It has been the 1041th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression.
What happened in Ukraine today:
Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 4 pm:
The situation along the line of contact remains tense. Ukrainian defenders continue to actively resist the Russian aggressor, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment.
Since the beginning of the day, there have been 104 combat engagements.
Border settlements continue to suffer from artillery shelling originating from the territory of the Russian Federation. Areas in the settlements of Bachivsk and Oleksandrivka in the Sumy region, as well as Tymofiivka in the Kharkiv region, have been affected by barrel artillery fire.
Additionally, in the Kharkiv direction, Russian occupiers unsuccessfully attempted to breach Ukrainian defensive lines twice near Vovchansk and Lyptsi.
In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled four enemy attacks near Holubivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Kruhliakivka, and Zahryzove, with seven more engagements ongoing.
In the Lyman direction, the invading army launched ten attacks near Kopanky, Nadiya, Novoyehorivka, Makiivka, Ivanivka, and Terny during the day, with battles still ongoing in two locations.
The enemy conducted one assault in the Siversk direction near the settlement of Bilohorivka, which was repelled by the Defense Forces.
In the Kramatorsk direction, Ukrainian forces repelled three assault attempts near Chasiv Yar and Stupochky, with four engagements still in progress.
In the Toretsk direction, Russian forces attempted to dislodge our units from their positions near Shcherbynivka and Toretsk. The Defense Forces repelled two attacks, while four engagements are ongoing.
In the Pokrovsk direction, since the beginning of the day, the occupiers have made 30 attempts to push our defenders out of their positions near the settlements of Vozdvyzhenka, Myrolyubivka, Promin, Zelene, Dachenske, Novyi Trud, Shevchenko, Vovkove, Novoolenivka, and Novoyelyzavetivka. The Defense Forces are holding their ground, repelling 23 enemy attacks, while seven engagements are still ongoing. Enemy losses are being clarified.
In the Kurakhiv direction, the occupiers launched 11 attacks near Petropavlivka, Slovyanka, Shevchenko, and Kurakhove, with two attacks still in progress.
In the Vremivka direction, our units repelled 11 Russian assaults near Yantarne, Uspenivka, Vremivka, and in the directions of Kostyantynopol and Novosilka. Currently, four engagements are ongoing.
In other directions, there are no significant changes.
Recent war events in the east of Ukraine
Kharkiv oblast
As a result of the 59th prisoner exchange, two Ukrainian defenders from the Kharkiv region have been freed, according to the Regional Military Administration (RMA). One soldier is from the urban-type settlement of Sakhnovshchyna in the Berestivskyi district, and the other from the settlement of Borova in the Chuhuivskyi district.
Throughout the day, Russian forces attacked near Lyptsi and Vovchansk in the Kharkiv direction, the General Staff reported as of 4:00 PM.
In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian forces have repelled four Russian army attacks near Holubivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Kruhliakivka, and Zahryzove. Seven engagements are ongoing.
At 2:00 PM, Russian artillery struck the settlement of Kivsharivka. A local woman was caught in the epicenter of the shelling and sustained injuries incompatible with life. An investigative team responded to the scene.
At 12:05 AM, Chuhuivskyi district, Pechenihy community, came under attack between the villages of Pechenihy and Kytseivka. The strike hit open territory near a highway.
At 11:20 PM, Kharkiv district, Liubotyn community, experienced a strike. Debris from a “Shahed” drone fell in open terrain in a forested area.
At 11:15 PM, Chuhuivskyi district, Zmiivska community, the village of Taranivka, was struck. A utility structure on private property was hit, causing a fire that was extinguished by rescuers.
At 8:40 PM, Kupiansk district, Kupiansk community, the village of Petropavlivka, was attacked. A 40-year-old man was injured by a drone strike and hospitalized.
At 5:35 PM, Izium district, Borova community, the village of Zahryzove, was shelled. A 63-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman were injured and hospitalized.
In the Kharkiv direction, two enemy attacks occurred in the areas of Hatyshche and Vovchansk in the past day. Both were repelled with no success for the enemy.
In the Kupiansk direction, seven enemy attacks were recorded over the past day. Defense Forces repelled assaults near Petropavlivka, Kucheryvka, and Lozova.
As part of intensified evacuation efforts from the Kupiansk and Borova directions, seven people, including one child, were evacuated.
As a result of artillery shelling in the village of Zahryzove, Izium district, civilians—a man and a woman—were injured, the police reported. Private property was damaged.
Throughout the day, the enemy shelled Kupiansk and surrounding settlements, damaging private homes, fences, roads, and a private enterprise building. In Petropavlivka, a civilian man was injured.
Due to Russian “Shahed” drones in Taranivka and Pechenihy in the Chuhuivskyi district, private homes, utility structures, and power lines were damaged.
Over the past week, four people were killed, and 12 were injured due to Russian shelling of Kharkiv and the region. The highest number of casualties occurred in Zolochiv and Dvorichna.
Donetsk oblast
During the day, Russian forces carried out 3,402 strikes on the front line and residential areas.
Impacts were recorded in four settlements:
- the cities of Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk, Toretsk,
- and the village of Shandryholove.
Thirteen civilian objects were damaged, including ten residential buildings.
In Pokrovsk, the occupiers shelled the area with artillery and attacked with a drone, killing one civilian and injuring another. A private house, an apartment building, and a gas station were damaged.
In Kostiantynivka, Russian forces used artillery, injuring one person and damaging two private houses, a gas pipeline, and a vehicle.
In Shandryholove, the enemy shelled the area with a “Smerch” MLRS, destroying six private homes.
Meanwhile, a flash mob titled “Celebrating on Ukrainian Time” is gaining momentum online in support of people forced to mark New Year’s holidays under Russian occupation, according to the Yellow Ribbon movement.
Journalist Oleksandr Hudilin from Mariupol has been freed from captivity. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, he joined a Territorial Defense Brigade and defended the city. He spent nearly three years in captivity, according to the Mariupol City Military Administration..
Luhansk oblast
On the Lyman and Siversk sections of the front, the invaders are trying to advance. According to the regional military administration, they concentrated near Hrekivka, Nadiya, Makiyivka, Bilohorivka, and Zolotarivka. The enemy also launched an airstrike on Serhiivka. Front-line settlements have been shelled with both rocket and artillery fire. The occupiers have once again increased the use of UAVs in the Luhansk region, sending 163 drones in our direction.
Near Kreminna and in the Serebriansky forest area, border guards from the Luhansk detachment destroyed nearly twenty pieces of Russian military equipment over the course of the week, including a tank and 15 vehicles, as reported by the 3rd border detachment named after Yevhen Pikus.
The Luhansk Border Guard Unit’s Revenge Brigade destroyed over 3,600 Russian invaders in 2024. The brigade continues to fight in the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv regions.
The Phoenix UAV strike unit of the Luhansk Border Guard has been honored with a song. The song was written by border guards Yevhen Yatsenko and Viktor Ponomaryov, who also performed it. The song became the soundtrack for the documentary film about the drone operators, “Conveyor of Revenge.”
Residents of Lysychansk have been advised to refuse any superficial repairs in writing. If they do not wish to have their windows and radiators replaced with new ones of questionable quality and origin, they must submit a corresponding request to the contractor in time.
To get more stable mobile phone service, you must travel at least 20 km from Severodonetsk to Novoahtryka. There, you can catch mobile internet. Closer areas either lack coverage or Russian forces have banned the use of Wi-Fi in public spaces.
What is happening now in the north of Ukraine
Kyiv oblast
Kyiv City Military Administration reported that in 2024, 500 air alerts were sounded in Kyiv, during which the russian armed forces conducted almost 200 air strikes on the capital of Ukraine and used more than 1,600 weapons of various types. Over the course of the year, the capital withstood 6 massive and 14 combined air strikes. Over the past year, russia has damaged almost 550 residential buildings in the capital, leaving up to 120 people homeless.
For almost 100 days last year, due to strikes on the energy sector, Kyiv residents lived under emergency or stabilisation blackouts. The average duration of a power outage for an average resident of the capital was approximately 9 hours a day.
Law enforcement officers have identified a russian commander involved in the murder of Irina Filkina, the ‘woman with a red manicure’ whose photo went viral after the liberation of Bucha in Kyiv region from russian occupation. The commander of the 234th Air Assault Regiment of the 76th Division of the russian Federation, Artem Tareev, is suspected of the murder. On 5 March 2022, the russian commander ordered to shoot at all civilians who appeared near the intersection of Yablunska and Vodoprovodna streets in Bucha. As a result of this order, 13 civilians were killed. On the same day, at around 11:15 a.m., Irina Filkina was shot by the russian army while riding her bicycle, with at least 15 bullets fired at her.
Viktor Liashko, Head of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, announced plans to restore the building of the National Specialised Hospital ‘Okhmatdyt’, damaged by a russian missile attack, in 2025 and to start construction of another innovative building. According to him, as of today, the medical institution is fully prepared to operate in the autumn-winter period of 2024-2025.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that active work is underway in the capital to create a safe and high-quality educational process during the war. This academic year, 950 educational institutions opened their doors to more than 372,000 students. To date, more than 100 shelters in educational institutions have been repaired and equipped (in total, the shelters can now accommodate 317,000 people). Backup lighting, ventilation and Wi-Fi ensure that the educational process in the shelters can continue during the emergency.
Zhytomyr oblast
More than 100,000 meals were prepared in the Social Kitchen in Zhytomyr over the past year. This charity project from Caritas-Spes, which has been operating in Zhytomyr since autumn 2022, will be extended for another year. It is aimed at helping people in difficult life circumstances.
On the eve of the New Year holidays, Zhytomyr District Military Administration created an unforgettable fairy tale for children whose heroic fathers gave their lives for Ukraine’s independence. The event for 100 children from the Zhytomyr district was organised in cooperation with the Krayina Mriy children’s entertainment centre in Zhytomyr.
Sumy oblast
At night, russians carried out 3 shelling attacks on border areas and settlements in Sumy oblast, resulting in 19 explosions. The attacks targeted Khotin, Krasnopillia, and Esman communities.
On 29 Desember, russians carried out 20 shelling attacks on border areas and settlements in Sumy oblast, resulting in 56 explosions. The attacks targeted Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Shalyhyne, Esman, and Seredyna-Buda communities.
Esman community: grenade launcher attack (20 explosions)
Seredyna-Buda community: FPV-drone attack (1 explosion).
Velyka Pysarivka community: VOG dropped from UAVs (8 explosions), FPV-drone attacks (4 explosions), artillery shelling (4 explosions), mortar shelling (14 explosions)
Shalyhyne community: the russians dropped 3 mines on the territory of the community.
Bilopilllia community: VOG dropped from UAVs (1 explosion).
Yunakivka community: the enemy attacked by an FPV-drone (1 explosion).
Chernihiv oblast
On 29 Desember russian army attacked three border communities in Chernihiv oblast.
Semenivka community:
5 explosions by artillery shells in Tymonovychi village and six explosions by a 120mm mortar.
Snovka community:
6 explosions by artillery shells in Yeline village.
Horodnia community:
4 attacks, dropping explosive devices from UAVs in Senkivka village;
14 attacks by artillery shells in Berylivka village.
According to Viacheslav Chaus, Head of Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, the first batch of aid under the “Shoulder to Shoulder: United Communities” project has been delivered to Chernihiv oblast. Boryspil City Council provided materials for repairing the water supply network to the border Snovsk community. This includes pipes and other accompanying equipment.
Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine
Dnipropetrovsk oblast
Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk RMA, informed that on 30 December, russian invaders attacked Nikopol region of Dnipropetrovsk oblast. The enemy launched nearly 30 strikes. As a result of an enemy drone attack in Nikopol, a 40-year-old man was injured.
189 Ukrainians have returned home from russian captivity. According to current information, 14 of them are residents of Dnipropetrovsk oblast.
Vinnytsia oblast
Viacheslav Sokolovyi, Head of Vinnytsia Regional Council, reported that on 30 December, 189 Ukrainians, including both military personnel and civilians, were freed from russian captivity. Among those freed today, 5 are residents of Vinnytsia oblast – Oleksandr, Ruslan, Oleksandr, Maksym and Yurii.
Kirovohrad oblast
Residents of Adjamka village in Kirovohrad oblast have gathered New Year’s gifts for the military. They have been sending assistance for various needs since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For the holidays, in addition to the essential items ordered by the soldiers, they are also sending treats to cheer them up. For New Year, the gifts were sent to eastern Ukraine.
Poltava oblast
In Poltava, paid tribute to 2 soldiers who were killed while defending Ukraine. Both died on December 22 in Donetsk oblast.
Dmytro Merzlyi died on December 22, 2024, while carrying out a combat mission to repel russian aggression near Ivanske village, Donetsk oblast. Maksym Khrupalo died on December 22, 2024, near Novoelyzavetivka village, Donetsk oblast, while performing a combat mission.
31-year-old soldier Anatolii Bondarenko from Kremenchuk died on December 21, 2024, while carrying out a combat mission against russian occupiers in the northeastern direction.
Cherkasy oblast
5 residents of the oblast have returned home. They were released as part of the latest prisoner exchange. These are Danylo Korniakov, Serhiy Tarasyuk, Roman Slobodchikov, Anatoliy Tkachenko, and Vitaliy Turyk. They had been in captivity since 2022. This was reported by the head of the Regional Military Administration, Ihor Taburets.
Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine
Zaporizhzhia oblast
Yesterday, the occupiers launched 494 strikes on nine settlements in Zaporizhzhia oblast. 323 drones of various types attacked Yurkivka, Kamianske, Huliaipole, Shcherbaky, Novoandriivka, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, Novodarivka, and Charivne. Seven MLRS strikes targeted Mala Tokmachka, Novoandriivka, Novodanylivka, and Novodarivka. Additionally, 164 artillery strikes were launched on Kamianske, Huliaipole, Shcherbaky, Novoandriivka, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, Charivne, and Novodarivka. There were two reports of damage to residential buildings and infrastructure.
Over the past day, the enemy attempted one assault near Novodarivka towards Zoporizhzhia. They also launched an airstrike using three guided bombs. Huliaipole and Orikhiv directions remain under constant enemy reconnaissance. The occupiers periodically rotate frontline positions and replenish ammunition supplies.
Units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces destroyed the headquarters of the russian army in the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia oblast. A missile strike eliminated six russian soldiers. Operators of the 412th regiment of Unmanned Systems Forces destroyed a “Buk M1-2” surface-to-air missile launcher of the russian forces at Zaporizhzhia front.
It is reported that the occupiers failed to launch a repaired bypass reactor at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Their actions were not coordinated with the regional dispatch centers of Ukraine’s power grid, which could lead to a complete loss of power for the plant’s needs, potentially causing a nuclear or radiation accident.
Mykolaiv oblast
Yesterday, 29 December, the enemy attacked the city of Ochakiv twice using FPV drones and carried out two artillery strikes on the waters of Ochakiv community. No casualties were reported.
Additionally, on 29 December, the enemy conducted four FPV drone attacks on Kutsurub community. As a result, three private homes and two vehicles were damaged in the village of Dmytrivka. At 2:10 p.m., the russian forces shelled Kutsurub community using artillery. No casualties were reported.
Odesa oblast
At night, russian terrorists attacked Odesa oblast with strike drones. Ukrainian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed most of the enemy targets. Five residential buildings in Rozdilna region sustained damage to window glazing, facades, and roofs, without subsequent fires, due to debris falling.
During a prisoner exchange on 30 December, five defenders of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island) were freed from russian captivity. Today, the “Defenders of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island” community confirmed the return of four border guards and one marine today: Dmytro Burkan, Volodymyr Hutnyk, Mykola Budko, Yevhen Diakov, and Mykola Pchelinskyi. One defender, Vitalii Hyrenko, remains in russian captivity. In total, 79 defenders of Zmiinyi Island have been freed from russian imprisonment..
As of 6 a.m. on 30 December, one enemy ship equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles was in the Black Sea. Eight enemy ships were present in the Mediterranean Sea, including three carriers of Kalibr cruise missiles, with a combined salvo capacity of up to 26 missiles.
Over the past day, four vessels passed through the Kerch Strait into the Black Sea in russia’s interest, while six ships entered the Sea of Azov.
Kherson oblast
Today, two Kherson residents were injured in attacks by russian drones. A 50-year-old man suffered explosive and traumatic brain injuries, as well as a concussion. Another man, aged 52, sustained an explosive injury, shrapnel wounds to his shoulder, and injuries to his hand due to explosives dropped from a drone.
Today russian forces also targeted Bilozerka with artillery. A 36-year-old man, who was outside at the time, sustained an explosive injury, a concussion, and a shrapnel wound to his forehead. A 63-year-old woman, also outside, suffered a closed head injury and a concussion.
The enemy continues shelling Beryslav and Kherson regions. Yesterday, russian forces attacked settlements using artillery, mortars, MLRS, tanks, and drones. The affected areas included Kherson, Antonivka, Stanislav, Kizomys, Sadove, Bilozerka, Pryozerne, Prydniprovske, Beryslav, Tiahynka, Tomaryne, Zmiivka, Novoraisk, Novoberyslav, and Mykhailivka. These attacks damaged three apartment buildings, seven private homes, four cars, and a garage. One person was killed, and five others were injured.
Over the weekend, russian forces shelled Bilozerka’s residential areas with artillery. Eight people, including two children, were injured. Later, Kherson Regional Military Administration reported that two additional individuals sought hospital care after the artillery attacks. A 74-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man, who were at home during the strikes, suffered explosive injuries and concussions.
It is reported that russian forces made two unsuccessful attempts to assault the island zone at Dnipro River delta. After suffering significant irreversible and medical personnel losses, they retreated to their original positions. Over the past combat day, enemy losses included 124 personnel, six mortars and artillery systems, 40 vehicles and armored units, three Shahed-136 drones, two motorcycles, two quad bikes, three boats, four Starlink satellite platforms, and a generator. Five bunkers, two personnel shelters, one command observation post, five communication antennas, and 14 UAV control antennas were destroyed.
Kherson oblast received humanitarian aid from Germany. The shipment includes diesel generators, kitchen appliances, rehabilitation aids, bedding, and sweets. Volunteers will soon distribute the goods to residents, enterprises, charitable organizations, and state institutions.
Children from Kyiv kindergartens sent 1,500 New Year gifts to children in Kherson region as part of the charitable initiative “For the Children of Kherson from the Children of Kyiv”. The initiative is held for the fourth time.
Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine
Volyn oblast
10 FPV drones with a thermal imaging camera were sent to the soldiers of the Military Unit A4935 from Lutsk community.
Zakarpattia oblast
In Uzhhorod City Council, a blood donation campaign was held at the initiative of the regional blood transfusion station and with the support of volunteers of the 68th Separate Battalion of the 101st Territorial Defense Brigade and the Department of Health and Civil Protection of the City Council. Blood sampling was carried out by the station’s visiting team. Employees of the City Council and deputies joined the rally
Ivano-Frankivsk oblast
The On the Way to Victory 3 tournament was held in Lutsk under the auspices of the World Powerlifting Alliance federation. During the competition, war veteran Stepan Savchuk from Ivano-Frankivsk set 2 Ukrainian records, 2 European records and a world record among veterans. The athlete managed to overcome 140 kg in the bench press and 266 kg in the deadlift, surpassing his previous record by 5 kg.
Lviv oblast
As part of the Lion’s Revenge initiative, Lviv City Hall sent : 15 Mavic 3/3pro drones; 28 EcoFlow charging stations; 10 Bandera Power power sources; 2 generators with a capacity of 8 kW; 3 EW systems and 2 UAVs worth UAH 5.4m to the military.
During the week, another 72 people, including 19 are disabled and 32 are elderly, were evacuated from the frontline oblasts to Lviv oblast. In Lviv oblast, all IDPs are met by volunteers of the Medical and Psychological Assistance.
Rivne oblast
Another veteran business in Rivne oblast received the plaque Created by Defenders. It will appear on the premises of the hair salon of ATO participant Ihor Ryk, who started his own business thanks to a state grant. This project involves the branding of veteran businesses for their identification by clients.
Ternopil oblast
Ternopil community sent 4 Saqribs 7 anti-aircraft guns to the 45th Separate Artillery Brigade.
Khmelnytskyi oblast
Khmelnytskyi community sent 15 DJI MAVIC 3T quadcopters with a thermal imager worth almost UAH 2.4m to the Defense Forces.
Chernivtsi oblast
In Bukovyna, soldier Dmytro Romanchuk was fitted with an electronic prosthesis. He is the first person in Bukovina who managed to get a prosthesis with an electronic knee. This prosthesis, worth almost a million hryvnias, allows not only to walk again, but also to adjust the mode of walking through the application on the phone. Dmytro served in the 115th Separate Mechanized Brigade when he was injured by a downed drone in Donetsk oblas.
International support of Ukraine in the russian-Ukrainian war (russia’s invasion of Ukraine)
The US announced a new $2.5bn aid package to Ukraine, includes: anti-unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS) ammunition; air defense ammunition; ammunition for high mobility missile and artillery systems (HIMARS); 155 mm and 105 mm caliber artillery ammunition; air-to-ground ammunition; Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems; missiles with a tube launch, with optical guidance and a wire track (TOW); ammunition for combat weapons and cluster munitions, explosive equipment, ammunition, communication equipment, training, software, clothing, personal equipment, spare parts and auxiliary equipment, services, training and transportation.
The US will provide Ukraine with $15bn at the expense of future revenues from frozen russian assets. The Ukrainian Ministry of Finance and the World Bank have already signed a corresponding agreement.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, had a phone conversation with Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. Defense support was discussed.
Materials compiled by Tetiana Kliuchnyk-Horobets, Tetyana Pidgorna, Olena Reka, Yana Hushchyna, Tamara Moshkovska, Sofia Ratynska, Ioanna Kryvenko, Helena Albahachiieva, Kristina Maknynia
Translated by Tetyana Pidgorna, Yana Hushchyna, Alla Litrovnyk, Liudmyla Stadnykova, Ilona Korolevska, Tetiana Moiseienko, Marharyta Koval, Tetiana Kurbatova
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