Ukraine war latest: Putin spent Orthodox Christmas at military base church, independent Russian media says
Hello, this is Asami Terajima reporting from Kyiv on day 1,414 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Today's top story:
Editor's note: The top story was corrected to say that Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to attend an Orthodox Christmas service at a military base church, replacing the earlier version that stated he marked Orthodox Christmas there.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to have attended an Orthodox Christmas service at a church in a military base, the Russian independent investigative media outlet Agentstvo reported on Jan. 7.
Agenstvo, citing its analysis from a video released by the Kremlin, said it identified the location as the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, located at the base of the Senezh Special-Purpose Center in Solnechnogorsk, a town about 60 kilometers northwest of Moscow.
The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify Agenstvo's report. Agenstvo noted that, unlike in previous years, the Kremlin did not specify where Putin attended the on-air church service on Christmas, which Russia celebrates on Jan. 7, following the Julian calendar. Moscow has not reacted to Agenstvo's report.
Despite the Russian army suffering immense casualties on the front, Putin claimed, surrounded by a group of military personnel, women, and children, that his troops are celebrating Christmas just as "we all rejoice together in our common victories."
Agenstvo reported that Major General Alexei Galkin, a Ukrainian-born commander of the Senezh Special-Purpose Center, and Alexander Matovnikov, commander of Russia’s Special Operations Forces, took part in the church service with Putin, citing the released video footage.
Kyiv invites Ghana's Foreign Minister to Ukraine for access to recently captured Ghanaian POW
Last updated 9:05 p.m. Kyiv time
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Jan. 7 that he reiterates the invitation to his Ghanaian counterpart, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to visit Ukraine to access a Ghanaian prisoner-of-war (POW), who was recently captured while fighting for Russia.
Sybiha's statement comes a few days after Ablakwa said Ghana has initiated negotiations with Kyiv for the release of the Ghanaian national, whose identity he says has been verified but not disclosed to the public.
Ablakwa said, citing available evidence, that the Ghanaian arrived in Moscow in July 2024 and joined the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian army and recently fought in southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
"Ghanaian diplomats will be granted access to prisoners of war upon their request, in accordance with international humanitarian law, and we stand ready to discuss this issue in a substantive manner," Sybiha said in his post on X.
Ablakwa said Ghana has sent "a special message" to Kyiv and that he is scheduled to travel to Ukraine "in the coming weeks" for negotiations about the POW's release.
The capture of a Ghanaian national fighting for Russia signals Moscow's continued recruitment of foreigners despite the heavy casualties its troops face across Ukraine.
Sybiha said in November 2025 that Ukraine has identified at least 1,436 citizens from 36 African nations fighting for Russia, but stressed that "the actual number could be higher."
Separately, the 63rd Mechanized Brigade fighting in the Lyman sector of eastern Donetsk Oblast reported on Jan. 7 that it captured an African national fighting for Russia, who identified himself as Richard from Uganda, before the New Year.
"A barely alive, frozen African man ran up to one of the checkpoints near Lyman," the 63rd brigade said in its Facebook post, attaching a video of the POW testifying.
"He was unarmed and screaming for help."
Russia attacks 2 ports in Odesa Oblast, killing 2 person and wounding at least 8
Last updated 6:27 p.m. Kyiv time
Russia struck two ports in southern Odesa Oblast, killing two people and wounding at least eight others, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba and local authorities said on Jan. 7.
Without specifying the locations of the ports that suffered the attack, Kuleba said that port facilities, including administrative buildings and oil containers, had sustained damage. He added that the ports continue to operate despite the deadly attack, and that the injured were provided with necessary medical assistance.
"This is another strike by a terrorist country on port infrastructure, which is involved in ensuring world food security," Kuleba said in his Telegram post.
"Russia is deliberately trying to undermine the economy and destroy maritime logistics."
Odesa Oblast is home to seven sea trade ports located on the Black Sea coast.
Ukraine supplied over 1,500 interceptor drones a day to army over past month, defense minister says
Last updated 5:20 p.m. Kyiv time
The Defense Ministry has supplied over 1,500 interceptor drones a day to the army over the past month, achieving "a high average rate," Defense Ministry Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 7
"This made it possible to significantly increase the capabilities of units in countering air targets at various levels — from the front line to the protection of rear regions," Shmyhal said in a Telegram post, praising the December-January results.
Shmyhal's report comes as Russia intensifies the use of Shahed-type drones across the front and in the rear, such as on cities like Kyiv, which are far from the battlefield. Shmyhal has not specified how many of such interceptor drones are meant for Shaheds.
The minister said that the interceptor drones supplied by the Defense Ministry would help the army "quickly meet the needs without waiting for centralized supplies."
Russia trying to accumulate resources in Luhansk Oblast forest, Ukraine says
Last updated 3:20 p.m. Kyiv time
Russia has intensified efforts to accumulate resources in the Serebryansky forest, which is part of both Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, since the New Year, the Ukrainian military reported on Jan. 7.
The 81st Airborne Brigade said its drone strike battalion is working on the ground to cut off Russian logistics to prevent Russia from gathering resources. The brigade has not specified whether Russia is accumulating troops or equipment.
The situation surrounding Dronivka in the northern edge of Donetsk Oblast, located along the Siversky Donets River, remains "tense," with Russia trying to send small groups to go around the village by trying to replenish forward positions, according to the brigade.
Dronivka is located just about five kilometers (about three miles) northwest of Siversk, a town Ukraine withdrew from in December 2025, and less than 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) southeast of Lyman, a key Ukrainian logistics hub.
Russian troops have long waged an intense offensive to advance toward Lyman and capture more Donetsk Oblast territories from the north, while also ramping up pressure down in Pokrovsk to control the last remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities of Donbas.
Russian oil depot in Belgorod Oblast on fire after Ukrainian drone attack, official claims
Last updated 1:30 p.m. Kyiv time
Ukraine's General Staff has confirmed that Ukrainian forces struck a fuel depot in Russia's Belgorod Oblast and a logistics warehouse in occupied Donetsk Oblast overnight on Jan. 7, according to a statement published on Telegram.
The Oskolneftesnab depot, located near the village of Kotel, sustained direct hits to its fuel tanks, triggering a large fire, the General Staff said.
"The oil depot is involved in providing fuel to the occupying army," the agency wrote.
Russian officials and local residents reported the incident earlier, saying a fire broke out at the Stary Oskol oil depot following a Ukrainian drone attack. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed several tanks caught fire and that there were no casualties. Videos of the fire were widely shared on Russian social media on the night of Jan. 6.
In the same operation, Ukrainian forces also hit a logistics warehouse used by Russia’s 20th Motorized Rifle Division on temporarily occupied territory in Donetsk Oblast.
"This strike aimed to disrupt enemy logistics," the General Staff said, adding that the scale of the damage on both sites is still being assessed.
At least 3 killed, 19 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least three people have been killed and 19 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities said on Jan. 7.
The Air Force reported on Jan. 7 that Russian forces attacked Ukraine overnight with one ballistic missile and 95 drones, of which about 60 were of the Shahed-type. It said that Ukraine had downed the missile and 81 of the drones launched by Russia.
In eastern Donetsk Oblast, five people were wounded by Russian attacks over the past day, regional governor Vadym Filashkin said on Jan. 7.
In southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, two people were killed, and nine others were wounded by Russian attacks over the past day, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said on Jan. 7.
In southern Kherson Oblast, a person was killed and five others were wounded by Russian attacks over the past day, regional governor Oleksandr Prokrudin said on Jan. 7.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,214,500 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost around 1,214,500 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Jan. 7.
The number includes 1,040 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,515 tanks, 23,865 armored fighting vehicles, 73,224 vehicles and fuel tanks, 35,857 artillery systems, 1,595 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,269 air defense systems, 434 airplanes, 347 helicopters, 101,849 drones, 28 ships and boats, and two submarines.
