The Russian authorities sharply increased digital control over citizens in the first half of 2025, and state requests for personal data of Yandex users increased. The company transferred data in 42.3 thousand cases, which is 44% more than last year.
The Lithuanian authorities decided to extend until January 2, 2027, temporary restrictions on the transit by road of certain dual-use goods. This is done to prevent their use in the war against Ukraine and to strengthen European security.
Since the beginning of the day, 136 combat engagements have been recorded at the front, the enemy launched 31 air strikes and carried out 3202 kamikaze drone attacks. The most active enemy actions are observed in the Pokrovsk, Kostiantynivka, and Oleksandrivka directions.
DTEK explained the absence of power outage schedules in Odesa region after massive Russian attacks, which led to significant destruction. The company noted that it is currently impossible to predict the date of return to schedules.
In Prykarpattia, 7 settlements remain cut off due to bad weather. SES rescuers transported three patients by snow and swamp vehicle to emergency medical vehicles.
Law enforcement officers exposed a group of individuals who illegally used trademarks of international companies, selling counterfeit equipment. More than 4,000 units of counterfeit products were seized, and the preliminary damage to the companies exceeds UAH 30 million.
The first critical infrastructure operators in the energy and defense industries have already installed electronic warfare equipment to protect their facilities. The Ministry of Defense is implementing this initiative by decision of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
On December 29, at 05:29, a main gas pipeline caught fire near the village of Rososh, Mukachevo district. 21 rescuers and 7 units of equipment have been deployed to extinguish the fire; there is no threat to the population.
The Cabinet of Ministers plans to consider Ihor Zelinskyi's candidacy for the position of head of the State Aviation Service, lobbied by Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. This personnel decision raises serious questions given Zelinskyi's decisions made during his work in the leadership of the aviation regulator.
President Zelenskyy stated that partners will provide technical monitoring of the ceasefire in Ukraine. He noted that the issue of a free economic zone is currently being discussed, and a demilitarized zone is not yet on the agenda.
Snow is observed in most regions of Ukraine, in some places up to 30 cm. The situation is difficult in Prykarpattia, traffic on the R-24 highway is blocked, and traffic on the T-02-3 highway in Vinnytsia region is complicated.
In 2025, the educational ecosystem "Mriya" covered over 2,800 schools and 420,000 users in all 24 regions of Ukraine. It has become a key tool for the digitalization of education, uniting schools, students, parents, and teachers in a single digital environment.
Over the past day, 209 combat engagements took place on the front line, a quarter more than the day before. A quarter of all combat engagements were recorded in the Pokrovsk direction.
China has launched live-fire military exercises around Taiwan after the US announced a major arms package for the island. The exercises, dubbed "Mission Justice-2025," involve the army, navy, air force, and rocket forces, serving as a "stern warning" against separatist forces.
In temporarily occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, four Russian occupiers with a "Ural" were blown up. This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine Oleksandr Pivnenko showed a video of the combat work of the "Typhoon" unit during the assaults on Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. The unmanned systems unit destroys Russian armored vehicles used in mechanized assaults.
Ukrainian marines eliminated enemy armored vehicles in the Pokrovsk direction. Pilots of the 88th separate battalion of the 35th separate marine brigade detected and destroyed the targets.
As of December 29, 2025, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have eliminated 1,205,690 Russian occupiers. The enemy has also lost over 11,000 tanks and 23,000 armored combat vehicles.
On December 28, rescuers in Ivano-Frankivsk region towed 12 cars and a bus, evacuating 32 people, including 7 children. This happened against the backdrop of bad weather, which left 346 settlements in six regions without electricity.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 38 airstrikes and 2,539 shellings of Ukrainian troop positions. In the Pokrovsk direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine neutralized 146 occupiers.
Fierce fighting continues in Huliaipole, with part of the city under the control of Russian troops. The occupiers are actively storming positions, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding a significant part of the city, inflicting tangible losses on the enemy.
Great Britain and Germany have signed a joint contract worth £52 million for the acquisition of advanced RCH 155 artillery, capable of firing on the move and hitting targets at a distance of over 70 km. The agreement provides for an early demonstration model for the British Army and two units for testing by Germany.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the damage to the Syzran oil refinery in Russia's Samara region on the night of December 28, which led to a fire. Also successfully attacked were a boat storage facility in Chornomorske, a repair unit in Antratsyt, a pontoon crossing near Nikonorivka, and a UAV warehouse in Makiivka.
From 2027, cars sold in China will have manual door unlocking due to electronic handle failures during accidents. New regulations require all vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons to have both internal and external handles with mechanical emergency release.
The Drone Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the defeat of the Russian GRU special forces in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region. More than 120 servicemen of the 14th Special Forces Brigade of the Russian GRU were eliminated or wounded.
In Brovary, Kyiv region, one person died and another was hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator. The incident occurred in an apartment building where the generator was operating in the basement.
In Ukraine, due to bad weather, roads are snow-covered in 9 regions and wet in 12, but passage on state-level roads is ensured. To ensure passage, 1312 units of equipment and 1484 workers have been deployed.
In Russia's Rostov region, a freight train locomotive derailed, causing delays for 25 trains. The accident disrupted Russia's railway connection with temporarily occupied Crimea.
Samsung will introduce two new Music Studio wireless speakers in 2026, developed in collaboration with Erwan Bouroullec. The Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7 models will feature an aesthetic design and support high-resolution audio.
Russia attacked Ukraine with 48 Shahed-type attack UAVs, Gerbera, and other drones. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 30 enemy drones in the north, south, and east of the country.
