War in Ukraine today: latest news, 03 January 2026 (photo)

It has been the 1410  th 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:   

On 3 January, the total number of combat clashes along the entire front line was 104.

The invaders do not stop striking at border settlements. Bachivsk, Bila Bereza, Ryzhivka, Simeikine, Bezsalivka, Bobylivka in Sumy oblast suffered from enemy artillery fire.

Towards Northern Sloboda and Kursk, the enemy carried out 42 attacks, including one from a multiple launch rocket system.

Towards Southern Sloboda, the enemy attacked the fortifications of Ukrainian defenders thirteen times in the vicinity of ​​the settlements of Vovchansk, Starytsia, Prylipky and  Izbitske. Four combat clashes are ongoing.

Towards Kupiansk, the enemy carried out ten offensive actions in the vicinity of ​​the settlements of Synkivka, Nova Kruhliakivka, Kupiansk, Petropavlivka, Kucherivka and Kurylivka.

Towards Lyman, the invading army carried out 13 attacks on Ukrainian positions in the vicinity of ​​Novoselivka, Myrne, Zarichne, Olhivka, Drobysheve, and Stavka. Currently, 5 clashes are still ongoing.

Towards Slaviansk, the enemy attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders three times in the vicinity of ​​Dronivka and Zakitne.

Towards Kramatorsk, there were no enemy offensive actions.

Towards Kostiantynivka, the enemy attacked 16 times in the vicinity of the settlements of Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Kleban-Byk, Shcherbynivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, Ivanopillya, Berestok and Stepanivka.

Towards Pokrovsk, the enemy attacked 16 times in the vicinity of the settlements of Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Kotlyne, Udachne, Filiia and Bilytske. One engagement is ongoing.

Towards Oleksandrivka, Ukrainian defenders repelled eight enemy attacks in the vicinity of the settlements of Yalta, Vorone, Vyshneve, Zlahoda, Rybne and Andriivka-Klevtsove. Two engagements are currently ongoing.

Towards Huliaipole, there were 19 engagements in the vicinity of ​​Huliaipole, Uspenivka, Dorozhnianka, Dobropillia and Zelene, five of which are currently ongoing. Enemy aircraft struck the settlements of Zaliznychne, Vozdvizhivka, Sviatopetrivka, Staroukrainka, Huliaipole, Varvarivka, and Rizdvianka.

Towards Orikhiv, there were two clashes near Stepove and Novoandriivka.

Towards Kherson, Ukrainian units repelled two enemy attacks in the vicinity of Antonivskyi bridge.

Recent war events in the east of Ukraine

Kharkiv oblast

According to the General Staff, russian troops carried out 13 attacks on Ukrainian defensive positions near Vovchansk, Starytsia, Prilipka and Izbytske. As of 4:00pm, four clashes were ongoing.

russians also launched ten assaults near Synkivka, Nova Kruhliakivka, Kupiansk, Petropavlivka, Kucherivka and Kurylivka.

There were 116 combat clashes in the oblast.

Towards Southern Sloboda, the enemy tried six times to break through Ukrainian defence lines near Vovchansk, Hrabovske, Starytsia, Prilipka and Izbytske.

Towards Kupiansk, russian troops conducted two attacks yesterday. Ukrainian defenders repelled assaults near Petropavlivka and Kurylivka.

Viktor Trehubov, Spokesperson of the Joint Forces grouping, reports that the clearing operation in Kupiansk, which started in autumn, is nearing completion. Fewer than one hundred russian troops remain in the city. According to him, russian forces face supply problems, including by air, and may surrender en masse.

Bohdan Petrenko, Head of Communications of the 48th Separate Artillery BrigadeTowards Southern Sloboda, the number of russian assaults — from Vovchansk to Dvorichne — decreased with the onset of frost. He added that the extension of the front line and the expansion of the “grey zone” may also affect the decline in assaults.

Kharkiv city and two settlements in Kharkiv oblast came under attack. The enemy launched two Iskander-M missiles at Kyivskyi district. As a result, a 22-year-old woman and a three-year-old boy were killed. Twenty-seven people were injured, including a six-month-old boy. Seven people remain in hospital, one woman is in intensive care. Rescue workers continue to clear the rubble at the site of the strike in Kharkiv. According to preliminary information, up to five more people may remain under the debris. They were likely inside an office building when the explosion occurred. Communication with them has been lost. Rescue operations continued throughout the night.

The enemy actively used different types of weapons across Kharkiv oblast:
2 Iskander-M missiles,
2 Geran-2 drones,
1 FPV drone,
3 drones (type to be identified).

Civilian infrastructure suffered damage and destruction:
in Kharkiv, a commercial and office building was destroyed, as well as part of a four-storey apartment block. Windows in 25 buildings, a hospital and an educational facility were damaged. Thirty-three vehicles were damaged.
in Lozova region, a warehouse facility in Lozova was damaged.

The transit evacuation hub in Lozova received 17 people over the past day. Nineteen people currently remain there. Since the beginning of its operation, the hub has registered 16,074 people.

Donetsk oblast

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, towards Sloviansk, russian troops carried out five assaults. The enemy attacked near Zakytne, Siversk and Pereizne.

Towards Pokrovsk, Ukrainian Defence Forces repelled 26 attacks.

Myroslav Kryvoruchko, Head of Communications of the 38th Marine Brigade, says that there was no lull near Myrnohrad over the New Year period. russian forces continued assaults, tried to take advantage of bad weather and expectations of a pause, and sabotage-and-reconnaissance groups were recorded along the entire line of contact around the city.

The defence of Myrnohrad continues and has been reinforced. Logistics to the settlement remains complicated.

The National Guard of Ukraine reported that Molodetske remains under the control of the Defence Forces of Ukraine. The village in Donetsk oblast bordering Dnipropetrovsk oblast is being held by a battalion of the Spartan brigade.

Ukrainian troops continue to hold the northern part of Pokrovsk in Donetsk oblast. Defence Forces are eliminating russian troops in urban areas.

Kramatorsk Military Administration reported that russian forces attacked Kramatorsk with Molniia-2 drones. Apartment blocks were damaged and a woman born in 1982 was injured.

Andrii Honcharenko, Head of the Military Administration, says that in the morning, the russian army twice attacked Kramatorsk with strike drones. Within an hour, the enemy targeted apartment buildings. 

Vadym Liakh, Head of the Military Administration, says that a Molniia-2 drone struck the outskirts of Sloviansk. One man was killed.

After midnight, the enemy attacked Oleksandrivka with Geran-2 drones. Thirteen private houses and four civilian cars were damaged.

On 2 January, russian forces carried out 1,329 attacks along the front line and residential areas.

Five settlements came under attack: Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, Sviatohorivka, Shabelkivka and Myrna Dolyna.

Eight civilian objects were damaged, including four residential houses.

In Kostiantynivka, russians used tube artillery and FPV drones, killing one civilian and injuring four more.

In Druzhkivka, one person was killed and two were injured as a result of FPV drone strikes. A private house and two civilian vehicles were damaged.

In Shabelkivka, Kramatorsk community, two private houses were damaged by a Molniia-2 drone.

In Myrna Dolyna, Oleksandrivka community, an enemy FPV drone damaged a private house.

According to Mariupol City Council, in temporarily occupied Mariupol, the water tariff doubled and the heating tariff almost tripled. The city still suffers from a severe water shortage: water is supplied for several hours once every two days, and some houses receive no water for weeks.

The National Resistance Centre reported that the occupiers dismissed more than one thousand energy workers servicing substations due to spending cuts.

Luhansk oblast

According to the RMA, russian forces continue attacks on settlements in Luhansk oblast using various types of weapons. Near Novoiehorivka, the enemy twice used multiple-launch rocket systems, fired mortars and tube artillery, carried out four drone drops and attempted to strike positions with an FPV drone.

In Hrekivka, there were four mortar attacks, along with the use of automatic grenade launchers, tube artillery and unmanned systems, including FPV drones.

Near Nadiia, russian troops conducted five mortar strikes, used artillery and grenade launchers, and launched two FPV drones towards Ukrainian defenders.

Despite repeated assurances, russian investors did not settle outstanding wage payments with miners in the so-called “lpr” before New Year. At the Bilorichenska mine near Lutuhyne, workers received only part of the funds that had been due four months earlier, while coal extraction continued throughout the year.

Water supply remains unstable in the occupied areas. Available capacities are insufficient to ensure uninterrupted water delivery to Alchevsk and Perevalsk. Water supply to Alchevsk reportedly decreased by about 80 percent, and the water level in the reservoirs at the Perevalsk pumping station has dropped to a critical mark.

What is happening now in the north of Ukraine

Kyiv oblast

The RMA reported that during the night, russian forces carried out a drone attack on peaceful settlements in Kyiv oblast. As a result of the attack in Obukhivskyi district, two private houses, a garage and two cars were impacted. Windows were broken and facades and house roofs damaged.

Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, announced that National security advisers from European countries, as well as representatives of NATO, the European Council and the European Commission, arrived in Kyiv. Representatives from Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Denmark are participating in the meetings. Together with their Ukrainian colleagues, they will discuss security and economic issues.

Kyivteploenergo reported that in Kyiv, utility workers are restoring the city’s infrastructure after russian shelling on the night of 27 December. On 3 January, heat supply was restored to the Rusanivka and Bereznyaky neighbourhoods.

The city council reported that Bucha community donated generators to the 15th Border Guard Detachment of the Ukrainian Defence Forces. The equipment should help strengthen technical support and increase the unit’s resilience in the field.

The Regional State Administration reported that more than 114,000 war veterans and family members of fallen defenders of Ukraine live in Kyiv oblast. During 2025, 1,276 applications from veterans and their family members were funded under the regional social assistance programme for a total amount of UAH 60.77 million. There are 14 veteran centres operating in the oblast on a ‘single window’ basis, and six more will soon open in communities. 243 support specialists are working in Kyiv oblast, helping veterans with social, medical and legal issues.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Oleh Burlachok, head of Kyiv oblast rescue service, with the Order of Courage, III degree. According to the Presidential Administration, on 1 January, the President of Ukraine signed the first decree of 2026, awarding state honours to 53 Ukrainians from different oblasts of the country. Twelve of them are from Kyiv and Kyiv oblast.

Zhytomyr oblast

According to information from the United24 multimedia platform, 393 alarms sounded in Zhytomyr oblast last year.

Vitalii Bunechko, Head of Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration, announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Vitali Bidiuk, a defender from Radomyshl community, with the Order of Courage, III degree. From the first days of the war, Vitalii joined the Radomyshl Guard, a public organisation for maintaining public order.

On 2 January, Zhytomyr Regional Blood Centre announced an acute shortage of donors of all blood types. Donors of the most common blood types are asked to come to the centre and replenish the blood supply, which is needed for both hospitals and frontline hospitals.

Sumy oblast

The Regional Military Administration reported that on 3 December, a civilian man was killed in an enemy attack in Sumy oblast. A 52-year-old resident of Esman community was struck by a russian FPV drone while he was going to fetch water.

Mykola Noha, Head of Shostka community, said that in Myronivskyi starosta district of Shostka community, private garages were destroyed and several passenger vehicles were damaged. During the night, the russian army attacked the community by drones. According to the police, at least 11 garages were damaged.

In Krasnopillia community, a 60-year-old man was injured in an FPV-drone strike on 2 January. A passenger vehicle was also damaged.

Between the morning of 2 January and the morning of 3 January, russian forces carried out nearly 50 attacks on 25 settlements across 12 territorial communities in the oblast. The highest number of strikes was recorded in Sumy and Shostka regions. The enemy used artillery, mortars, FPV drones, UAVs and guided aerial bombs. Air-raid alerts in the oblast lasted a total of 3 hours and 47 minutes over the past day.

Civilian infrastructure was damaged or destroyed as follows:

• in Velyka Pysarivka community, a private residential house was destroyed;
• in Krasnopillia community, a passenger vehicle was damaged;
• in Shostka community, non-residential premises and private passenger vehicles were damaged;
• in Seredyno-Buda community, a private residential house was damaged;
• in Esman community, a private residential house was destroyed;
• in Hlukhiv community, two residential houses were destroyed.

Over the past 24 hours, local authorities, together with units of the State Emergency Service, the National Police and non-governmental organisations from border communities, evacuated six people.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded state honours to Sumy residents Vitaliia Veremiienko and Liudmyla Stotska. Volunteer and co-founder of the non-governmental organisation “SBB-Tyl” Vitaliia Veremiienko received the Order of Merit, Third Class. Liudmyla Stotska, a driver with the municipal enterprise Elektroavtotrans, was awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class. She has worked as a trolleybus driver for 18 years.

Chernihiv oblast

The National Police in Chernihiv oblast reported that at around 11pm on 2 January, russian forces struck a farming enterprise in one of the villages of Kozelets community by strike drones. The attack damaged a cowshed and killed livestock.

Oleksandr Seliverstov, Head of the Regional Military Administration, said that at around 11pm on 2 January, russian forces attacked Novhorod-Siverskyi by Heran-2 strike drones. Four vehicles, garages and outbuildings were damaged. In addition, a seven-apartment residential building sustained damage as a result of the UAV strike.

According to Chernihiv Border Guard Detachment, over the course of 2 January, russian forces attacked four villages in Novhorod-Siverska and Semenivskyi border communities of Chernihiv oblast. The enemy carried out four FPV-drone strikes.

The State Environmental Inspectorate in Chernihiv oblast, informed that in early December 2025, following russian drone attacks on Chernihiv, environmental inspectors recorded land littering and air pollution. The damage caused to the natural environment as a result of russia’s armed aggression was assessed at nearly UAH 12m..

The Regional Military Administration reported that at Mykhailo-Kotsiubynske Lyceum, which was damaged by a russian missile strike in March 2022, major repairs have been completed. After the winter holidays, 350 students will return to the renovated school.

Viacheslav Chaus, Head of Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, announced that in Chernihiv oblast, eight new shelters were built at educational institutions in 2025, and another 32 were renovated. The projects were funded by the state, donors and local communities. By the end of the year, 71% of schools in the oblast were operating in person, 24% in a blended format and 5% remotely.

Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

Mykola Lukashuk, Head of Dnipro Oblast Council, reported that late in the evening, occupying forces shelled Marhanets community using multiple-launch rocket systems.

Closer to midnight, the enemy struck Vasylkivka community by a UAV, causing a fire. Five private houses were damaged. Occupying forces continued to attack the regional centre and Pokrovske community by drones and artillery. Another UAV strike on Vasylkivka community caused a fire, damaging an educational institution, a private house and infrastructure. In Dnipro, a UAV attack damaged an enterprise.

Kirovohrad oblast

In Kropyvnytskyi, a new tradition known as the “Mourning Carol” has been introduced to honour fallen servicemembers from the city. It is a special form of commemoration that combines Christmas traditions with profound respect for those who did not return from the war.

Poltava oblast

In Sumy oblast, a service member from Bilyky community, Serhii Neshchemnyi, was killed. On 31 December 2025, Senior Soldier and UAV operator Serhii Denysovych Neshchemnyi, born in 2001 and a native of Markivka village, was killed during combat operations.

In Poltava, a reminder rally titled “Do Not Be Silent — Captivity Kills” took place. The event brought together relatives, friends and loved ones of servicemembers who are being held in russian captivity or are considered missing.

Cherkasy oblast

Ihor Taburets, Head of Cherkasy Regional Military Administration, reported that during the daytime, the enemy carried out a missile strike on Zolotonishchyna in Cherkasy oblast. Five people sought medical assistance. Two of the injured were taken to hospital. According to preliminary data, residential infrastructure and a private enterprise were damaged by debris and the blast wave.

Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine

Zaporizhzhia oblast

Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, reported that a 51-year-old woman was injured as a result of a russian attack on Zaporizhzhia oblast. The russian forces attacked Novooleksandrivka community by drones. A house was damaged.

The russian forces attacked Zaporizhzhia city by a drone that struck the territory of a garage cooperative. A vehicle was damaged and windows were shattered.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on 2 January, Defence Forces repelled 33 russian attacks on Huliaipole, Orikhiv and Oleksandrivka regions. In particular, combat engagements took place in the areas of Huliaipole, Plavni, Prymorske, Rybne, Dobropillia and Zelene.

Ivan Fedorov, Head of the RMA, stated that on 2 January, russian forces carried out more than 600 strikes on 23 cities and villages in Zaporizhzhia oblast. In particular, artillery shelling was conducted 244 times against Stepnohirsk, Prymorske, Stepove, Huliaipole, Zaliznychne, Shcherbaky, Novoandriivka, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, Bilohiria, Varvarivka, Solodke, Dobropillia, Dolynka and Charivne. There were no casualties or injuries reported.

The Ministry of Energy reported that Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant once again lost power supply from one of its high-voltage lines overnight on 3 January. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, russian shelling has repeatedly damaged power lines supplying the plant, causing 12 complete blackouts at the facility.

According to the National Police of the oblast, 2 women and an 11-year-old child were evacuated from frontline settlements in Zaporizhzhia oblast.

Mykolaiv oblast

Overnight, air defence forces shot down or suppressed 30 Shahed-type UAVs and various types of decoy drones in the oblast.

During the night, russian forces attacked critical infrastructure in the oblast by Shahed drones, resulting in power outages in parts of settlements in Mykolaiv oblast. Energy workers are carrying out restoration works.

According to Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, during the daytime on 2 January, russian forces attacked the outskirts of Mykolaiv by a drone, preliminarily identified as a Molniia-type UAV, damaging a fuel station and 2 vehicles. There were no casualties reported.

Also, on 2 January, russian forces attacked Kutsurub community by an FPV drone. There were no injuries reported.

Odesa oblast

Odesa Regional Military Administration reported that municipal services eliminated the consequences of 2 russian attacks in Odesa. On Viiskovyi Descent, approximately 400sq.m of roofing were restored on a building damaged on 27 December, while on Transportna Street electricity, water, gas and heating supplies were restored. 2 of the most severely damaged apartments remain temporarily without utilities.

Kherson oblast

At around 11am, shelling in Tsentralnyi district damaged building facades, windows, power lines and gas infrastructure.

In Dniprovskyi district, a strike resulted in the deaths of 2 civilians (a man and a woman).

Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine

Volyn oblast

It became known about the death of soldier Fedor Korets, born in 1992, a resident of the village of Dolsk, who fell in Donetsk oblast. The Hero was killed on 2 June, 2025.

Zakarpattia oblast

The Humanitarian Center “Owl’s Nest NGO sent humanitarian aid to Uzhhorod City Multidisciplinary Clinical Hospital, Zakarpattia Anti-Tumor Center, Mukachevo St. Martin Hospital, Zakarpattia Regional Cardiology Center, Chynadiivka Orphanage and the Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, thanks to PDUM Partnerschaft Deutschland-Ukraine/Moldova e. V., Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen/Wings of Help e.V., Spletinnia Kosice, Valentyn Stefanyo and other benefactors.

Ivano-Frankivsk oblast

The 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Hero of Ukraine Valeryi Hudzy received 10 AUTEL EVO MAX 4T quadcopters and 5 DJI Matrice 4T quadcopters worth over UAH 2.7m thanks to the framework of military unit support programs.

Lviv oblast

At Myshlyatichi Village Community Center, children and adults join in weaving camouflage nets. Last year, after the Community Center was renovated, children and adults resumed work and have since woven approximately 50 nets.

At the Pamva Berinda Yasnysky School, students and teachers held a charity fair that united the entire school family in support of the defenders. Thanks to joint efforts, they collected almost UAH 50,000, which was donated to Petro Ilchyshyn to help the military.

Rivne oblast

The RMA reported that the construction of a new building of the regional clinical hospital, as well as a number of other facilities – shelters in hospitals and educational institutions, was completed and school cafeterias were reconstructed.

Ternopil oblast

The military received 2 cars. A total of 6 cars were delivered by the Brother for Brother to Victory CF from friends from Latvia.

Khmelnytskyi oblast

In 2025, material assistance from Khmelnytskyi community budget was provided to residents whose property was damaged by terrorist attacks and an explosion in a residential building. This is 31 people over UAH 2m.

Chernivtsi oblast

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, awarded soldiers who were killed in battles for Ukraine. In particular, Sergeant Yurii Vovchuk was awarded with the III degree For Courage Order (posthumously).

International support of Ukraine in the russian-Ukrainian war (russia’s invasion of Ukraine)

National security advisers from European countries have arrived in Kyiv. Representatives from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, as well as NATO, the European Council and the European Commission, are taking part in the meetings. Together with their Ukrainian colleagues, they will discuss security and economic issues. A meeting at the level of state leaders is planned in France.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, had a phone conversation with Nikos Christodoulides, President of Cyprus. They discussed support for Ukraine.

 

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Materials compiled by 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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