Britain's armed forces minister James Heappey told BBC that the possibility of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons was "vanishingly small" and "it suits the Kremlin's narrative to claim that they are somehow in a confrontation with NATO," but it is "nonsense and (Russian Foreign Minister Sergey) Lavrov knows it."
Denis Kapustin, commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), was reported killed in action on Dec. 27.
Several fires were reported at oil facilities in Kaluga Oblast and Krasnodar Krai overnight on Jan. 1, according to Telegram monitoring channels.
Putin's speech avoided any mention of Ukraine, peace talks, or plans to bring the war to an end in 2026.
The report confirms Ukraine's original denial and undercuts claims made by the Kremlin.
Russia launched 205 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.
'All memories of my childhood in Pokrovsk seem like a dream, as if it never really happened.'
Undeclared nuclear reactor components bound for North Korea were allegedly aboard the Ursa Major when it sank off Spain in 2024, with damage consistent with a torpedo strike, according to Spain’s La Verdad.
Russia attacked several Ukrainian regions with drones overnight on Jan. 1, striking energy infrastructure in southern Odesa Oblast.
"A Budapest-style piece of paper will not satisfy Ukraine. Ukraine does not need a Minsk-style meticulously drafted trap. My signature will be under a strong agreement," Zelensky said in his address on Dec. 31.
Early in the morning on Dec. 31, the Finnish telecommunications service provider Elisa reported that an undersea cable linking Finland and Estonia had been damaged. The cargo ship Fitburg, sailing from Russia, may have been responsible.
The four independent members of the new board have been unanimously approved, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said. Three additional state representatives will be selected for the board in the beginning of January 2026.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, speaking to Reuters, called the footage "laughable."
Ukraine's military reportedly struck oil depots in the various Russian and Russian-occupied regions late on Dec. 30, Russian Telegram media channels reported.
Targets included Russia's Tuapse Oil Refinery, the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal, a Rosreserv oil base, a temporary military base for river boats, and ammunition depots in occupied Ukraine, the General Staff said.
