Ukraine and Russia exchanged drone strikes on each other’s energy grids as the New Year began, according to local officials.
Ukrainian drones on Thursday struck an energy storage facility in the Russian city of Almetyevsk, causing a fire that has since been extinguished, Russian media cited the press service of the local governor as saying.
Ukraine's military said on Thursday it had hit Russia's Ilsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region overnight, as well as the Almetevskaya oil preparation facility in Russia's Tatarstan region.
Meanwhile, a Russian drone attack damaged power infrastructure in several Ukrainian regions overnight, Ukraine's energy ministry said on Thursday. The governor of Volyn said more than 103,000 households in that region had lost power as a result of the attack.
The strikes come as Volodymyr Zelensky said in his New Year’s Eve address that Ukraine is “10 per cent” away from a deal to end the war with Russia, but not “at any cost”.
Kyiv is also discussing the possibility of hosting US troops as part of peace talks with US president Donald Trump.
Key Points
- Ukrainian drones strike energy storage facility in Russia's Tatarstan, local governor says
- Ukraine says overnight Russian drone attack damaged power infrastructure
- Ukraine's military says it hit Russia's Ilsky refinery
- Ukraine '10 per cent away' from peace deal, Zelensky says
- Russian 'proof' of attack on Putin home laughable, Kyiv says
- Civilian Ukrainian deaths and injuries rose in 2025
Ukrainian military says it attacks Russian military or energy sites
03:00 , Rebecca WhittakerKyiv's forces exclusively targeted Russian military or energy sites, a Ukrainian military spokesperson said when asked about a drone strike on a hotel in a Russian-held part of Kherson region.
Speaking to Interfax Ukraine news agency on Thursday they said: "The Defence Forces of Ukraine adhere to the norms of international humanitarian law and strike exclusively at enemy military targets, fuel and energy facilities of the Russian Federation, and other legitimate targets...,"
Watch Russia-Ukraine War: One Year On
02:00 , Rebecca WhittakerSam Kiley, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor, charts the 2025 Ukraine–Russia war timeline, detailing battlefield shifts, strained diplomacy, wavering support and the mounting civilian toll — with no end in sight.
Zelensky reveals plans for three 'peace' meetings
01:00 , Rebecca WhittakerA meeting of national security advisors “focused on peace” is set to take place in Ukraine this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
It’s set to be followed by a meeting of the military and of European leaders and the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing.
“Politically, almost everything is ready, and it is important to work through every detail of how the guarantees will function in the air, on land, and at sea – if we succeed in ending the war. And this is the key goal for all normal people,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
Rustem Umerov is in contact with the American team and our partners in Europe every single day. We are preparing formats and important meetings. On January 3, a meeting of national security advisors will take place in Ukraine. This is the first such meeting in Ukraine and it is… pic.twitter.com/KbZWegi7ze
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 1, 2026
Putin vows victory in Ukraine in defiant New Year’s address
00:00 , Tara CobhamRussian President Vladimir Putin has vowed victory in Ukraine in a defiant speech despite US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war.
Putin used his annual televised New Year's address to rally his troops fighting in Ukraine, saying he believed in them and in victory in a war that he has framed as part of an existential struggle with the West.
It comes as Trump is trying to broker an end to the nearly four-year-old conflict, Europe's bloodiest conflagration since World War Two, with both sides' negotiating stances still far apart.
Read more here:
Residential building damaged in Russian attack on Odesa but no casualties, local official says
23:00 , Tara CobhamRussia attacked the Ukrainian region of Odesa overnight, targeting civilian infrastructure in several waves of drone attacks, according to regional head Oleh Kiper.
In a post on Telegram, he said a two-storey residential building was damaged and a drone hit an apartment on the 17th floor of a high-rise building without detonating. There were no casualties reported.
In depth: Did Ukraine launch 91-drone attack on Putin’s presidential residence – or is it a Russian show for Trump?
22:00 , Tara CobhamRussia’s claim that Ukraine launched a 91-drone strike on Vladimir Putin’s personal residence has threatened to derail months of talks over a peace deal to end Moscow’s invasion.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has called the claims a “complete fabrication” intended to lay the groundwork for future strikes on Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine.
“I am sure they are simply preparing the ground for strikes, probably on the capital, probably on government buildings,” he said.
Maira Butt reports:
Did Ukraine launch a strike on Putin’s residence – or is it a Russian show for Trump?
Watch: Russia releases video of drone it says was used in alleged attack on Putin residence
21:00 , Tara CobhamPictured: scenes from the front line
20:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
Zelensky says Trump considering deploying US troops to Ukraine
20:00 , Tara CobhamUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is discussing the possibility of hosting US troops as part of peace talks with US President Donald Trump.
Mr Zelensky said that a US troop presence in Ukraine would provide significant security guarantees for Kyiv.
The White House declined to comment on the issue.
Read more here:
Zelensky says Trump considering deploying US troops to Ukraine
Zelensky reveals plans for three 'peace' meetings
19:02 , Rebecca WhittakerA meeting of national security advisors “focused on peace” is set to take place in Ukraine this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
It’s set to be followed by a meeting of the military and of European leaders and the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing.
“Politically, almost everything is ready, and it is important to work through every detail of how the guarantees will function in the air, on land, and at sea – if we succeed in ending the war. And this is the key goal for all normal people,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
Rustem Umerov is in contact with the American team and our partners in Europe every single day. We are preparing formats and important meetings. On January 3, a meeting of national security advisors will take place in Ukraine. This is the first such meeting in Ukraine and it is… pic.twitter.com/KbZWegi7ze
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 1, 2026
Ukraine's air force says it downed 176 of 205 drones overnight
19:00 , Tara CobhamIn its daily report, Ukraine's air force said defence forces had downed or suppressed 176 of 205 drones targeting the country overnight.
It said hits by 24 strike drones were recorded at 15 locations.
Trump riffed on Ukraine’s ‘beautiful’ women during peace talks and called former Miss Ukraine to speak with Zelensky, report says
18:00 , Tara CobhamDuring an August meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Donald Trump reportedly interrupted discussions to make remarks about “beautiful” women from Ukraine and then arranged for former Miss Ukraine to speak with the Zelensky over the phone, according to a new report.
Just days after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, the U.S. president met with Zelensky and seven other European leaders in the Oval Office, where discussions about the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia took a more lighthearted turn.
Amid conversation, Trump reportedly interjected that “Ukrainian women are beautiful,” citing his time overseeing the Miss Universe pageant, according to the New York Times.
Ariana Baio reports:
Trump riffed on Ukraine’s ‘beautiful’ women during peace talks with Zelensky
Watch: Putin warns Russia will accomplish goals by force if Ukraine doesn’t want to resolve conflict peacefully
17:00 , Tara CobhamUkraine's lead peace negotiator says he met Turkey's foreign minister
15:53 , Tara CobhamUkraine's top negotiator in US-brokered peace talks, Rustem Umerov, said he met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday in Ankara.
Umerov, who is also Ukraine's security council secretary, said the two men discussed the negotiation process and next steps, with particular attention to humanitarian issues and the return of Ukrainians held by Russia.
Ukrainian drones hit targets in three Russian regions, local officials say
15:30 , Tara CobhamUkrainian drones struck energy and industrial targets across the Russian regions of Krasnodar, Tatarstan and Kaluga overnight, local officials said on Thursday, and the Ukrainian military confirmed it had carried out two of the three attacks.
In the southern region of Krasnodar, debris from a drone hit the Ilskiy oil refinery in Krasnodar, causing no casualties but igniting a fire that was later extinguished, local authorities said.
In the oil-rich Volga River region of Tatarstan, around 1,400 km (870 miles) from Ukraine, Russian media cited the local governor's press service as saying that an energy storage facility in the city of Almetyevsk had been hit, causing a blaze that was later put out.
A third strike caused a fire at an unnamed industrial facility in the town of Lyudinovo in the Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, local governor Vyacheslav Shapsha said in a statement.
The Ukrainian military confirmed in a statement that it had struck the facilities in Krasnodar and Tatarstan. Kyiv has been intensifying strikes against Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, aiming to cut off Moscow's sources of financing for its military campaign in Ukraine.
Russia says it will give US proof of attempted Ukrainian strike on Putin residence
15:00 , Tara CobhamRussia said on Thursday it had extracted and decoded a file from a Ukrainian drone downed earlier this week that it said shows it had been targeting a Russian presidential residence and that it would hand over the relevant information to the United States.
Moscow accused Kyiv on Monday of trying to strike a residence of President Vladimir Putin in Russia's northern Novgorod region with 91 long-range attack drones. It said Russia would review its negotiating position in ongoing talks with the US on ending the Ukraine war.
Ukraine and Western countries have disputed Russia's account of the alleged attempted strike.
In a statement posted on Telegram on Thursday, Russia's Defence Ministry said: "Decryption of routing data revealed that the final target of the Ukrainian drone attack on December 29, 2025, was a facility at the Russian Presidential Residence in the Novgorod region."
"These materials will be transferred to the American side through the established channels," it added.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that US national security officials had found Ukraine did not target Putin or one of his residences in a drone strike. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
Ukraine has denied carrying out such an attack and described the accusation as part of a Russian disinformation campaign meant to drive a wedge between Kyiv and Washington after a weekend meeting between Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine cannot afford delays in air defence supplies, Zelensky says
14:30 , Tara CobhamUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia's holiday season attacks showed Ukraine could not afford delays in air defence supplies.
"(Our) allies have the names of equipment which we are lacking. We expect that everything agreed with the United States at the end of December for our defence will arrive on time," he said, without clarifying further.
Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday to negotiate a peace framework to end the nearly four-year war. Both leaders have said they are close to an agreement, but thorny issues around post-war control of territories remain.
Ukraine condemns Russian new year drone attack on power infrastructure
14:00 , Tara CobhamA Russian drone attack damaged power infrastructure in several Ukrainian regions overnight, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday, while Moscow accused Ukraine of carrying out a deadly new year attack in a Russian-controlled part of Ukraine.
"On New Year, Russia deliberately brings war. Over 200 attack drones were launched onto Ukraine in the night," Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Zelensky said energy infrastructure in seven regions across Ukraine had been targeted.
Australian man reportedly killed fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia
13:30 , Tara CobhamAustralian authorities are trying to confirm reports that a national was reportedly killed while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia.
The man, identified in social media posts as Russell Allan Wilson, was killed on 12 December in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, according to local media reports.
In an Instagram post on 19 December, a man identifying himself as a US army veteran said Wilson had been killed during combat and had chosen to remain in Ukraine despite the risks.
Stuti Mishra reports:
Australian man reportedly killed fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia
Watch: One year on in the Russia-Ukraine war
13:00 , Tara CobhamUkraine's military says it hit Russia's Ilsky refinery
12:30 , Tara CobhamUkraine's military said on Thursday it had hit Russia's Ilsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region overnight, adding that the results of the attack were still being confirmed.
In a statement on Telegram, the military also said it hit the Almetevskaya oil preparation facility in Russia's Tatarstan region.
The Almetevskaya facility is more than 600 miles (965 km) from the nearest part of Ukraine, and even further from the nearest territory currently controlled by Kyiv.
Ukraine says overnight Russian drone attack damaged power infrastructure
12:00 , Tara CobhamRussian drone attack damaged power infrastructure in several Ukrainian regions overnight, Ukraine's energy ministry said on Thursday.
The ministry said a "significant number" of households in the Volyn and Odesa regions - in northwestern and southwestern Ukraine, respectively - were disconnected from power supplies by the strike, as well as some in the Chernihiv region north of the capital Kyiv.
The governor of Volyn said more than 103,000 households in that region had lost power as a result of the attack. Volyn region is several hundred kilometres from the front line and borders NATO member Poland.
Ukrainian drones strike energy storage facility in Russia's Tatarstan, local governor says
11:30 , Tara CobhamUkrainian drones on Thursday struck an energy storage facility in the Russian city of Almetyevsk, causing a fire that has since been extinguished, Russian media cited the press service of the local governor as saying.
Kyiv has been intensifying strikes against Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, aiming to cut off Moscow's sources of financing for its military campaign in Ukraine.
Almetyevsk is located around 1,700 km (1,056 miles) from Ukrainian-held territory, in the oil-rich Volga river region of Tatarstan.
Ukraine says it has deployed two new Patriot air defence systems
11:00 , Tara CobhamUkraine's Defence Ministry said on Thursday it had deployed two new Patriot air defence systems received from Germany as part of military aid supplies announced previously.
"Two more Patriot air defence systems have been deployed to protect Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure," the ministry said in a post on Telegram.
Germany said last August that it would deliver two Patriot systems to Ukraine after reaching an agreement with the US that Berlin would be first in line to receive the latest systems in return.
Pictures of damaged building released by pro-Russian media after Ukraine accused of deadly strike
10:30 , Tara CobhamPictures of a badly damaged building have been released by pro-Russian media after the Russian-installed governor of Kherson accused Ukraine of killing at least 24 people in a drone strike.
In a statement on the Telegram messaging service. issued on Thursday, the governor, Vladimir Saldo, alleged a child was among the dead after the attack on a hotel and cafe where New Year celebrations were being held.
A local pro-Russian news outlet published pictures where it said the strike took place, with at least one dead body visible beneath a white sheet. The building showed signs that a fierce fire had raged and there were what looked like blood stains on the ground.
Ukraine's military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The images or allegations could not be independently verified.
Zelensky sends New Year's message calling for peace
10:00 , Tara CobhamVolodymyr Zelensky has sent a New Year's message calling for peace.
In a post on X alongside a picture of him and his wife Olena Zelenska, he said: “We believe in peace, we fight for it, and we work to achieve it.”
Another year is passing, hard-won through dedication and tenacity, through principles and the daily effort of Ukrainians.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 31, 2025
This year was made possible thanks to our defenders – those who stood their ground not only for Ukraine, but also for all who value freedom and dignity.… pic.twitter.com/cFA6tfJVlg
Russian losses in Ukraine rising faster than ever, finds new analysis
09:30 , Tara CobhamRussian losses in the war in Ukraine have been growing at a faster rate than at any point so far since the invasion began in February 2022, new analysis suggests.
Analysis by the BBC found that 40 per cent more obituaries of soldiers were published in Russia this year compared with 2024.
The broadcaster, along with independent outlet Mediazona, compiled a list of named individuals using official reports, newspapers and social media, as well as new memorials and graves. In total, they were able to confirm the names of around 160,000 people who have been killed.
Maira Butt reports:
Russian losses in Ukraine rising faster than ever, finds new analysis
Watch: Zelensky says peace ‘10 away’ but won’t sign ‘weak’ deal
09:00 , Tara CobhamRussian-installed Kherson governor accuses Ukraine of killing 24 in New Year drone strike
08:30 , Tara CobhamThe Russian-installed governor of Ukraine's southern Kherson region on Thursday accused Ukraine of killing at least 24 people in a drone strike on a hotel and cafe where New Year celebrations were being held.
The governor, Vladimir Saldo, made the allegation in a statement on the Telegram messaging service.
Ukraine's military did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment, and Saldo did not provide visuals or other evidence that would enable Reuters to immediately verify the allegation.
Saldo alleged in his post that three Ukrainian drones had struck the site of new New Year celebrations in Khorly, a coastal village, in what he said was a "deliberate strike".
Russian state news agencies reported that at least 24 people had been killed and 29 more injured, citing the local branch of Russia's emergencies ministry.
Kherson is one of four regions in Ukraine, which Russia claimed as its own in 2022, a move Kyiv and most Western countries condemned as an illegal land grab.
Russian air defences down five Moscow-bound drones, mayor says
08:00 , Stuti MishraRussian air defence units shot down five Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow on New Year’s Eve, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.
In a series of posts on Telegram early this morning, Sobyanin said specialist crews were examining fragments from the drones at the sites where they had fallen.
He made no mention of any casualties or damage.
Temporary restrictions were placed on Moscow’s Domodedovo airport, while other airports in southern and central Russia also faced brief flight restrictions.
Russian losses rising faster than ever, analysis finds
07:30 , Stuti MishraRussian losses in Ukraine rising faster than ever, finds new analysis
Full story: Did Ukraine launch 91-drone attack on Putin’s residence?
07:00 , Stuti MishraDid Ukraine launch a strike on Putin’s residence – or is it a Russian show for Trump?
Zelensky meets advisers from US, UK, France and Germany
06:30 , Stuti MishraPresident Donald Trump's advisers have held talks today with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and national security advisers from the UK, France and Germany to discuss the next steps in ending Russia's war, US special envoy Steve Witkoff says.
"We focused on how to move the discussions forward in a practical way on behalf of @POTUS' peace process, including strengthening security guarantees and developing effective deconfliction mechanisms to help end the war and ensure it does not restart," Witkoff wrote in a social media post.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Ukraine's top negotiator Rustem Umerov also participated.
Zelensky said on Tuesday that national security advisers from Kyiv's "coalition of the willing" backers would meet in Ukraine on Saturday, and then country leaders would gather in France on Tuesday, 6 January.
.@SecRubio @jaredkushner and I just had a productive call with National Security Advisors Jonathan Powell of the United Kingdom, Emmanuel Bonne of France, Günter Sautter of Germany, and @rustem_umerov @ZelenskyyUa to discuss advancing the next steps in the European peace process.…
— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) December 31, 2025
Zelensky says he will not sign a 'weak' peace agreement
06:00 , Stuti MishraIn his New Year's Eve address, Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine wanted the war to end, but not at any cost, adding he would not sign a "weak" peace agreement.
"What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No. We want an end to the war but not the end of Ukraine.
"Are we tired? Very. Does this mean we are ready to surrender? Anyone who thinks so is deeply mistaken."
Zelensky said any signature "placed on weak agreements only fuel the war."
"My signature will be placed on a strong agreement. And that is exactly what every meeting, every phone call, every decision is about now," he said.
Over 170,000 people left without power after Russian strikes
05:30 , Stuti MishraUkraine’s energy ministry has reported that 170,000 people have been left without power after Russian strikes on energy infrastructure in the Odesa region.
In a statement, it said that emergency repairs were ongoing.
Four apartment buildings were damaged in the bombing. Six people were injured including three children.
Oleh Kiper, the regional head said the attacks “are further evidence of the enemy's terror tactics, which deliberately target civilian infrastructure.”
Putin claims 'victory is near' in New Year’s address
05:00 , Stuti MishraVladimir Putin called the ongoing war "a struggle for Russia’s homeland" in his New Year’s address as he signalled determination to press ahead despite international condemnation for his invasion of Ukraine.
"We believe in you and our victory," Putin said in remarks broadcast nationwide and released by the Kremlin yesterday. Addressing troops directly, he congratulated "all our soldiers and commanders" and pledged continued support for what Moscow calls its "special military operation."
In a separate message, ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, Putin’s security council deputy, said of victory in Ukraine: "I sincerely believe that it is near." Echoing Putin, he spoke of "our great and invincible Russia."
Top EU diplomat calls Russian claims 'deliberate distraction'
04:30 , Stuti MishraThe EU foreign policy chief on Wednesday dismissed the Kremlin's claim that Ukraine recently targeted key government sites in Russia, calling it a "deliberate distraction."
"No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor who has indiscriminately targeted Ukraine's infrastructure and civilians since the start of the war," Kaja Kallas wrote on US social media company X.
She argued that Moscow seeks to "derail real progress towards peace by Ukraine and its Western partners."
Russia’s claim that Ukraine recently targeted key government sites in Russia is a deliberate distraction. Moscow aims to derail real progress towards peace by Ukraine and its Western partners.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) December 31, 2025
No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor who has indiscriminately…
Putin boasts of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus
04:00 , Jane DaltonIn case you missed it:
Putin raises stakes and deploys nuclear-ready missiles in Belarus
Ukraine '10% away' from peace deal, says Zelensky
03:29 , Stuti MishraVolodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was "10 per cent" away from a deal to end the war with Russia, but cautioned that the last remaining issues were the most important.
In his New Year's Eve address, Zelensky said his country wanted an end to the war but not at "any cost", and that any agreement needed strong security guarantees to deter Russia from invading again.
"The peace agreement is 90 per cent ready. Ten per cent remains. And that is far more than just numbers," Zelensky said in the address, posted on his Telegram account.
Editorial: Zelensky can buy Europe 15 years
03:00 , Jane DaltonIn case you missed it:
President Zelensky would gain more in diplomatic goodwill from the White House by signing a deal – any deal – than he would lose in Ukrainian security, and he should accept the US guarantee – and press his more loyal allies in Europe to take on the role of the real guarantors of Ukraine’s borders.
Zelensky can buy Europe 15 years to finally get its act together
Finland seizes cargo ship from Russia accused of damaging undersea cable
02:00 , Jane Dalton
Cargo ship accused of damaging Baltic Sea cable seized by Finland
Russian 'proof' of attack on Putin home laughable, says Kyiv
01:00 , Jane DaltonVideo footage presented by Russia as evidence of an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on Vladimir Putin's residence earlier this week was laughable, a spokesperson for Ukraine's foreign ministry has said.
Russia's defence ministry released video footage on Wednesday of what it said was a downed drone.
It showed a Russian serviceman standing next to fragments of a device said to be a downed Ukrainian Chaklun-V drone carrying a 6kg explosive device that had not detonated.
The ministry did not explain how it knew what the device's target was.
Heorhii Tykhyi, of Kyiv’s foreign ministry, told Reuters: "This is laughable – both the fact that it took them two days to produce this, and the fact that the things they try to present as evidence basically shows that they are not serious even about fabricating the story."
"We are absolutely confident that no such attack took place."
Civilian Ukrainian deaths and injuries rising
Wednesday 31 December 2025 23:59 , Jane DaltonMore than 2,300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and more than 11,000 were injured from January to November this year, according to the United Nations.
That was 26 per cent higher than in the same period in 2024 and 70 per cent higher than in 2023, it said.
Moscow has this year escalated its long-range attacks on urban areas of Ukraine. In recent months, as Russia’s invasion of its neighbour approaches its four-year milestone in February, it has also intensified its targeting of energy infrastructure, seeking to deny Ukrainians heat and running water in the bitter winter months.
In numbers: Russian drones, bombs and missiles aimed at Ukraine in 2025
Wednesday 31 December 2025 23:00 , Jane DaltonRussia launched more than 100,000 drones, around 60,000 guided aerial bombs, and about 2,400 missiles at Ukraine this year, according to Ukrainian statistics.
Air raid alerts sounded 19,033 times across the country in the year.
The data comes from the Air Force of Ukraine and United24, which is the Ukrainian government’s official fundraising platform.
Opinion: Paranoid Putin will never be a peacemaker
Wednesday 31 December 2025 22:00 , Jane DaltonThe Russian leader is trying to navigate between keeping Donald Trump on board as a de facto partner in geopolitics, while frustrating his ambitions to be a peacemaker worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize by ending the world’s worst war, writes Mark Almond, director of the Crisis Research Institute, Oxford:
This mysterious ‘drone attack’ shows paranoid Putin will never be a peacemaker
Watch: What 2025 brought Ukraine
Wednesday 31 December 2025 20:55 , Jane DaltonBy The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
Russian drones blast Odesa, injuring six, including children - full report
Wednesday 31 December 2025 19:55 , Jane Dalton
Russian drones blast Ukraine's Odesa and injure 6, including children
Zelensky meets advisers from US, UK, France and Germany
Wednesday 31 December 2025 18:55 , Jane DaltonPresident Donald Trump's advisers have held talks today with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and national security advisers from the UK, France and Germany to discuss the next steps in ending Russia's war, US special envoy Steve Witkoff says.
"We focused on how to move the discussions forward in a practical way on behalf of @POTUS' peace process, including strengthening security guarantees and developing effective deconfliction mechanisms to help end the war and ensure it does not restart," Mr Witkoff wrote in a social media post.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Ukraine's top negotiator Rustem Umerov also participated.
Mr Zelensky said on Tuesday that national security advisers from Kyiv's "coalition of the willing" backers would meet in Ukraine on Saturday, and then country leaders would gather in France on Tuesday, 6 January.
.@SecRubio @jaredkushner and I just had a productive call with National Security Advisors Jonathan Powell of the United Kingdom, Emmanuel Bonne of France, Günter Sautter of Germany, and @rustem_umerov @ZelenskyyUa to discuss advancing the next steps in the European peace process.…
— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) December 31, 2025
Did Ukraine launch 91-drone attack on Putin’s residence?
Wednesday 31 December 2025 18:04 , Jane DaltonDid Ukraine launch a strike on Putin’s residence – or is it a Russian show for Trump?
Russia's top general has told troops to keep carving out buffer zones in Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv regions to protect civilians in Russia's neighbouring Kursk and Belgorod regions from Ukrainian attacks.
General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, was visiting a command post of Russia's "North" military grouping.
There was no immediate reaction from Ukraine to Mr Gerasimov's comments, but Kyiv has repeatedly condemned Moscow's efforts to carve out buffer zones inside its territory, accusing Russia of using the pretext of security zones to illegally grab more of its territory.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Moscow's plans for Sumy and Kharkiv are mad and will be resisted.
Ukraine hits two more Russian oil facilities
Wednesday 31 December 2025 16:51 , Jane DaltonUkraine's military says it has struck an oil refinery in the southern Russian port of Tuapse and an oil terminal on the Taman peninsula in Russia's Krasnodar region.
Kyiv's General Staff added that processing units at the refinery and two piers at the Krasnodar terminal had been damaged.
The attacks are separate from the earlier drone attack on the key Temp oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, north of Moscow.
Russian losses rising faster than ever, analysis finds
Wednesday 31 December 2025 16:10 , Jane DaltonRussian losses in Ukraine rising faster than ever, finds new analysis
Putin confident of Russian victory
Wednesday 31 December 2025 15:30 , Jane DaltonRussian leader Vladimir Putin has expressed confidence in his country's eventual victory in the war.
In his traditional new year’s address to the nation, he gave special praise to troops deployed in Ukraine, describing them as heroes "fighting for your native land, truth and justice".
"We believe in you and our victory," Mr Putin said, as cited by Russian state news agency Tass.
He delivered his recorded speech against the backdrop of a snowy Kremlin, a tradition broken only in 2022 - the year the invasion began - when the Russian leader gave his address flanked by men and women in military fatigues.
Moscow and Kyiv exchange drone attacks
Wednesday 31 December 2025 15:00 , Jane DaltonUkraine's air force says Russia fired 127 drones at the country during the night, 101 of them intercepted by air defences.
The Russian defence ministry said 86 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over Russian regions, the Black Sea and the Crimea peninsula – which was illegally annexed.
Trump should come to Ukraine, says Zelensky
Wednesday 31 December 2025 14:30 , Jane DaltonUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly suggested his US counterpart visit Ukraine.
"He talks about advocating a plan to end the war," Mr Zelensky said of Donald Trump, answering questions in a group WhatsApp chat with reporters, according to ABC News.
"I told him that we would be glad to see him. It is very useful for Ukraine,” he said.
“If US President Trump flies to Ukraine – and it is desirable that he flies by plane not to Poland, but to Ukraine – this will indicate that we definitely have the opportunity to count on a ceasefire," Mr Zelensky said.
On Sunday, the Ukrainian leader met Mr Trump at his at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
Ukraine scores drone hit on key Russian fuel hub
Wednesday 31 December 2025 14:09 , Jane DaltonUkrainian long-range drones struck the Temp oil depot in the Russian city of Rybinsk, an official from Kyiv's SBU domestic security service says.
Officials said the attack on the facility, which the SBU said was a key logistics hub for fuel, sparked a large fire.
Key details of the latest Ukraine peace deal – and the main hurdles Russia keeps putting in the way
Wednesday 31 December 2025 14:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneCrucial talks to end the war in Ukraine took place between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump in the US on Sunday.
The meeting came after several months of back-and-forth discussions between Kyiv, Washington, Moscow, and Brussels, as world leaders attempted to broker a deal that would bring the nearly four-year conflict to an end.
Following the talks in Florida, Mr Trump said security guarantees for Ukraine were “close to 95 per cent” complete even as he cautioned that “thorny issues” remained unresolved.
You can read more below:
Key details of the latest Ukraine peace deal – and Russia’s objections
Recap: Cracks in Trump’s peace plan as Ukraine accuses Russia of lies over ‘attack on Putin residence’
Wednesday 31 December 2025 13:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneVolodymyr Zelensky lashed out at Russian “lies” about a drone attack on one of Vladimir Putin’s residences, accusing the latter of trying to undermine diplomatic efforts.
Moscow claimed that Kyiv carried out a massive assault on the presidential residence in Novgorod and said their negotiating position on a peace plan would be “revised” as a result.
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov alleged that Ukraine had launched 91 long-range drones at the forest retreat on Lake Valdai overnight, but all had been shot down with no damage reported.
Mr Zelensky dismissed the claim as “lies” that he said were cynically intended to “undermine diplomacy and justify dragging out the war”.
The Independent’s James C. Reynolds has more below:
Cracks in peace plan as Ukraine accuses Russia of lies over ‘Putin residence attack’
Putin amends law to officially let Russia ignore foreign criminal courts
Wednesday 31 December 2025 13:15 , Nicole Wootton-CanePresident Vladimir Putin has formally enacted changes granting Russia the unilateral right to ignore judgments issued by foreign and international courts in criminal cases.
This controversial decision comes as Ukrainian and European nations continue their concerted efforts to impose penalties on Moscow for its ongoing actions in Ukraine.
The measure appears to be a direct counter to several international initiatives aimed at prosecuting Russian officials and military officers for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, claims which the Kremlin steadfastly denies.
You can read more below:
Putin amends law to officially let Russia ignore foreign criminal courts
Comment: This mysterious ‘drone attack’ shows paranoid Putin will never be a peacemaker
Wednesday 31 December 2025 13:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThis mysterious ‘drone attack’ shows paranoid Putin will never be a peacemaker
Pictured: Moscow claims Ukrainian drone attack on Putin's residence shot down
Wednesday 31 December 2025 12:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Romania and Croatia join PURL initiative
Wednesday 31 December 2025 12:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePresident Zelensky has thanked Romania and Croatia after the countries made their first contributions to the PURL initiative.
The scheme provides military aid to Ukraine, and has provided the country with $4.3bn since its inception in July 2025.
In a post on X, Mr Zelensky wrote: “Thank you to Romania and Croatia for joining the PURL initiative and announcing their first contributions to it. This is an important initiative that makes it possible to purchase American weapons and bolster our defence, including missiles for Patriots and other capabilities we need.
“The total amount of contributions has reached $4.3 billion, including nearly $1.5 billion in December alone. This has made it possible to form eight assistance packages already, and work is currently underway to fund two more. We thank everyone who helped Ukraine this year and those who will continue to support us in 2026.
“We are bringing closer peace and guaranteed security for Ukraine and all of Europe.”
Finland suspects ship of causing undersea cable damage, president says
Wednesday 31 December 2025 11:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFinnish authorities have inspected a vessel suspected of causing undersea cable damage in the of Finland, President Alexander Stubb said on Wednesday.
Baltic Sea nations have been on high alert after a string of outages of power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
"Finland is prepared for security challenges of various kinds, and we respond to them as necessary," Stubb wrote on X.
Finnish authorities have inspected a vessel suspected of causing cable damage in the Gulf of Finland.
— Alexander Stubb (@alexstubb) December 31, 2025
Thank you for efficient work and communication @rajavartijat, @SuomenPoliisi, @Puolustusvoimat, @TraficomFinland, @SuomenTulli, @Tukesinfo and @fingrid_oyj. We are monitoring…
Watch: Trump reacts to claims of drone strike on Putin’s home
Wednesday 31 December 2025 11:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneEU foreign policy chief says Russia drone attack claims are a 'distraction'
Wednesday 31 December 2025 11:00 , Maira ButtThe European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said that Russian claims of a 91-drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s personal residence in Valdai are a “distraction” amid ongoing peace talks.
“Moscow aims to derail real progress towards peace by Ukraine and its Western partners,” Kallas wrote on X/Twitter on Wednesday.
“No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor who has indiscriminately targeted Ukraine’s infrastructure and civilians since the start of the war.”
Over 170,000 people left without power after Russian strikes
Wednesday 31 December 2025 10:39 , Maira ButtUkraine’s energy ministry has reported that 170,000 people have been left without power after Russian strikes on energy infrastructure in the Odesa region.
In a statement on Wednesday, it said that emergency repairs were ongoing.
Four apartment buildings were damaged in the bombing. Six people were injured including three children.
Oleh Kiper, the regional head said the attacks “are further evidence of the enemy's terror tactics, which deliberately target civilian infrastructure.”
In pictures: Aftermath of a Russian strike in Odesa
Wednesday 31 December 2025 10:30 , Maira ButtPictures show the destruction left in the aftermath of a Russian strike in Ukraine’s Odesa region, which left apartment buildings damaged.
At least six people, including three children, were injured.
Europe backs Ukraine over Russia's drone attack allegations
Wednesday 31 December 2025 10:00 , Maira ButtEurope rallied behind Ukraine on Tuesday over Russia’s unproven accusations that Kyiv had assaulted the presidential residence in Novgorod with drones overnight into Monday.
The German government said it shares Ukraine's worry that the allegations could be used for further escalation.
A source close to French President Emmanuel Macron also said that there was no evidence to corroborate the accusations made by the Russian authorities.
"Ukraine and its partners are committed to a path of peace, while Russia has chosen to continue and intensify its war against Ukraine. This is in itself an act of defiance against President Trump's peace agenda," the source told Reuters.
Russian strikes cause 'significant' damage to Odesa energy facilities
Wednesday 31 December 2025 09:30 , Maira ButtOvernight, Russian strikes on the southern Odesa region of Ukraine, caused “significant” damage to two of the area’s energy facilities, according to the country’s leading energy provider.
“The damages are significant,” DTEK said in a statement on Wednesday. “Restoring the equipment to working condition will take time," DTEK said in a statement.”
The warring nations have continued to attack their opponent’s energy infrastructure, leading to blackouts for civilian populations.
Four people including three children injured in Russian strike
Wednesday 31 December 2025 09:00 , Maira ButtRussian drone strikes on Ukraine’s Odesa region have injured four people including three children, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Residential buildings and energy infrastructure were also damaged in the attacks, according to Oleh Kiper, governor of the region.
“Strike drones attacked residential, logistics and energy infrastructure in our region,” he said in a statement on Telegram on Wednesday.
One of the children injured in the attacks was a 7-month-old infant. A 42-year-old man is also one of the injured, according to authorities.
Putin orders expansion of buffer zone in 2026
Wednesday 31 December 2025 08:29 , Maira ButtPresident Vladimir Putin has ordered the expansion of the buffer zone in the regions of Sumy and Kharkiv in Ukraine, near Russia’s border, according to Valery Gerasimov, Putin’s chief of general staff, reports RIA.
The region has been used as a way to push Ukrainian troops away from the birder, citing attacks on Belgorod and Kursk.
Kyiv has rejected the zone, accusing Russia of using the region to justify deeper incursions into Ukraine’s territory.
Ukrainian POWs ‘being systematically executed’ by Russia, says top commander
Wednesday 31 December 2025 08:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPrisoners of war are being systematically executed by Russian forces, according to one of Ukraine’s most decorated soldiers.
Major Oleh Shyriaiev, who was awarded the top national decoration of Hero of Ukraine for his leadership on the battlefield, told The Times that he often intercepts transmissions in which orders to kill surrendering troops are given by Russian military leaders.
Combat observers say evidence of alleged war crimes by Russian troops has grown in recent months. Moscow has intensified its attacks on Ukraine even as peace talks continue between the US and European and Russian leaders.
More here.
Ukrainian POWs ‘being systematically executed’ by Russia, says top commander
Trump reacts to claims of drone strike on Putin’s home
Wednesday 31 December 2025 07:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDonald Trump said he is “very angry” after hearing reports that Vladimir Putin’s home was attacked.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has claimed that Kyiv launched a drone attack on Putin’s state residence on Sunday (28 December). Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has denied the allegations, dismissing them as “typical Russian lies”.
Speaking during a press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday (29 December), the US president said that he was not pleased by the reports. “It’s not the right time to do any of that”, he said.
More here.
Russian losses in Ukraine rising faster than ever, finds new analysis
Wednesday 31 December 2025 06:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussian losses in the war in Ukraine have been growing at a faster rate than at any point so far since the invasion began in February 2022, new analysis suggests.
Analysis by the BBC found that 40 per cent more obituaries of soldiers were published in Russia this year compared with 2024.
The broadcaster, along with independent outlet Mediazona, compiled a list of named individuals using official reports, newspapers and social media, as well as new memorials and graves. In total, they were able to confirm the names of around 160,000 people who have been killed.
More here.
Russian losses in Ukraine rising faster than ever, finds new analysis
In pics: A drone view shows damaged apartment buildings in frontline town of Kupiansk
Wednesday 31 December 2025 06:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Children among four injured in Russia's attack on Ukraine
Wednesday 31 December 2025 05:55 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia launched an overnight drone attack on Ukraine's Odesa region, damaging residential buildings and infrastructure and injuring four people, including three children, regional authorities said.
Odesa, a major Black Sea port, has been repeatedly targeted by Russian missiles and drones during nearly four years of war, with strikes frequently hitting energy, transport and port infrastructure as well as residential areas.
"Strike drones attacked residential, logistics and energy infrastructure in our region," Oleh Kiper, governor of the Odesa region, said.
In Odesa city, which is the administrative centre of the broader Odesa region, four people were injured, including a seven-month-old infant, two other children, and a 42-year-old man, Serhiy Lisak, the head of Odesa's military administration, said on Telegram.
He said that drone debris and direct hits damaged facades and windows of several high-rise apartment buildings.
Lisak posted images showing smoke billowing from a multi-storey apartment building at night, with flames visible in several windows and what appears to be a firefighter water jet aimed at the facade.
Putin orders 'buffer zone expansion' in Ukraine's Sumy, Kharkiv in 2026
Wednesday 31 December 2025 04:48 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussian chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, claimed Russian forces were advancing into Ukrainian defences and that president Vladimir Putin ordered the expansion of a buffer zone in Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv in 2026.
Gerasimov inspected the "North" grouping of troops and held a meeting at a command post, according to the reports.
Russia's "North" troop grouping, formed in early 2024, has operated in northeastern Ukraine, seeking to create a buffer along the border in Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv, pushing back Ukrainian forces and positioning for further advances.
Putin raises stakes in peace talks with boast of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus
Wednesday 31 December 2025 04:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarRussia boasted it had deployed nuclear-capable missiles inside Belarus on Tuesday as Vladimir Putin sought to escalate tensions over Ukraine – just as peace talks appeared to be gaining momentum.
The intermediate-range Oreshnik missiles can reach speeds of up to Mach 10 and are immune to interceptions, according to Putin; Russia’s missile forces chief, Sergei Karakayev, previously claimed the weapons “can strike targets across the entire territory of Europe”.
Tensions between the countries have soared after Russia accused Ukraine of attacking Putin’s personal residence with 91 drones.
More here.
Putin raises stakes and deploys nuclear-ready missiles in Belarus
