where 59 civilians were killed.

The President has signed a law liquidating the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries starting from April 1, 2025. The new regulator will receive expanded powers and strengthen control over the gambling market.

In Warsaw, a driver attacked a Ukrainian woman over a conflict over a parking space, insulting her on ethnic grounds and using physical force. The police initially did not pay due attention to the incident, but later opened an investigation.

In Ukraine, about a million people have the status of combatants as of the end of 2024. The government is introducing new programs to support veterans, including quarterly payments for sports and the creation of a unified registry.