Associated Press: Zelensky to visit Washington DC on Dec. 21

9:57 AM

Russia has recruited up to 180,000 convicts for war against Ukraine, Foreign Intelligence Service says.

There were about 300,000-350,000 prisoners in Russian colonies and prisons in 2024, which is half as many as in 2014, Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service said.

9:50 AM

Kursk incursion had 'big impact' on Global South countries, Zelensky says.

"I never thought it would have such a big impact on them because they were so influenced by the idea of 'invincible Russia,'" President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview on Ukrainian television released on Jan. 2.

9:03 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure at least 13 over past day.

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed two people and injured at least 13 others over the past day, regional authorities said on Jan. 3.

8:53 AM

'We would violate Ukrainian legislation on behalf of Putin' — Zelensky again rejects elections under martial law.

Ukraine will not hold elections under martial law even if Russia puts it forward as one of the pre-conditions for negotiations, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview on Ukrainian television released on Jan. 2.

8:13 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 793,250 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,080 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

4:21 AM

Kerch Strait oil spill significantly smaller than initially thought, Russia claims.

The amount of oil spilled in the Kerch Strait by two Russian oil tankers is "significantly less than the initial estimate," Russia's Transport Ministry claimed on Jan. 2.

2:35 AM

Ukraine

'Trump can be decisive in ending war' — Zelensky on Ukraine's outlook for 2025.

2:21 AM

US looking into restricting or banning drones made by 'foreign adversaries,' including China, Russia.

The Bureau of Industry and Security said on Jan. 2 that the involvement of foreign adversaries in "supply chains, including acute threats from China and Russia – may offer our adversaries the ability to remotely access and manipulate these devices, exposing sensitive U.S. data."

9:51 PM

Transnistria faces industrial collapse after Russian gas suspension, senior official says.

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean has criticized the Kremlin for using energy as a "political weapon."

9:06 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Kyiv strikes Russian command post in Kursk Oblast, General Staff claims.

8:22 PM

Slovakia may cut aid to Ukrainian refugees over Russian gas transit halt, PM Fico says.

The announcement follows Robert Fico's earlier threats to cut off electricity exports to Ukraine.

8:05 PM

Finland's Fingrid requests seizure of Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker over suspected cable sabotage.

The damaged cable is one of several recent incidents in the Baltic Sea under investigation as possible acts of sabotage.

7:30 PM

Ukraine to conduct review of Ground Forces command, defense minister announces.

"Victory requires a deep analysis of experience, and an honest understanding of mistakes," Rustem Umerov said.

6:37 PM

Russia loses key leverage over Europe after Ukraine halts gas transit, FM Sybiha says.

Ukraine terminated Russian natural gas transit through its territory on Jan. 1.

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 downed 2 Russian helicopters in sea drone attack, HUR says.

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.