Large fire reported near Moscow

4:38 AM

US sanctions Russian, Iranian groups for election disinformation campaigns.

"The governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns," said the U.S. Treasury Department's acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

2:54 AM

Ukraine has brought back 1,358 people from Russian captivity in 2024.

Over the past year, Ukraine conducted 11 prisoner exchanges and secured the return of 356 more people than in 2023.

1:42 AM

Zelensky says Trump 'willing, capable of achieving peace and ending Putin’s aggression.'

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his New Year video greeting late on Dec. 31 that no one would give peace to his country as a gift, but he believed the United States would stand together with Ukraine as it fights to stop Russia's full-scale invasion.

11:31 PM

4 Ukrainian children return home from Russian-occupied territories.

Since the beginning of 2024, at least 246 children native to Kherson Oblast have been returned from Russian occupation, governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

9:35 PM

2024 was 'hard-won and free,' Zelensky says in New Year's Eve message.

"We Ukrainians know what it means not to wait for what tomorrow will bring, but to fight for every single day, and every year of freedom," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

7:56 PM

Fico's threats to cut off electricity supplies won't work, Ukraine's Energy Minister says.

Herman Halushchenko said Ukraine could compensate for any disruption by importing electricity from Romania and Poland.

7:21 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: In world first, Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian helicopter

6:27 PM

Ukraine strikes oil depot in Russia's Smolensk Oblast, General Staff confirms.

The depot, which supplied the Russian military, was targeted in a coordinated operation involving Ukraine's Special Operations Forces and the Unmanned Systems Forces.

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.