Starting today, the salaries of pedagogical and scientific-pedagogical staff in Ukraine will increase by 30%. The State Budget for 2026 allocates 64.6 billion hryvnias for salary increases.
Russia attacked ports in Odesa region and railway infrastructure in Kovel and Konotop on New Year's Eve. Piers, equipment, machinery, transport and infrastructure were damaged, but the attack did not affect train traffic.
On January 1, Russian troops struck the Zaporizhzhia district, causing a power outage for almost 4,000 subscribers. Restoration work has already begun.
In the high-altitude Carpathians, over a meter of snow fell on New Year's Eve, and the air temperature was -18°C. The State Emergency Service urges people to refrain from hiking due to difficult weather conditions.
President Zelenskyy reacted to Russia's massive drone attack on at least 7 regions on New Year's Eve. He emphasized the need for partners to supply air defense systems without delay.
On New Year's Eve, emergency services in Ukraine received over 5,500 reports, processing 1,105 calls. Among them, two concerned pyrotechnics: in Kyiv, the information was not confirmed, and in Dnipro, those involved are being sought.
From January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine will begin a new stage of defense procurement reform, where all procurements for the Defense Forces will be carried out by a single Defense Procurement Agency. This reform, which has been ongoing since 2023, has already shown effectiveness thanks to digitalization and the DOT-Chain system.
The index of business activity expectations of Ukrainian businesses in December 2025 was 49. 2 points, which is the highest indicator for December in the entire history of observations. Economic activity was constrained by the deteriorating security situation and power outages, while stable consumer demand and international aid were positive factors.
A health screening program for Ukrainians aged 40+ is launching, which can be ordered through "Diia. "
The SBU detained a 64-year-old resident of Makiivka in Kyiv, who had been working for the Russian occupation administration since 2014. She headed a kindergarten and implemented Russian educational standards, as well as agitated parents to cooperate with the occupiers.
Explosions were heard in Kharkiv on January 1; preliminarily, Russian occupiers launched a KAB attack on the suburbs. One person is known to have been injured as a result of the strike.
Most Ukrainians are optimistic about 2026, but positive sentiments are declining, and skepticism is growing. A "Rating" survey showed that 39% expect improvements, 27% – no changes, and every fourth – deterioration.
The CIA assessed that Ukraine did not attack Putin's residence during a recent drone attack, refuting the Russian leader's claims. CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed Trump on the assessment.
In 2025, Ukrainian border guards detained about 1,400 people who tried to illegally cross the state border of Ukraine in the direction of the border with Belarus. DPSU spokesman Andriy Demchenko noted that the Belarusian direction remains active, despite a larger flow of violations on the border with EU countries.
New Year's Eve in the capital of Ukraine passed without serious violations of public order; no crimes were recorded. Information about the launch of fireworks in the Shevchenkivskyi district turned out to be unreliable.
Ukraine has strengthened its air defense by receiving two more Patriot systems thanks to agreements with Germany. These systems are capable of destroying aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including hypersonic ones, at a distance of up to 160 km and an altitude of up to 24 km.
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.
In 2025, Russian occupiers lost 418,170 killed and wounded. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also reported significant equipment losses, including 1,816 tanks and 3,806 armored combat vehicles.
Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on New Year's Eve, leading to power outages in the Volyn, Odesa, and Chernihiv regions. Power outage schedules are being applied in all regions to stabilize the energy system.
Starting January 1, Ukraine begins full testing of the eExcise system, a digital tool for controlling the circulation of tobacco and alcohol products. The testing will last until October 12, giving businesses time to adapt and set up their IT systems.
Donald and Melania Trump hosted a New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, where the president held a charity auction. A painting of Jesus was sold for $2.75 million.
French President Macron stated that European defense will begin to form faster from January 6, 2026, in Paris. Many European states will commit to protecting Ukraine.
On the night of January 1, a number of Russian regions, including Krasnodar Krai and Kaluga Oblast, were subjected to drone attacks, which caused fires at an oil refinery and an oil depot. The mayor of Moscow reported repelling two UAVs that were allegedly flying towards the capital.
Russia attacked Ukraine with 205 attack UAVs on New Year's Eve from December 31, 2025, to January 1, 2026. Of these, 176 were shot down or suppressed, but 24 hits were recorded in 15 locations.
The National Bank of Ukraine has set the official dollar exchange rate for January 1 at 42. 39 hryvnias, which is higher than the previous indicator. The euro exchange rate is 49.79 hryvnias, and the zloty is 11.80 hryvnias.
On December 31, Russian troops lost 1060 soldiers and 769 UAVs. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 01.01.26 amount to 1,208,970 people.
From January 1, 2026, the minimum wage in Ukraine will increase to UAH 8,647. The living wage for various categories of the population will also increase, which will affect taxes and social benefits.
On January 1, cloudy weather with clearings, frosts, and light snow are expected in Ukraine in the west, east, and northeast. In Kyiv and the region, variable cloudiness without precipitation is forecast, with air temperatures of -10°...-8°.
On January 1, Orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of Basil the Great and the Circumcision of the Lord. On this day, there are traditions of sowing.
In Ukraine, the law on strengthening state support for families with children came into force, which provides for a one-time payment of 50,000 hryvnias upon the birth of a child. New amounts of benefits for pregnant women, childcare, and other types of support have also been established.
