Ukrainian Christmas: Traditions and hope in the midst of war

1:30 AM

3,800 North Korean troops killed or injured in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Zelensky says.

A total of 3,800 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman on Jan. 5.

8:56 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine launches new offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast, mixed reports surface on outcome

7:11 PM

Uzbek court sentences man for participating in war against Ukraine on Russian side.

A court in Uzbekistan sentenced a 39-year-old man to four years and two months of restricted freedom for participating in Russia's war against Ukraine, gazeta.uz reported on Jan. 5.

5:59 PM

Syrskyi orders to reinforce French-trained brigade with drones after reports of mismanagement.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi’s statements came following a media investigation claimed that soldiers of the unit, now deployed near Pokrovsk, have suffered losses and went AWOL (absent without leave) in large numbers due to poor command and organization on Ukraine's side.

4:13 PM

Scholz denies claims that he could meet with Putin in Russia.

Roderich Kiesewetter, defense spokesperson for Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said earlier that "there are increasing indications that Chancellor Scholz will travel to Moscow and meet Putin before Feb. 23."

2:59 PM

More than 50,000 foreign parts found in Russian drones, missiles launched at Ukraine this week, Zelensky says.

Russian troops launched more than 630 attack drones, around 740 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 50 missiles of various types this week, targeting settlements across Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

2:20 PM

Over 54,000 Russian targets were hit with Ukrainian drones in December, Syrskyi says.

A total of 49% of the targets were struck by kamikaze drones, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

1:33 PM

Ukraine launches new offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast, mixed reports surface on outcome.

Ukrainian troops attacked Russian forces in several directions in Kursk Oblast, Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s counter-disinformation center, claimed on Jan. 5. Reports by Russian pro-war Telegram channels have echoed the statement, saying that a new Kyiv offensive is underway.

12:10 PM

Russian Storm Ossetia battalion chief of staff killed in Ukrainian drone attack, military intelligence claims.

Ukrainian Kraken unit killed Sergei Melnikov, the chief of staff of Russia's Storm Ossetia battalion, and his driver in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast in late December, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported on Jan. 5.

10:27 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 1, injure at least 36 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 61 out of 103 drones, including the Shahed-type ones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Another 42 drones were "lost," it added.

9:09 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 796,490 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,730 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:57 AM

Ukrainian educator and philologist Oleksii Halionka killed in Chernihiv missile strike.

Oleksii Halionka, a 72-year-old Ukrainian educator and philologist, was killed on 3 January 2025 when a Russian missile hit his home in Chernihiv.

4:08 AM

Georgian businesses and employees to carry out nationwide strike demanding new elections.

Georgian citizens are being urged to participate in a nationwide strike on Jan. 15 to demand the release of detained protestors and to call for new elections, Protest 24 posted on Facebook.

1:21 AM

Russian commander linked to deadly strike in Ukraine severely injured in Russia after explosion.

Russian commander Konstantin Nagayko, who was involved in the 2023 missile strike on Hroza, is in critical condition following an explosion, the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported on January 4.

11:37 PM

German opposition suggests Scholz could meet Putin before end of February.

"There are increasing indications that Chancellor Scholz will travel to Moscow and meet Putin before February 23," Roderich Kiesewetter, defense spokesperson for Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said on X.

10:24 PM

Drone kills Russian journalist in occupied Donetsk Oblast, wounds 5 others, Russian media reports.

Russia’s Izvestia newspaper reported on Jan. 4 that a Ukrainian "kamikaze" drone attack killed one of its freelance reporters, Alexander Martemyanov, while he was traveling on a highway in occupied eastern Ukraine.

9:33 PM

Heavy Russian, North Korean losses in Russia's Kursk region, Zelensky says.

"In battles yesterday and today near a single village, Makhnovka, in Kursk region, the Russian army lost up to a battalion of North Korean infantry soldiers and Russian paratroops," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Jan. 4.

4:47 PM  (Updated:  January 4, 2025 7:51 pm)

Russia strikes residential building in Sumy Oblast, injuring at least 10, including children.

Russian forces carried out the strike using glide bombs that were dropped directly on the building and destroyed one of its blocks.

5:52 PM

Over 20 foreign citizens to be deported from Georgia for participating in protests.

The Migration Department of the Georgian Interior Ministry has initiated expulsion proceedings against 25 foreign nationals.

4:43 PM

Transnistria urges residents to heat stoves with wood amid significant gas shortages.

Some 1,500 high-rise buildings in Transnistria are currently without heating and hot water, and nearly 72,000 homes are without gas.

4:26 PM

Human story

As government cuts support, some internally displaced Ukrainians return home — to Russian occupation

4:18 PM

Russian soldiers near Toretsk disguise as civilians to bypass Ukrainian positions, military says.

The commander's statement comes after reports on Russian forces starting to move toward the town of Toretsk.

2:24 PM

Drones reportedly target one of Russia's largest sea trade ports in Leningrad Oblast.

Most of the drones that attacked Leningrad Oblast were shot down over the terminal of Novotrans, a Russian transportation and logistics company.

12:54 PM

Russia launches over 300 drones, 20 missiles at Ukraine in first 3 days of new year, Zelensky says.

President Volodymyr Zelensky added that the Russian army also strikes settlements close to the front line with guided aerial bombs every day.

12:49 PM

Slovak state energy company to continue supplying electricity to Ukraine despite Fico's threats.

Slovakia's state-controlled transmission system operator SEPS said it will continue supplying electricity to Ukraine as part of an emergency assistance contract.