NYT: US creates contingency plans in case Russia uses chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

6:03 PM

Citing Orban’s 'corruption,' Hungarian opposition leader calls for early elections in video address.

Peter Magyar accused Prime Minister Viktor Orban of turning Hungary into "the EU's poorest, most corrupt nation."

5:29 PM

Ukraine strikes Russian command post in Kursk Oblast, General Staff claims.

The strike targeted the 810th Russian Brigade, resulting in significant losses, according to Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s counter-disinformation center.

4:48 PM

Polish farmers to protest Ukrainian imports, EU policies, in Warsaw on Jan 3.

The protest follows a series of demonstrations by Polish farmers against Ukrainian agricultural imports since the start of the full-scale war.

3:06 PM

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 7

2:49 PM

Ukraine downs 2 Russian helicopters in sea drone attack.

Two Russian helicopters were downed in a recent strike by the Ukrainian-made Magura V5 naval strike drones, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported on its Telegram channel. HUR earlier said on Dec. 31 that only one helicopter had been destroyed.

2:06 PM

Leader of German social-democrats supports more phone calls between Scholz and Putin.

“These conversations must be held again and again in order to find out what can be done to finally put an end to the killing and the dying,” the leader of Germany’s social-democratic party (SPD) Saskia Esken told German television news channel N-Tv on Jan. 2.

1:20 PM

Interview

‘Ukraine today is in the strongest position ever,’ ex-foreign minister Kuleba says

12:31 PM

Ukraine’s electricity imports increased more than fivefold in 2024.

Ukraine’s electricity import increased more than fivefold in 2024 to 4.4 million megawatt-hours (MWh), ExPro consulting company’s electricity monitoring data showed on Jan. 2.

12:07 PM

European gas prices rise after Russian gas transit through Ukraine halts.

The rise in gas prices to 51 euros per megawatt-hour is the highest since October 2023.

10:08 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine injure at least 6, kill 4 over past day.

Russia launched 72 drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed ones, against Ukraine overnight on Jan. 2, Ukraine's Air Force reported on its Telegram channel.

9:08 AM

Russian strike kills civilian in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

A Russian attack overnight killed a civilian in the town of Stepnohirsk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported on his Telegram channel on Jan. 2.

8:44 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 792,170 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,370 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

4:04 AM

Ukraine's Navy says it destroyed over 37,000 Russian drones in 2024.

Russia's UAV losses included 35,670 destroyed FPV drones and 1,140 strike drones, the Navy said. Ukrainian units also eliminated 192 operational and tactical drones and another 164 Shahed-136/131 drones.

1:04 AM

Prominent scientists among victims of New Year's Day drone attack in Kyiv.

Married couple Ihor Zyma and Olesia Sokur both worked as scientists with the Institute for Biology and Medicine at the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv. They were killed in a Russian drone strike on Jan. 1.

12:12 AM

Putin orders Russian government, top bank to cooperate with China on AI tech.

Putin told the government and state-owned Sberbank to "ensure further cooperation with the People's Republic of China in technological research and development in the field of artificial intelligence."

11:21 PM

Zelensky offers condolences after deadly New Orleans truck attack.

"Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and we wish a swift recovery to all those injured," Zelensky said. "Ukraine stands with the American people and denounces violence."

10:35 PM

Hungary loses out on about $1 billion in EU aid.

The aid package was conditional on Hungary implementing reforms to bring the country into compliance with EU standards by the end of 2024. Budapest failed to meet the requirements, a European Commission spokesperson said.

9:52 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russia attacks Kyiv on first day of 2025, killing 2, injuring 6

9:34 PM

Moldova to import electricity from Romania, Ukraine as Russia halts gas supply.

Russian Gazprom's decision to halt gas supplies to Moldova resulted in a heating outage in the Russian-controlled region of Transnistria, prompting Chisinau to seek alternative sources of electricity.

7:35 PM

'One of Moscow's biggest defeats' — Zelensky on stopping Russian gas transit via Ukraine.

"Turning energy into a weapon and cynical energy blackmail of partners is what deprived Russia of its most attractive and geographically accessible market," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 1.

6:33 PM

Poland assumes presidency of EU Council, calls security 'top priority.'

"We will do everything to ensure that Europe's security is a reality, not just an aspiration. I hope Poland will lead efforts that result in peace," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

6:03 PM

Russia has lost over 38,000 troops in Kursk Oblast, Syrskyi says.

The Russian army has lost over 38,000 troops and more than 1,000 pieces of equipment since the beginning of Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Jan. 1.

5:43 PM

Ukraine becomes party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

"This means that it (Ukraine) is now a full-fledged state party to this international treaty and has all the rights and obligations assigned to state parties," ICC spokesperson Fadi el-Abdallah told Ukrinform.

4:21 PM

Ukraine stops Russian gas transit via its territory.

Ukraine has repeatedly warned that it would not extend the gas transit agreement when it expires at the end of 2024 because it did not want to finance Russia's war.

2:49 PM

General Staff: Russia has lost 790,800 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,250 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.