Ukraine
Ukrainian drones damaged two tanks at the Saratov oil refinery, as confirmed by satellite images. Other strategic Russian facilities at a distance of up to 1,100 km were also attacked.
Kyiv police have identified four more teenagers involved in the scandalous incident in the city center. Criminal proceedings for desecration of the state flag have been initiated, and administrative reports have been drawn up against the parents.
The Verkhovna Rada plans to consider a bill to extend martial law until May 9. President Zelenskyy has already submitted the relevant document to parliament.
The Strategic Investment Council has started working in Ukraine and approved a portfolio of 787 projects. For 2025, 92 projects have been selected in the areas of social protection, infrastructure, and demining.
The President of Ukraine showed a video of the interrogation of captured soldiers from the DPRK and spoke about their use by Russia. Zelenskyy emphasized that the world will learn the truth about how Russia recruits soldiers from an information vacuum.
Two local residents aged 18 and 37 were detained in Vinnytsia region who were planning to set fire to vehicles of the Armed Forces and volunteers on the instructions of the Russian Federation. The offenders were detained while trying to set fire to the vehicles and face up to 8 years in prison.
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, and Ukraine supported the EU sanctions against Belarus. The restrictions apply to 26 citizens and 2 legal entities due to their involvement in the Russian aggression.
Odesa prevented the illegal sale of a rare artifact of the I-II centuries - a golden fibula of Germanic cultures. Law enforcers seized the find worth UAH 170 thousand for transfer to the National Museum.
Latvia has provided Ukraine with military aid worth over €501 million. The countries discussed further cooperation, including support for the defense industry, military training, and the creation of a transport corridor.
The government has approved the WINWIN Digital Development Strategy until 2030 with a focus on 14 key technology areas. It is planned to create specialized centers of excellence and introduce innovation clusters.
The State Special Communications Service handed over more than 20,000 unmanned systems of various types to the Defense Forces in the first 10 days of 2025. In 2024, 1.3 million drones were handed over, 97.7% of which were made in Ukraine.
The President of Ukraine reported on more than 100 brigades on the battlefield that need to update their military equipment on a daily basis. Zelenskyy emphasized the priority of technical equipment and training for the military.
The Verkhovna Rada has passed a bill banning the seizure of property of the Southern Machine-Building Plant for the period of martial law. The document also provides for the lifting of the seizures already imposed on the company.
The Verkhovna Rada has adopted as a basis a draft law on renaming more than 100 courts in different regions of Ukraine. The changes affect courts in Crimea, Sevastopol and 16 regions of the country, but do not provide for their reorganization.
The General Staff has denied rumors of the transfer of severely shortage of air force specialists to the infantry. At the same time, some categories of air force personnel are reinforcing the ground forces due to the difficult situation at the front.
The President of Ukraine plans to sign a law extending the deadline for voluntary return from the NWC until March 1, 2025. According to Iryna Vereshchuk, this will be the last extension.
Yevhen Sokur, the former acting deputy head of the State Tax Service, is trying to avoid criminal prosecution. Criminal proceedings have been opened against him and the NAPC is investigating him for violations of anti-corruption legislation.
The government has determined a list of civil service positions of categories B and C for which English language proficiency is required. The new requirements will come into force 4 years after the end of martial law.
Ukraine's European allies have held private talks with the Trump team about supporting Ukraine. Officials expressed cautious optimism that the new US administration would not force Kyiv into premature negotiations with Russia.
According to the KIIS, 46% of Ukrainians consider joining NATO a top priority, while 22% support the EU. During the year, the number of those who do not support membership in any union increased from 12% to 22%.
The lowest temperature at night, except for the Carpathians, is expected in the southern part of Ukraine, down to -8 degrees. In the rest of Ukraine, the temperature will be -2-6 degrees at night
The President submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada on liability for violating sanctions. The document was submitted to the parliamentary leadership for consideration, but the text of the bill has not yet been made public.
The Verkhovna Rada did not support the provision on free movement of journalists during the curfew. Instead, the parliament passed a law on the openness of parliamentary committee meetings to the media and the public.
Fuel prices in Ukraine are rising due to an increase in world oil prices from $74 to $82 per barrel. The reason was new US sanctions against Russian oil companies and tankers.
Ukraine recorded a drop in gasoline imports by 0. 5% and gas by 7.2%, but an increase in diesel fuel by 7.5%. Experts attribute this to population migration and increased freight traffic.
Ukrainian drones struck four important Russian facilities. Among the targets hit were chemical plants, ammunition depots at the Engels airfield, and an oil refinery.
The SBU and NABU uncovered a scheme to embezzle UAH 58. 44 million from Ukrenergo through fictitious companies. The former deputy head of the Kharkiv regional council and his accomplices organized a scheme to sell stolen electricity.
The former head of the Defense Ministry's Department and two heads of a state-owned enterprise were served with a notice of suspicion of embezzlement of UAH 193 million. They supplied the Ukrainian Armed Forces with 200 low-quality DShK machine guns that failed in combat.
The deputy speaker of the Slovak parliament said that Prime Minister Fico would not go to Kyiv to meet with Zelenskyy. The statement was made during a visit by a Slovak delegation to Moscow.
In December, 105 civilians were killed and 514 injured in Ukraine, the lowest number since the beginning of the invasion. Most of the victims were recorded near the frontline in Kherson and Donetsk regions.