Ukraine Invasion: Part 59

[MagicFox]

Well, it’s thread 59.

Thanks to all regular contributors, especially those doing the daily hard work. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

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A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

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C. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful

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Kyiv Independence Telegram Highlights

US peace efforts make full circle, as Putin tells Trump Ukraine out to kill him (https://kyivindependent.com/us-peace-efforts-make-full-circle-as-putin-tells-trump-ukraine-out-to-kill-him/)
Dmitry Oreshkin, a Russian-born political analyst, says the timing of Putin’s statement “is clearly no coincidence.”

⚡️Update: US ambassador to NATO casts doubt (https://kyivindependent.com/trump-very-angry-about-alleged-ukrainian-attack-on-putin-residence/) on alleged Ukrainian attack on Putin's residence in northern Russia.
"It is unclear whether it actually happened," U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told Fox News on Dec. 30.

⚡️ Ukraine war latest live: Ukraine faces no mobilization restrictions (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2025-12-30/)under proposed U.S. peace plan, Syrskyi says.
The draft U.S.-backed peace framework aimed at ending Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine does not impose any restrictions on Ukraine's right to mobilize troops, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said in an interview with 24 Channel, Suspilne reported on Dec. 29.

⚡️Zelensky announces upcoming high-level meetings (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-announces-series-of-high-level-meetings-as-push-for-peace-continues-into-4th-year-of-russias-war/) in Ukraine, France.
National security advisers from the Coalition of the Willing countries, led by the U.K. and France, have agreed to meet in Ukraine on Jan. 3, according to Zelensky. The meeting will be followed by another meeting among state leaders, planned for Jan. 6 in France.

⚡️Zelensky calls out India, UAE (https://kyivindependent.com/where-is-their-condemnation/) over their support of Putin's 'assassination attempt' claim.
"Where is their condemnation of the fact that our children are being bombed and people are being killed all this time? I don't hear India, frankly, nor the United Arab Emirates," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 30.

Extensive damage to energy infrastructure (https://kyivindependent.com/extensive-damage-to-energy-infrastructure-has-left-kyiv-odesa-oblasts-without-scheduled-rolling-blackouts/) leaves parts of Kyiv, Odesa oblasts without scheduled blackouts
The scale of damage to energy facilities from Russian attacks has made it impossible to resume scheduled rolling blackouts on Kyiv's eastern bank and in parts of Kyiv Oblast and Odesa Oblast, the Energy Ministry said on Dec. 30.

Ukraine war latest: Putin signs decrees on year-round conscription, deploying reservists to guard critical infrastructure
(https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2025-12-30/)
Putin has signed new decrees launching year-round military conscription starting in 2026; Russian forces attacked two civilian cargo vessels in the Black Sea with drones on Dec. 30, injuring several crew members; and more.

⚡️ Ukraine strikes Russian drone storage (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-attacks-russian-drone-storage-facility-at-occupied-donetsk-airport-military-says/) at occupied Donetsk Airport, commander says.

Preliminary reports indicate that Ukrainian forces struck an oil depot near the Russian city of Tuapse in Krasnodar Krai, Russian Telegram channels reported on Dec. 30. https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-military-reportedly-strikes-russian-occupied-oil-depot-in-luhansk-oblast/

Ukraine's military reportedly struck an oil depot in the Russian-occupied community of Rovenky in Luhansk Oblast, Russian Telegram media channels reported. https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-military-reportedly-strikes-russian-occupied-oil-depot-in-luhansk-oblast/

⚡️Syrskyi says battalion commander to face legal review (https://kyivindependent.com/battalion-commanders-actions-to-be-subject-to-legal-review-syrskyi-on-loss-of-ukrainian-command-post-in-huliaipole-in-zaporizhzhia-oblast/) after loss of command post in Huliaipole.
Ukraine's top commander said a battalion commander will face a legal review after Ukrainian troops abandoned a command post in the Huliaipole sector, leaving behind equipment and potentially sensitive materials.

Francis Fukuyama: What to expect in 2026 (https://kyivindependent.com/francis-fukuyama-what-to-expect-in-2026/)
"Ukraine's situation vis-a-vis Russia is dire today, and it will be up to the Europeans to sustain it over the coming months," writes Francis Fukuyama, American political scientist, scholar, and book author, in this op-ed.

⚡️Russian attacks (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-attacks-against-ukraine-kill-6-injure-23-over-past-day/) kill 6, injure 23 in Ukraine over past day.
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least 6 civilians and injured at least 23 over the past day, regional authorities reported early on Dec. 31.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported (https://t.me/kpszsu/51154) intercepting 101 of the 127 drones launched by Russia overnight.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — DEC 31, 2025
■ Casualties and engagements below average; notable drone losses (11th highest); no area change; freezing conditions
■ Overnight attacks: triple-digit, all drones; decent interception rate; four days since the last major attack wave
■ Nine 🇺🇦 strikes; 30-day strike ratio falls below 30

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

🇺🇸🇺🇦 President Trump promised to help Ukraine with air defense, President Zelenskyy said.
“We had a separate part of the meeting with President Trump where I stressed that we urgently need air defense. I need NASAMS missiles. I need PAC-3 missiles for Patriots. I won’t disclose our current situation publicly, but I showed and explained it to the American side,” he said.
The president also noted that he told Trump Ukraine is ready to purchase the equipment through the PURL program.

🤬 Russia wants to cut off the Odesa region from the rest of Ukraine in terms of infrastructure, Zelenskyy said.
“As for the Russians — they definitely want to isolate Odesa and other cities from the rest of Ukraine. They are hitting port infrastructure, targeting both people and the economy, and reducing our export opportunities through the sea corridor. We are recovering, we can do it, and we are doing it as quickly as possible. This is very important for us,” he said.

An Attack That Never Happened: The Kremlin Keeps Inventing Strikes on the Valdai Residence
The Kremlin continues to claim that Ukrainian drones allegedly attacked Putin’s residence in Valdai. However, local residents heard no explosions, no air defense activity, and no signs of a “repelled attack.”
Peskov promised a “tough response,” claiming Russia “knows how, with what, and when” to respond to this alleged “attack.” [...]
It is worth noting that Putin’s Valdai residence alone is protected by 12 air defense systems — only five fewer than the entire Moscow region, home to more than 20 million people.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia has still not provided any evidence of the alleged attack on Putin’s residence.
[..] He also expressed disappointment with statements by certain countries — including the UAE, India, and Pakistan — which voiced concern over an attack that never happened. Sybiha noted that such reactions would likely have been absent had Russia actually struck a Ukrainian government building.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has effectively refused to present any evidence. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “no proof is needed,” calling for Russia’s claims to be taken at face value and dismissing doubts as “insane allegations.”

🤡 Putin orders reservists to be sent to guard critical facilities in Russia
The dictator has signed a decree sending reservists to training camps in 2026 to protect critical infrastructure. The decree comes into force on December 30.
Russia’s General Staff claims this is not mobilization. However, analysts from the Institute for the Study of War say the move likely signals preparations for a covert call-up of reservists, as the Kremlin faces a shortage of volunteers to continue the war against Ukraine.

🛢 India sharply cut Russian oil imports in December 2025, according to Bloomberg.
Data from Kpler shows imports fell to about 1.1 million barrels per day — the lowest level since November 2022. For comparison, imports stood at 1.77 million bpd in November.
The decline followed tighter U.S. sanctions, which left some tankers stranded. Deliveries to the HPCL-Mittal Energy terminal in Mundra dropped, and the Mangalore Refinery did not purchase any Russian oil for the first time since September 2022.
In mid-December, imports briefly fell to 712,000 bpd before partially recovering.

🇺🇦🇹🇷 The Turkish Ombudsman has confirmed the transfer of lists of missing, seriously ill, and severely wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war to Russia.
These are the lists that families of Ukrainian defenders handed over to Mehmet Akarca a month ago, Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said.
Lubinets held an online meeting with Akarca and family coordinators, during which they agreed to establish a permanent communication channel and the possibility of sending letters to prisoners through the Turkish side.
He emphasized that Türkiye remains one of the few platforms where humanitarian issues are making real progress in negotiations with the Russian Federation.

‼️ Night attack on Odesa: the number of victims has risen to six, head of the City Military Administration Serhiy Lysak reported.
Parts of the city are without electricity. Restoration work is underway at critical infrastructure facilities, and some residents are temporarily without water and heating.

The Ukrainian Navy released photos of ships attacked by Russians in ports of the Odesa region.
The vessels Emmakris III and Captain Karam, flying the Panamanian flag, had entered the port to load wheat. There are reports of wounded civilians.

Frontline Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region, through the lens of photojournalist Diego Herrera.
Every evacuation of civilians here carries enormous risk. Volunteers face constant shelling, FPV drones, and other dangers.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

European leaders will convene on Tuesday at 1000 GMT to discuss the war in Ukraine, (www.kyivpost.com/post/67167) a Polish government spokesman announced.
“At 11:00 am, Prime Minister Donald Tusk will take part in another conversation of European leaders on the subject of Ukraine,” government spokesman Adam Szlapka reported.

Ukraine is building a multi-layered system of UAV interceptors to counter Shahed drones, (www.kyivpost.com/post/67170) expanding interceptor units, radars and training as Russia intensifies air attacks, Ukraine’s army chief Syrsky says.

Zelensky has said he has already chosen a new head of his office, but is keeping the name under wraps for now, promising details soon.
The announcement follows the dismissal of former chief Andriy Yermak on November 28 amid a corruption scandal.

The United Arab Emirates have announced plans to buy a 30% stake in Ukraine’s defense-tech company Fire Point, valuing the firm at $2.5 billion — BBC
The company produces long-range FP-1 and FP-2 drones as well as Flamingo missiles, and is also planning to develop a ballistic missile.

Answering a question from Kyiv Post, Zelensky said that discussions on security guarantees take into account the risks of possible false-flag operations. He stressed that, first and foremost, it is important for Ukraine that any security guarantees include an immediate monitoring mission, deployed simultaneously with a ceasefire and led by trusted partners with the technical capacity to carry it out. He added that the second element of the security guarantees would focus on how partners would respond in the event of ceasefire violations.

Top 5 High-Profile Corruption Cases in Ukraine in 2025: (www.kyivpost.com/post/66573) Kyiv Post has compiled a ranking of the five most high-profile anti-corruption investigations of the outgoing year.

The ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee said there are two possibilities: (www.kyivpost.com/post/67188) Either Trump shares Putin’s world view or he is “just that stupid” to take him at his word.

Ukrainian military intelligence drones struck Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery, triggering fires at a refinery pier and hitting key infrastructure, including the AVT-12 primary processing unit, pipelines, and loading equipment, Kyiv Post sources reported.
Blazes were also reported at oil depots in Russia’s Yaroslavl region and in Russian-occupied Luhansk, dealing another blow to facilities that fuel Moscow’s military-industrial complex.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

14 border villages are being evacuated in the Chernihiv region, according to the Regional Military Administration (OVA).
The evacuation affects the Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka, Snovsk, and Horodnia communities. About 300 people currently live in these specific areas.
In total, approximately 1,400 people have already been evacuated from the border areas.

Spain has deployed Crow anti-drone systems in Lithuania.
The Crow system utilizes a combination of radars, cameras, sensors, and electronic warfare (EW) tools to create a "smart shield" designed to protect critical infrastructure, airports, and military units.
▪️Spain currently leads the 70th rotation of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission in Lithuania. Earlier in December, it was announced that the Kingdom would send an anti-drone system to the country.

In the Russian Moscow region, over 600,000 Russians have been left without electricity.
It is likely that drones struck several power substations.

🇩🇪 Germany has prepared a classified action plan in case of a military conflict, reports Politico, citing sources.
The document, titled the Operational Plan for Defense (OPLAN), considers cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation as potential precursors to full-scale war.
In the event of a major conflict within NATO, Germany would serve as a key base and transit corridor for allied forces, making it one of the primary targets for strikes against military and civilian infrastructure.
According to the document's authors, the country is currently in the initial phase — focusing on threat detection, inter-agency coordination, and logistics preparation.

Bloomberg: In December, Ukraine set a record for strikes on Russian energy facilities.
According to the publication's estimates, at least 24 attacks on oil refineries (NPs), oil tankers, maritime facilities, and key pipeline infrastructure were recorded this month.
These strikes increase pressure on Russian exports, which are already constrained by sanctions, the publication writes. Despite maintaining oil supply volumes, the flow of "petrodollars" is shrinking: in 2026, oil and gas revenues are expected to drop to 23% of budget receipts — a record low.

🇯🇵🇺🇦 Japan has provided nearly €48 million for Ukraine’s recovery program, reports the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development.
The funds will be allocated to demining, energy, restoration of water supply systems, improvement of public infrastructure, health and safety projects, and the provision of educational services.
Additionally, the Parliament of Japan has approved a supplementary budget that will allow for the continuation of grant projects for recovery programs and provide technical support for other initiatives in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Border Guards have released an intriguing video with the caption: "Official: Santa has crossed the border, and besides gifts, he brought 'security guarantees'." https://t.me/liveukraine_media/36869

Russia attacked Ukraine with 127 strike UAVs; air defense shot down 101 of them. Here is what is known about the consequences of the attacks:
🔴In Bila Tserkva, two people were injured following Russia's overnight strike — both received medical assistance on-site. Two high-rise buildings were damaged in the city due to the attack, reported Mykola Kalashnyk, head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration (OVA).
🔴In Odesa, six people were wounded due to Russian shelling, including three children, according to Serhiy Lysak, head of the City Military Administration (MVA). Part of the city is without electricity, and restoration work is ongoing; as a result, some residents lack water and heating.
🔴 In the Dnipropetrovsk region, two men, aged 84 and 52, were injured by a UAV in the Vasylkivka community. They have been hospitalized in moderate condition, reported Vladyslav Haivanenko, head of the OVA.

FBK (Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation) investigators have discovered a new palace for Putin in Crimea, complete with its own private hospital. It was once the dacha of Viktor Yanukovych.
The estate is located on the Black Sea coast and features a helipad, as well as a spa center with swimming pools, a cryochamber, and massage zones. The palace was constructed using the same scheme as Putin’s well-known residence in Gelendzhik.
A private hospital has been established within the palace, including doctors' offices, a dentistry unit, and an operating room. It is equipped with systems for anesthesia, artificial ventilation, X-rays, and endoscopy. Investigators estimate the construction cost at approximately $130 million.
Previously, this site housed the "Cape Aya" boarding house. Following the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, the land and buildings were seized from former president Viktor Yanukovych and transferred to Russian state ownership. Subsequently, construction of the new palace for Putin began.

If anyone needs some light relief, here's a clip from the Private Eye Tear in Review 2025:
https://youtube.com/shorts/3yXsNbL3Qos?si=4aFDAQe_5HPuj6Qh

*year in review, obviously

Hilarious 😂Light relief gratefully received

More obscene and soulless empty Putin palaces. Might as well be a mausoleum. Contrast that with the photos of civilian life in Donetsk. Just heartbreaking.

@ReleaseTheDucksOfWar thanks for posting the photos and your round ups

Finnish ex-MP has moved to Russia as a "refugee" (he's in legal trouble in Finland for stealing money from Parliament and refusing to say what it was used for or pay it back) and says if he was younger he'd be willing to fight, even against Finland. What an absolute fuckwit and I hope he gets sent to the front.
yle.fi/a/74-20201812

Kaja Kallas describes Putin's false claims of a drone attack on Putin's palace as a "deliberate distraction" and an attempt to derail the peace process.

EU's top diplomat rejects Russian claims of Ukrainian attack on government sites
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q4e4e4ldyo

Interesting to see who has been triggered by this (fake) story of an attack on Putin's palace.

Trump clearly believed Putin, and was VERY upset about it:

https://kyivindependent.com/trump-very-angry-about-alleged-ukrainian-attack-on-putin-residence/
"I don't like it. It's not good," Trump told reporters when asked whether the alleged attack could affect efforts to broker peace.
"I learned about it from President Putin today. I was very angry about it."
"It's a delicate period of time," he added. "This is not the right time. It's one thing to be offensive, because they're offensive. It's another thing to attack his house. It's not the right time to do any of that," he said.
When asked whether there was any evidence of such an attack, Trump said, "We'll find out."

It's a real contrast to the writer of that WSJ piece @MissConductUS kindly linked above, who made scornfully clear they didn't believe a word of the drone story.

I wonder whether the possibility of his house – HIS HOUSE – being physically attacked has struck a bit of a nerve for Trump, it being about his admired fellow autocrat in a golden palace.

He doesn't seem to have responded the same way to Zelenskyy being in near-constant physical danger and having survived at least one assassination attempt which killed some of his security staff.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Russia shares dubious 'evidence' of Ukrainian drone attack (kyivindependent.com/russia-shares-dubious-evidence-of-ukrainian-drone-attack-3-days-after-claiming-kyiv-tried-to-assassinate-putin/) 3 days after claiming Kyiv tried to assassinate Putin.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, speaking to Reuters, called the footage "laughable" and said Kyiv remains "absolutely confident that no such attack took place."

⚡️Update: Trump shares article casting doubt (kyivindependent.com/russia-shares-dubious-evidence-of-ukrainian-drone-attack-3-days-after-claiming-kyiv-tried-to-assassinate-putin/) on Putin 'assassination attempt' on social media.
While Trump expressed outrage after first receiving reports of the alleged attack on Putin's residence, on Dec. 31 he shared an article from the New York Post on social media.
The headline reads: "Putin 'attack' bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace."

⚡️ CIA rejects (kyivindependent.com/after-putin-claim-to-trump-cia-rejects-allegation-of-ukraine-attack-on-his-residence-cnn-reported/) Putin's claim of Ukrainian attack on his residence, CNN reports.
The report confirms Ukraine's original denial and undercuts claims made by the Kremlin.

⚡️Finland detains Russia-linked ship (kyivindependent.com/finland-detains-russia-linked-ship-suspected-of-sabotage/) suspected of sabotage.
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, authorities said.

⚡️'We want the end of the war (kyivindependent.com/we-want-the-end-of-the-war-not-the-end-of-ukraine-zelensky-says-in-new-year-address/) — not the end of Ukraine,' Zelensky says in New Year address.

⚡️Ukraine damages major Russian oil assets (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-damages-major-russian-oil-assets-in-new-years-eve-strikes-military-reports/) in New Year's Eve strikes, military reports.
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.

⚡️ Russian shadow fleet ship that sank in 2024 carried nuclear reactor components to North Korea, may have been torpedoed (kyivindependent.com/russian-shadow-fleet-vessel-that-sank-in-2024-carried-nuclear-reactors-to-north-korea-la-verdad-reports/), La Verdad reports.
The vessel, the Ursa Major, sank on Dec. 23, 2024, about 60 nautical miles from Cartagena.

⚡️Russia launches New Year’s Day drone attacks (kyivindependent.com/russia-launches-new-years-day-drone-attacks-across-ukraine/) across Ukraine.
Russia attacked several Ukrainian regions with drones overnight on Jan. 1, striking energy infrastructure in southern Odesa Oblast.

⚡️Kyiv names new board members of state nuclear energy (kyivindependent.com/kyiv-names-new-board-members-of-state-nuclear-energy-company-in-wake-of-corruption-scandal/)company in wake of corruption scandal.
The four independent members of Energoatom's new supervisory 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.

⚡️Croatia and Romania to join NATO-backed plan to purchase (kyivindependent.com/croatia-and-romania-to-join-nato-backed-plan-to-purchase-us-weapons-for-ukraine/) US weapons for Ukraine.
Romania will contribute 50 million euros ($59 million), according to a press release (www.mae.ro/node/67937) by the Romanian government. Croatia will contribute 15 million euros ($18 million), the country's foreign ministry said (x.com/MFA_Croatia/status/2006313466462875901) on Dec. 31.

⚡️Ukraine strikes (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-claims-strike-on-oil-facility-north-of-moscow/) oil facility north of Moscow, source says.
The latest operation targeted a large oil depot in Rybinsk, a city 160 miles north of Moscow in Yaroslavl Oblast, the source said.

Malanka: Ukraine’s winter ritual of masks, mischief, and good fortune (kyivindependent.com/malanka-ukraines-winter-ritual-of-masks-mischief-and-good-fortune/)
Malanka is an ancient pre-Christian ritual marking the eve of the Old New Year under the old Julian calendar. Once observed from Jan. 13–14, Malanka now begins on Dec. 31 following Ukraine’s recent calendar reforms.
“If we speak about its ritual meaning, Malanka is a way to prevent evil in the coming year. According to tradition, figures representing death, devils, or evil spirits enter a house during Malanka, they will not return again (for the rest of the year),” Tsiia Sviderska, a popularizer of Ukrainian folk traditions in Chernivtsi Oblast, told the Kyiv Independent.

Kellogg’s daughter: US exit from Ukraine would be catastrophic ()
The Kyiv Independent’s Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with Meaghan Mobbs, head of the R.T. Weatherman Foundation and the daughter of President Donald Trump’s outgoing special envoy on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Mobbs argues that the United States should never be neutral in Russia’s war against Ukraine, discusses the dangers of treating the war as a transactional deal, the risk of U.S. disengagement, and why sustained pressure is essential to stopping Russian aggression.

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

🇪🇺🇺🇦 European countries may deploy up to 15,000 troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees — media
France and the UK are ready to send 10,000–15,000 troops to Ukraine within the first six months after a possible ceasefire to monitor the situation, diplomatic sources in Brussels told Die Welt.
According to the publication, the countries are prepared to take part in the mission even without a UN or EU mandate — an invitation from Kyiv would be sufficient.
Air and maritime monitoring would be carried out by neighboring states, while Turkey may join efforts in the Black Sea region.
Sources say the framework of security guarantees for Ukraine has already been finalized. The plan was developed by military experts from France and the UK in coordination with Brussels.

On New Year’s Eve, the Russians carried out several waves of drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in the region. Energy facilities and residential areas were targeted, said Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration.
🤬 On New Year’s Eve, the enemy carried out a drone attack on energy facilities in several regions of Ukraine.
As of this morning, a significant number of consumers in the Volyn and Odesa regions remain without power. New power outages have also been reported in the Chernihiv region.

Ukrainian will be added to the list of languages used in correspondence with Santa Claus.
The Santa Claus Post Office has announced that it is taking steps to include Ukrainian among the official languages for correspondence as soon as possible.
It is also noted that Santa Claus and his elves will be happy to receive letters from Ukrainian children, and Ukrainian kids can now write to Santa in their native language.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

2025 Ukraine Summary: Wars, Walks, and What’s Next
A year that changed Ukraine - and the world. From battlefield shocks and drone wars to peace talks, blackouts and political crises, this is 2025 month by month.
https://www.kyivpost.com/videos/67176

Kovel in Ukraine’s Volyn region has become the first city to come under a Russian mass attack in 2026. Dozens of drones have struck the city, with hits reported on energy infrastructure.

Washington targets Tehran’s drone exports (www.kyivpost.com/post/67191) and Caracas’ military buildup, signaling a heightened focus on hemispheric security.

Moscow’s “invented” Valdai attack used to justify Russia’s hardline demands (www.kyivpost.com/post/67240) and reject Western peace proposals, ISW expert tells Kyiv Post.

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) and State Security Service (SBU) attacked a marine oil terminal and oil refinery on Russia’s Black Sea (www.kyivpost.com/post/67219) coast during the night of Dec. 31, according to Ukrainian intelligence sources.

Putin’s forces are attacking the Ukrainian city of Lutsk with drones [...] on New Year’s night.
A large-scale fire has broken out in the city.

In an exclusive interview, Ukrainian Atesh partisans told Kyiv Post (www.kyivpost.com/post/66430) that they have disrupted what Russia considered its “safe rear,” spreading concern inside Russia and in occupied territories.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇫🇮🇪🇪 A cable connecting the capitals of Finland and Estonia has been severed in the Baltic Sea. [a few days ago]
Finnish border guards have detained a suspicious vessel, the Fitburg, and discovered an anchor chain in the sea. The ship was traveling from Saint Petersburg to Israel.
The damage likely occurred in Estonian waters. Authorities from both countries intend to cooperate in the investigation.
▪️ On Christmas last year, the Estlink 2 undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia was also severed. The following day, Finnish authorities detained the Russian shadow fleet tanker Eagle S. Investigators suspected its anchor had damaged the cable. In October, the Helsinki District Court closed the case because the potential crimes occurred in Finland's exclusive economic zone, not its territorial waters

💥 It was also loud in Russia last night — drones were even shot down over Moscow.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claims to have reportedly downed 168 drones over occupied Crimea and six Russian regions.

The HUR (Defense Intelligence) and DPSU (Border Guard Service) attacked the "Tuapse" maritime oil terminal and the Tuapse refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai
The military struck the AVT-12 primary crude oil distillation unit at the Tuapse refinery, as well as transport pipelines and equipment at the maritime oil terminal.
According to intelligence data, until today, the Tuapse refinery processed nearly 12 million tons of oil annually. It significantly impacted the Russian army's capability to wage war.

Activists from the "Yellow Ribbon" resistance movement are sending New Year's greetings to Ukrainians from the temporarily occupied territories.
Greetings come from Donetsk, Luhansk, Dovzhansk, Alchevsk, and Perevalsk, as well as from Melitopol, Berdyansk, Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yalta, and Henichesk.

On New Year's Eve, Russians attacked the Odesa and Volyn regions. Here is what is known about the consequences so far:
🔴Just minutes before the New Year, Russians attacked the energy infrastructure of the Odesa region with drones. A fire broke out at one of the facilities. Additionally, in Odesa, residential buildings were damaged by falling UAV debris.
🔴In Volyn, critical infrastructure facilities were targeted — fires broke out in Lutsk and the Kovel district. Over 100,000 people have been left without electricity.

5.9 million Ukrainians are abroad
5.9 million Ukrainians were forced to leave their country. 5.9 million Ukrainians will celebrate the New Year not with old friends and family, but among new acquaintances or even without them.
Happy New Year to everyone. And we wish for the most important thing — may 2025 be the last full year of war, and may the next one bring us peace.

Ukraine has captured over 10,000 Russian servicemen during the full-scale war, according to the "I Want to Live" project.
In the incomplete year of 2025, more Russian soldiers were captured than in 2022 and 2023 combined. On average, between 60 and 90 Russian servicemen surrender every week, with that number reaching 350 people per week in August 2024.
Since June 2023, Russian soldiers have been taken prisoner more frequently than Ukrainians. The highest number of Russians were captured in the Pokrovsk and Bakhmut districts of the Donetsk region, in Russia's Kursk region, and in the Polohy district of the Zaporizhzhia region.
About 24% of the POWs reported being coerced or deceived into going to war. 40% have criminal records, most commonly for theft, drugs, robbery, assault, and violent crimes. Only 7% have a higher education, while nearly 30% did not even finish school.
▪️ Thousands of Russian prisoners of war remain in Ukraine. For the fourth consecutive year, Russia has refused an "all-for-all" exchange.

Two days after claiming a drone attack on Putin's residence, the Russian Ministry of Defense published a fake map of the Ukrainian drones' flight paths.
Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU) highlighted facts pointing to the falsity of Russia's claims:
🔴Throughout December 29, residents of the Novgorod region did not report any UAV attacks or their consequences;
🔴A total lack of physical evidence (debris, photos, videos) of the downed drones, which the Kremlin has failed to present nearly 24 hours after launching the information operation;
🔴The Russian Ministry of Defense edited its published reports twice to align with Kremlin narratives (initially reporting 18 detected UAVs, then increasing the number to 23).

We only had four days in 2025 without drone shelling and missile attacks.
It was a terrible year. We hope the next one will be better.

Wishing everyone a very good 2026 - may all of us be healthy and happy - and may, above all, a just peace for Ukraine arrive and the world move towards a more peaceful mode. (and fast healing especially for people who have recently had operations)

https://inews.co.uk/news/world/i-was-cia-top-agent-moscow-putin-manipulate-men-trump-4132455

Interesting insight from a former CIA agent

Trump no longer believes that Ukraine targeted Putin's residence. He was briefed by the CIA then posted a link to an article debunking the story.

https://nypost.com/2025/12/31/us-news/putin-claimed-ukraine-targeted-his-home-the-cia-says-it-never-happened/

War moves fast, Trump is at least 3 days behind the rest of the World in grasping the facts.

Its a ridiculous position to be in.

I hope that for Ukraine and it's people 2026 is the year where the world rights itself and they can start to live again, instead of fighting to exist.

He's so easily manipulable and volatile though.
I mean, the FIFA inaugural peace prize ffs or whatever it was. It's like giving a 2 year old a sticky gold star for pooing on the potty.

He is the most dangerous useful idiot that Putin has

That's good news for 2 reasons.

One being Trump no longer believing this specific lie.

The other being that this means he has apparently believed the CIA above Putin. (Although perhaps he just believed the New York Post, given this is what he apparently linked to.)

But if he believed the CIA above Putin this is a major step forwards. In 2028 he very publicly said he believed Putin above US intelligence services.

Trump sides with Russia against FBI at Helsinki summit
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44852812

https://x.com/jurgen_nauditt/status/2006715072047976774 it was reported if I remember on the 27th December that the leader of the Russians fighting for Ukraine had been killed. Russia had put a bounty of 500 thousand on his head. The Ukrainians staged his assassination and claimed the money to go towards the armed forces

That is somehow very Ukrainian. Well done them, if it is accurate.

And I wish a happy new year to all people of goodwill.

Simply glorious.

Happy New Year to all on these threads and all Ukrainians. May peace come soon.
💙
💛