General Staff: Russia has lost 495,070 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

5:54 PM

Russian officers trained for attacks on Japan, South Korea in event of war with NATO, FT reports.

One potential target for Russian strikes identified in the plans is a nuclear complex in Tokai, Japan.

5:14 PM

3 European leaders, Pope Francis receive New Year telegrams from Putin.

While most European countries remain on frosty terms with Russia since the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a handful have retained varying degrees of positive diplomatic relations.

5:04 PM

EU won't be impacted by end of Russian gas transit deal with Ukraine, Deutsche Welle reports.

European infrastructure allows for the flow of gas from other countries, a European Commission representative said.

4:07 PM

Ukrainians paid $24 billion in taxes in 2024, Finance Ministry reports.

This comes a month after President Volodymyr Zelensky signed off on a major tax increase bill on Nov. 28 in a bid to plug Ukraine’s budget deficit.

1:35 PM

Russian attacks damage homes and infrastructure in Kyiv and Sumy oblasts ahead of New Year.

Russian missile and drone attacks injured at least one person and damaged residential buildings and infrastructure in Kyiv and Sumy oblasts on Dec. 31

11:42 AM

Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian helicopter with anti-air missile in first strike of its kind.

During a battle in the Black Sea off the Western tip of occupied Crimea, the special unit Group 13 launched SeeDragon missiles from the Magura drone.

10:54 AM

Zelensky dismisses Presidential Office deputy head.

Mashovets had been in the role since April 2020 under the Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak and oversaw the military direction of the President's Office.

9:34 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 789,550 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,610 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day

5:40 AM

China's Xi tells Putin two countries always move forward 'hand in hand.'

Xi emphasized that China and Russia consistently advance together on a "path of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party," according to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua.

4:58 AM

Oil depot on fire in Russia's Smolensk region following drone attack.

An oil depot in the Yartsevo district of Russia's Smolensk region caught fire following a drone attack overnight on Dec. 31, according to regional authorities.

3:37 AM

Ukraine can help restore stability in Syria after years of Russian interference, Zelensky says.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine has a chance to contribute to restoring stability in Syria following years of Russian interference, emphasizing that this effort will also bolster Ukraine’s own pursuit of peace.

10:51 PM

NATO to strengthen Baltic Sea military presence following suspected underwater cable sabotage.

NATO allies met on Dec. 30 to address the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, following damage to undersea cables connecting Estonia and Finland several days earlier.

9:11 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Kyiv brings back 189 Ukrainians from Russian captivity; US unveils $2.5 billion in aid

9:03 PM

Governors of Kyiv and Poltava oblasts dismissed amid position reshuffles.

Ruslan Kravchenko, the governor of Kyiv Oblast, and Filip Pronin, the governor of Poltava Oblast, were dismissed on Dec. 30 and are expected to be appointed to new positions soon.

8:25 PM

Ukraine quadruples domestic gas transit fees as Russian gas pipeline deal expires.

Ukraine will quadruple gas transit tariffs for its domestic customers starting Jan. 1 when a deal to transport Russian gas through Ukrainian pipes expires, the National Energy Regulatory Commission said during a meeting on Dec. 30.

8:15 PM

Ukraine's police name Russian commander suspected of murder of woman who became symbol of Bucha massacre.

Ukrainian National Police named the Russian commander responsible for the murder of Iryna Filkina, the Ukrainian woman who came to symbolize the mass murder of civilians in Bucha in the early stages of Russia's full-scale invasion when a photo of her hand with a red manicure went viral around the world.

7:48 PM

Ukraine’s exports grew 13% in 2024 amid stabilized port activity, Economy Ministry says.

Preliminary data shows that Ukraine’s exports grew by more than 13% over the past year, primarily due to stabilizing the functioning of Ukrainian seaports, Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on Dec. 30.

7:47 PM

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7:30 PM

Zelensky appoints human rights activist Olha Reshetylova as first military ombudsman.

President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed human rights activist Olha Reshetylova to the newly-created position of military ombudsman on Dec. 30.

7:26 PM

German prosecutors charge 3 with spying for Russia.

The main suspect is 40-year-old Dieter S., a former member of Russian proxy forces in Ukraine who the prosecutors said took pictures of military facilities and planned railway sabotage.

6:20 PM

Kyiv, Damascus hold 'similar view' on Russian military presence in Syria, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed Kyiv's position on Russia's military presence in Syria to leaders of the new Syrian administration during a diplomatic visit to Damascus on Dec. 30, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said at an online meeting attended by the Kyiv Independent.

6:10 PM

Former Armenian defense minister briefly detained in Moscow.

Armenia's former defense minister, Major General Arshak Karapetyan, was detained in Moscow on Dec. 29 and later released, the Armenian Interior Ministry confirmed for the Novosti-Armenia news agency.

5:56 PM

Opinion

I survived a Russian torture camp. So I had to see Assad's Sednaya prison

5:53 PM

Partisans allegedly set ablaze two trains near Moscow destined for occupied Ukrainian territories.

Ukrainian partisans in Russia set fire to two locomotive trains on Dec. 30 destined for occupied regions of Ukraine, according to a Telegram post from Petro Andryushchenko, an advisor to the mayor of the Russian-occupied Mariupol.

5:21 PM

War analysis

Ukraine struck hundreds of targets deep inside Russia in 2024. What did they achieve?