These are the key developments from day 1,416 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published On 10 Jan 202610 Jan 2026
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Here is where things stand on Saturday, January 10:
Fighting:
The death toll from a massive Russian attack on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv that began on Thursday night has risen to four, the Ukrainian State Emergency Service wrote in an update shared on Facebook on Friday. At least 25 people were also injured, including five rescuers, the service added.
The attack left thousands of Kyiv apartments without heat, electricity and water as temperatures fell to minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and other local officials said.
Klitschko called on people to temporarily leave the city, saying on Telegram that “half of apartment buildings in Kyiv – nearly 6,000 – are currently without heating because the capital’s critical infrastructure was damaged by the enemy’s massive attack”.
Russian forces shelled a hospital in the Ukrainian city of Kherson just after midday on Friday, damaging the intensive care unit and injuring three nurses, the regional prosecutor’s office wrote on Telegram.
“As a result of the attack, three nurses aged 21, 49, and 52 were wounded. At the time of the shelling, the women were inside the medical facility,” the office said in a statement.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemned attacks on healthcare in Ukraine in a statement shared on X, saying that there had been nine attacks since the beginning of 2026, killing one patient, one medic and injuring 11 others, including healthcare workers and patients.
Tedros said that the attacks further “complicated the delivery of health care during the winter period” and called for “the protection of health care facilities, patients and health workers”.
Russian forces attacked two foreign-flagged civilian vessels with drones in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, killing a Syrian national and injuring another, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba and other officials said on Friday.
A Ukrainian drone attack on a bus in Russia’s Belgorod region injured four people, the regional task force reported, according to Russia’s TASS state news agency.
Russian forces seized five settlements in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region, including Zelenoye, the Russian Ministry of Defence said, according to TASS.
Ukrainian battlefield monitoring site DeepState said on Friday that Russian forces advanced in Huliaipole and Prymorske in the Zaporizhia region, but did not report any further changes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Russia’s Oreshnik missile strike late on Thursday was “demonstratively” close to Ukraine’s border with the European Union.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has begun consultations to establish a temporary ceasefire zone near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after military activity damaged one of two high-voltage power lines, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement on Friday.
Sanctions
US forces seized the Olina oil tanker and forced it to return to Venezuela so its oil could be sold “through the GREAT Energy Deal”, United States President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Friday. According to The Associated Press news agency, US government records showed that the Olina had been sanctioned for moving Russian oil under its prior name, Minerva M.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Olha Stefanishyna, said that Ukrainian nationals were among members of the crew of the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera seized earlier this week by US forces over its links to Venezuela, according to Interfax Ukraine news agency.
The Russian Foreign Ministry separately said on Friday that the US had released two Russian crewmembers from the Marinera, expressing gratitude to Washington for the decision and pledging to ensure the return home of crewmembers.
Politics and diplomacy
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “deep regret” over damage to its embassy in Kyiv, confirming that no diplomats or staff were hurt, in a statement on Friday. The ministry underscored the importance of protecting diplomatic buildings and reiterated its call for a “resolution to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis through dialogue and peaceful means”.
British Defence Secretary John Healey said that the United Kingdom was allocating 200 million pounds ($270m) to fund preparations for the possible deployment of troops to Ukraine, during a visit to Kyiv on Friday.
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany described Russia’s use of an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in western Ukraine as “escalatory and unacceptable”, according to a readout of their call released by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office on Friday.
These are the key developments from day 1,414 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published On 8 Jan 20268 Jan 2026
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Here is where things stand on Thursday, January 8:
Fighting
One person was killed and five people were injured in a Russian attack on two ports in Ukraine’s Odesa region, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said in a post on Facebook. “The attack damaged port facilities, administrative buildings, and oil containers,” Kuleba said.
A Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih, in Ukraine’s Dnipro region, injured eight people, including two seriously, the head of the Kryvyi Rih defence council, Oleksandr Vilkul, wrote on Telegram.
Russian attacks left Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions in southeastern Ukraine “almost completely without electricity”, Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy said in a statement on Telegram. “Critical infrastructure is operating on reserve power,” the ministry added.
Firefighters put out a blaze that broke out at an oil depot in Russia’s southern Belgorod region following an overnight Ukrainian drone attack, the Vesti state TV channel reported on Wednesday, citing the regional governor.
Politics and diplomacy
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that any deployment of UK forces under a declaration signed with France and Ukraine would be subject to a parliamentary vote. “I will keep the house updated as the situation develops, and were troops to be deployed under the declaration signed, I would put that matter to the house for a vote,” Starmer told parliament on Wednesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters on WhatsApp that he hopes to meet with United States President Donald Trump soon to gauge his openness to a Ukrainian proposal that Washington ensure security for Kyiv for more than 15 years in the event of a ceasefire, according to the Reuters news agency. “The Americans, in my view, are being productive right now; we have good results … They need to put pressure on Russia. They have the tools, and they know how to use them,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy also said during a visit to Cyprus on Wednesday that Ukraine is “doing everything required on our side in the negotiation process. And we expect that no additional or excessive demands will be placed on Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy was in Cyprus as it assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union, as he continued a push for his country to join the bloc. “We are working to make as much progress as possible during this period on opening negotiating clusters and on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union,” Zelenskyy said after a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia, in a statement posted on X.
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Wednesday that negotiations are still “far from a peace plan” for Ukraine. “There is an outline of ideas,” Albares said, according to Reuters.
Sanctions
The US seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, including the Marinera crude oil tanker sailing under Russia’s flag.
US Vice President JD Vance said that the tanker “was a fake Russian oil tanker,” in an interview set to air on Fox News, excerpts of which were provided in advance. “They basically tried to pretend to be a Russian oil tanker in an effort to avoid the sanctions regime,” Vance said, referring to sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on Venezuelan oil. The Trump administration has separately imposed sanctions on some Russian oil companies.
Ukraine’s foreign minister said on Wednesday that Kyiv welcomed the move. “The apprehension of a Russian-flagged ship in the North Atlantic underscores the United States’ and President Trump’s resolute leadership,” Andrii Sybiha wrote on X. “We welcome such an approach to dealing with Russia: act, not fear. This is also relevant to the peace process and bringing a lasting peace closer.”
Russia’s Ministry of Transport protested the seizure, saying in a statement that “in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in the high seas, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states”.
US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said that President Trump has “greenlit” a long-awaited bipartisan bill imposing sanctions on Russia after the pair met on Wednesday. “I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week,” Graham said in a statement.
People are being charged up to £1 a minute, new figures revealed
Gatwick Airport is the most expensive airport for drop-offs, upping its fee from £7 to £10 for 10 minutes(Image: Getty Images)
Four major airports have increased their drop-off charges already this year, delivering a fresh blow to air travellers. Depositing loved ones at some of the UK’s biggest airports has grown more costly, as several facilities have raised their fees this week.
From January 6, Gatwick Airport will boost the cost of its drop-off zones by £3 – pushing the minimum charge up to £10.
London City Airport, amongst the final major hubs not to impose a drop-off fee, will also introduce an £8 charge tomorrow for drop-offs lasting up to 5 minutes, plus an extra £1 per minute for extended stays, capped at a maximum 10-minute drop-off period.
This comes after Heathrow’s drop-off fees rose from £6 to £7 on January 1, whilst Southend airport shifted from no charge to £7 last summer.
Emily Barnett, Travel Expert at Compare the Market, commented: “With multiple London airports increasing passenger drop-off charges this year, the cost of a holiday before travellers have even reached the terminal is on the rise. For families trying to save some cash by being dropped off by a friend or family member, these fees can quickly add an extra, unexpected expense to an already costly trip. While solo travellers will have to shoulder the cost alone, it’s wise to plan ahead and assess whether an alternative travel option would suit.
“Taking public transport to get to the airport could be more cost effective if flight times and the journey route permit. For some travellers, using Park and Ride services at Heathrow and Gatwick may be more convenient as they offer passengers frequent shuttle buses between terminals and off-airport parking services for free.
“The news of price rises serves as a good reminder for holidaymakers to look for savings on other travel expenses where possible. Booking early could help get a better price, while comparing travel insurance deals and taking a ‘buy when you book’ approach means you’re covered before you even set off should you need to cancel for an unforeseen circumstance. Taking the time to weigh up prices and options could make a real difference to the overall cost of a trip.”
For the latest money saving tips, shopping and consumer news, go to the new Everything Money website
New 2026 airport charges rundown:
London City Airport has ended its reign as the only airport in the capital not charging drivers for dropping off loved ones by introducing an £8 fee. The charge must be paid for parking for up to five minutes – every additional minute after that will cost £1 until you hit the maximum 10-minute stay.
The airport said the fee will help to “maintain efficient access to the forecourt and support the best possible access for everyone”. Blue badge holders and black cabs are exempt from the charge.
Gatwick Airport has become the most expensive airport for drop-offs, increasing its fee from £7 to £10 for 10 minutes.
The airport – Britain’s second busiest after Heathrow – only bumped its charges to £7 in May last year.
It cited rising expenses, including business rates that have more than doubled, as the reason behind the increase.
The airport also informed Money that it was “not aware” of any additional rises planned for this year, or a review of the existing charge.
Guy Hobbs, Which? Travel Expert said: “It’s unsurprising that following Heathrow’s announcement, Gatwick has also pulled the trigger on a drop off price hike in a fresh blow to travellers. These harsh price hikes and oppressive time limits from two of the UK’s busiest airports will only add another layer of stress, frustration and cost to passengers.”
He added: “Fortunately, there are alternative long stay car parks where you can drop off free of charge at all major UK airports.”
London Heathrow bumped its fee from £6 to £7 on New Year’s Day, and brought in a fresh 10-minute rule in drop-off zones, with motorists who overstay facing a penalty.
The airport has stated that no further rises were scheduled for this year.
Bristol Airport lifted its charges from £7 to £8.50 for up to 10 minutes of parking. Motorists staying between 10 and 20 minutes have also witnessed their fee rise from £9 to £10.50.
Blue Badge holders can utilise the drop-off car park for an extended period of 40 minutes, but that will also climb from £7 to £8.50.
The family-friendly holiday park operator is offering the package to visitors who want to avoid cooking and washing up during their stay, with three meals a day included in the price
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A family of four can enjoy an all-inclusive break for under £400(Image: Publicity Picture)
Holiday park operator Parkdean Resorts is launching an all-inclusive package at 42 of its UK-based parks during selected dates in 2026 with prices from just £25 a day for adults.
The package will include three meals a day, unlimited soft drinks, and all-you-can-drink Costa Coffee. After trialling the package at ten parks in 2025, the option to book an all-inclusive break will be extended to over 40 of its parks during spring and early summer.
The upgrade will be available for those booking four-night breaks between Monday and Friday on dates between February 16 and March 23, April 20 and May 18, or June 1 to July 13. The price starts at £25 per adult and £10 for children, while a four-night caravan holiday costs from £89, meaning a family of four could enjoy a midweek break that includes all meals and accommodation for under £400.
To book an all-inclusive break, all holidaymakers need to do is add the option when checking out on the Parkdean website. There’s also an option to add all-inclusive dining to your break once you arrive at the park, if you’re not quite sure about upgrading.
Parkdean have revealed the list of parks that’ll offer the all-inclusive package, and it includes family-friendly destinations such as Cornwall, Dorset, the Isle of Wight, and the Lake District, giving plenty of choices of places to stay.
Andy Edge, Chief Marketing Officer at Parkdean Resorts, said: “Following the huge success of our trial at ten parks in 2025, we are rolling out our all-inclusive offer to a total of 42 holiday parks this year – making us one of the largest providers of all-inclusive UK holiday park breaks.
“Families of four can save over £300 by going all-inclusive, making this an extremely cost-effective option for families seeking action-packed breaks in some of the UK’s most scenic and sought-after locations.”
List of Parkdean Resorts parks offering all-inclusive breaks:
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has added seven countries, including five in Africa, to the list of nations whose passport holders are required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States.
Thirteen countries, all but two of them in Africa, are now on the list, which makes the process of obtaining a U.S. visa unaffordable for many.
The State Department last week quietly added Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan to the list. Those designations took effect on Jan. 1, according to a notice posted on the travel.state.gov website.
It’s the latest effort by the Trump administration to tighten requirements for entry to the U.S., including requiring citizens from all countries that require visas to sit for in-person interviews and disclose years of social media histories as well as detailed accounts of their and their families’ previous travel and living arrangements.
U.S. officials have defended the bonds, which can range from $5,000 up to $15,000, maintaining they are effective in ensuring that citizens of targeted countries do not overstay their visas.
Payment of the bond does not guarantee a visa will be granted, but the amount will be refunded if the visa is denied or when a visa holder demonstrates they have complied with the terms of visa.
The new countries covered by the requirement join Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi and Zambia, which were all placed on the list in August and October of last year.
The Critics Choice Awards 2026 recognised the biggest films and TV series of the past year, with Netflix’s Adolescence dominating the TV categories
Erin Doherty won Best Supporting Actress(Image: Getty)
The Critics Choice Awards served as a grand stage for the year’s most celebrated films and TV series to receive their well-deserved accolades. With big-screen blockbusters and Netflix sensations vying for esteemed awards, the competition was fierce.
Among the nominated films were Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Wicked: For Good’, and Netflix’s fresh take on ‘Frankenstein’ by renowned director Guillermo del Toro. A-listers such as Timothée Chalamet and Emma Stone were also in the running for individual honours.
The star-studded ceremony acknowledged excellence in music, stunts, animation, and production design. Two titles reigned supreme, with Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ emerging as the top TV victor of the night.
In the film categories, ‘Frankenstein’ scooped up four awards, alongside Ryan Coogler’s redemption tale ‘Sinners’. The event drew a host of celebrities, including Kylie Jenner who attended in support of her beau, Chalamet.
Here’s a rundown of the winners and nominees from the Critics Choice Awards 2026.
Best Picture
Winner: One Battle After Another
Nominees:
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Jay Kelly
Marty Supreme
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Wicked: For Good
Best Actor
Winner: Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme
Nominees:
Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams
Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
Best Actress
Winner: Jessie Buckley for Hamnet
Nominees:
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee
Emma Stone, Bugonia
Best Director
Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
Nominees:
Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein
Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
Chloé Zhao, Hamnet
Best Original Screenplay
Winner: Ryan Coogler for Sinners
Nominees:
Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer, Jay Kelly
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
Zach Cregger, Weapons
Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby
Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
Best Adapted Screenplay
Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
Nominees:
Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Train Dreams
Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don Mckellar, Jahye Lee, No Other Choice
Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein
Will Tracy, Bugonia
Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet
Best Stunt Design
Winner: Wade Eastwood for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Nominees:
Stephen Dunlevy, Kyle Gardiner, Jackson Spidell, Jeremy Marinas, Jan Petina, Domonkos Párdányi, Kinga Kósa-Gavalda, Ballerina
Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby, F1
Brian Machleit, One Battle After Another
Andy Gill, Sinners
Giedrius Nagys, Warfare
Best Score
Winner: Ludwig Göransson for Sinners
Nominees:
Hans Zimmer, F1
Alexandre Desplat, Frankenstein
Max Richter, Hamnet
Daniel Lopatin, Marty Supreme
Jonny Greenwood, One Battle After Another
Best Film Made for Television
Winner: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Nominees:
Deep Cover
The Gorge
Mountainhead
Nonnas
Summer of ’69
Best Variety Series
Winner: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Nominees:
Conan O’Brien Must Go
Saturday Night Live
Best Animated Feature
Winner: KPop Demon Hunters
Nominees:
Arco
Elio
In Your Dreams
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
Best Song
Winner: “Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy from KPop Demon Hunters
Nominees:
“Drive” – Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Blake Slatkin – F1
“I Lied to You” – Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson – Sinners
“Clothed by the Sun” – Daniel Blumberg – The Testament of Ann Lee
“Train Dreams” – Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner – Train Dreams
“The Girl in the Bubble” – Stephen Schwartz – Wicked: For Good
Best Drama Series
Winner: The Pitt
Nominees:
Alien: Earth
Andor
The Diplomat
Paradise
Pluribus
Severance
Task
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Winner: Rhea Seehorn for Pluribus
Nominees:
Kathy Bates, Matlock
Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
Britt Lower, Severance
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Winner: Noah Wyle for The Pitt
Nominees:
Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
Diego Luna, Andor
Mark Ruffalo, Task
Adam Scott, Severance
Billy Bob Thornton, Landman
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Winner: Tramell Tillman for Severance
Nominees:
Patrick Ball, The Pitt
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Ato Essandoh, The Diplomat
Wood Harris, Forever
Tom Pelphrey, Task
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Winner: Katherine LaNasa for The Pitt
Nominees:
Nicole Beharie, The Morning Show
Denée Benton, The Gilded Age
Allison Janney, The Diplomat
Greta Lee, The Morning Show
Skye P. Marshall, Matlock
Best Supporting Actress
Winner: Amy Madigan for Weapons
Nominees:
Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value
Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Best Supporting Actor
Winner: Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein
Nominees:
Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another
Paul Mescal, Hamnet
Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly
Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value
Best Comedy Series
Winner: The Studio
Nominees:
Abbott Elementary
Elsbeth
Ghosts
Hacks
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
The Righteous Gemstones
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner: Jean Smart for Hacks
Nominees:
Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This
Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face
Rose McIver, Ghosts
Edi Patterson, The Righteous Gemstones
Carrie Preston, Elsbeth
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner: Seth Rogen for The Studio
Nominees:
Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This
Ted Danson, A Man on the Inside
David Alan Grier, St. Denis Medical
Danny McBride, The Righteous Gemstones
Alexander Skarsgård, Murderbot
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner: Ike Barinholtz for The Studio
Nominees:
Paul W. Downs, Hacks
Asher Grodman, Ghosts
Oscar Nuñez, The Paper
Chris Perfetti, Abbott Elementary
Timothy Simons, Nobody Wants This
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner: Janelle James for Abbott Elementary
Nominees:
Danielle Brooks, Peacemaker
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Justine Lupe, Nobody Wants This
Ego Nwodim, Saturday Night Live
Rebecca Wisocky, Ghosts
Best Talk Show
Winner: Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Nominees:
The Daily Show
Hot Ones
Late Night with Seth Meyers
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Best Casting and Ensemble
Winner: Francine Maisler for Sinners
Nominees:
Nina Gold, Hamnet
Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold, Jay Kelly
Jennifer Venditti, Marty Supreme
Cassandra Kulukundis, One Battle After Another
Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey, Wicked: For Good
Best Limited Series
Winner: Adolescence
Nominees:
All Her Fault
Chief of War
Death by Lightning
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
Dope Thief
Dying for Sex
The Girlfriend
Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Winner: Sarah Snook for All Her Fault
Nominees:
Jessica Biel, The Better Sister
Meghann Fahy, Sirens
Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex
Robin Wright, The Girlfriend
Renée Zellweger, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Winner: Stephen Graham for Adolescence
Nominees:
Michael Chernus, Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
Brian Tyree Henry, Dope Thief
Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
Michael Shannon, Death by Lightning
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Winner: Owen Cooper, Adolescence
Nominees:
Wagner Moura, Dope Thief
Nick Offerman, Death by Lightning
Michael Peña, All Her Fault
Ashley Walters, Adolescence
Ramy Youssef, Mountainhead
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Winner: Erin Doherty, Adolescence
Nominees:
Betty Gilpin, Death by Lightning
Marin Ireland, Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
Sophia Lillis, All Her Fault
Julianne Moore, Sirens
Christine Tremarco, Adolescence
Best Young Actor / Actress
Winner: Miles Caton in Sinners
Nominees:
Everett Blunck, The Plague
Cary Christopher, Weapons
Shannon Mahina Gorman, Rental Family
Jacobi Jupe, Hamnet
Nina Ye, Left-Handed Girl
Best Foreign Language Film
Winner: The Secret Agent
Nominees:
It Was Just an Accident
Left-Handed Girl
No Other Choice
Sirt
Belé
Best Comedy
Winner: The Naked Gun
Nominees:
The Ballad of Wallis Island
Eternity
Friendship
The Phoenician Scheme
Splitsville
Best Foreign Language Series
Winner: Squid Game
Nominees:
Acapulco
Last Samurai Standing
Mussolini: Son of the Century
Red Alert
When No One Sees Us
Best Animated Series
Winner: South Park
Nominees:
Bob’s Burgers
Harley Quinn
Long Story Short
Marvel Zombies
Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man
Best Cinematography
Winner: Adolpho Veloso for Train Dreams
Nominees:
Claudio Miranda, F1
Dan Laustsen, Frankenstein
Łukasz Żal, Hamnet
Michael Bauman, One Battle After Another
Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners
Best Comedy Special
Winner: SNL50: The Anniversary Special
Nominees:
Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life
Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian
Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things
Marc Maron: Panicked
Sarah Silverman: PostMortem
Best Production Design
Winner: Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau for Frankenstein
Nominees:
Kasra Farahani, Jille Azis, The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton, Hamnet
Jack Fisk, Adam Willis, Marty Supreme
Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne, Sinners
Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales, Wicked: For Good
Best Editing
Winner: Stephen Mirrione for F1
Nominees:
Kirk Baxter, A House of Dynamite
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
Andy Jurgensen, One Battle After Another
Viridiana Lieberman, The Perfect Neighbour
Michael P. Shawver, Sinners
Best Costume Design
Winner: Kate Hawley for Frankenstein
Nominees:
Malgosia Turzanska, Hamnet
Lindsay Pugh, Hedda
Colleen Atwood, Christine Cantella, Kiss of the Spider Woman
Ruth E. Carter, Sinners
Paul Tazewell, Wicked: For Good
Best Hair and Makeup
Winner: Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey for Frankenstein
Nominees:
Flora Moody, John Nolan, 28 Years Later
Siân Richards, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Shunika Terry, Sinners
Kazu Hiro, Felix Fox, Mia Neal, The Smashing Machine
Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat, Jason Collins, Weapons
Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier, Laura Blount, Wicked: For Good
Best Visual Effects
Winner: Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett for Avatar: Fire and Ash
Nominees:
Ryan Tudhope, Nikeah Forde, Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, Eric Leven, Edward Price, Keith Dawson, F1
Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell, Frankenstein
Alex Wuttke, Ian Lowe, Jeff Sutherland, Kirstin Hall, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean, Sinners
Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé, Guy Williams, Superman
Best Sound
Winner: Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John for F1
Nominees:
Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, Greg Chapman – Frankenstein
Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor – One Battle After Another
Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco, David V. Butler – Sinners
Laia Casanovas – Sirt
Mitch Low, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner – Warfare
*For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website*
These are the key developments from day 1,409 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published On 2 Jan 20262 Jan 2026
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Here is where things stand on Saturday, January 3:
Fighting
Two people were killed, including a three-year-old child, and at least 31 people were wounded in a Russian ballistic missile attack on a five-storey residential building in the centre of Ukraine’s Kharkiv, the region’s governor Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence denied responsibility for the attack, claiming it was caused by the detonation of Ukrainian ammunition and was meant as a distraction from a deadly attack the day before on the village of Khorly, in a Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region.
The death toll from the drone strike on a hotel and cafe in Khorly rose to 28 people, the region’s Russian-installed governor, Vladimir Saldo, told Russia’s state-run TASS news agency. Saldo also said that more than 60 people were injured in the attack. Ukraine has responded to the strike by saying it does not target civilians.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said in a post on Facebook that Ukrainian authorities have decided to evacuate more than 3,000 children, along with their parents, from 44 front-line settlements in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions due to Russian aggression.
A Ukrainian attack on the electricity grid in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia region of Ukraine left 1,777 households without power, Russian-installed regional governor, Yevgeniy Balitsky, wrote on Telegram.
Russian forces shot down 64 Ukrainian drones overnight into Friday, Russia’s Defence Ministry said, according to TASS.
Ukrainian monitoring site DeepState reported Russian forces seized more land in the Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk region, as well as in Svitle in the Ternopil region.
The Russian army captured more than 5,600 square kilometres (2,160 square miles), or nearly 1 percent, of Ukrainian territory in 2025, according to an analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which works with the Critical Threats Project.
According to the AFP news agency, the land seized by Russian forces last year was more than in the previous two years combined, but less than the 60,000sq km (23,166sq miles) Russia took in 2022, the first year of its all-out invasion.
Politics and diplomacy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov as his presidential chief of staff on Friday, in the latest Ukrainian leadership shake-up.
Zelenskyy also nominated Mykhailo Fedorov, a drone and digitalisation specialist who has served as first deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation, as defence minister. Fedorov, whose appointment must be approved by parliament, will replace Denys Shmyhal, a former prime minister who was being offered a new government post.
RecepTayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkiye, told reporters in Istanbul that he would hold a phone call with United States President Donald Trump on Monday to discuss peace efforts. Turkiye has been hosting intermittent peace talks during Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Erdogan also said Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend a meeting of the “coalition of the willing”, a group of nations backing Ukraine, in Paris, in the coming days.
She made her debut in the panto playing the Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty.
Other lesser known stars taking part in Panto this year include Call the Midwife’s Laura Main and Helen George.
The Sun understands there is set to be a huge shake up of London panto as a series of decade long contracts expire.
A source said: “Many of the famous faces in the Palladium’s panto have been on contracts locking them in for years – some as much as a decade.
“They are now all running out so bosses are ready to shake things up.”
Panto Rich List
1. Alison Hammond, £195,000
2. Scott Mills £190k
3. Vernon Kay. £190k
4. Christopher Biggins, £180k
5. Bradley Walsh. £120k
6. Catherine Tate, £120k
7. Brian Connelly, £120k
8. Sydnie Christmas, £80k
9. Nigel Havers, £60k
10. Katie Price, £50k
Scott Mills raked in £190,000 for his role in Jack and the BeanstalkCredit: Trafalgar TicketsPantomime stalwart Christopher Biggins is one of the top paid stars, but not quite the very topCredit: Rex
The Canary Islands has been included in a ‘No List’ for travel following protests against overtourism in recent years – with holiday lets blamed for rising house prices
The holiday hotspot has been included in a ‘No List’ for travel (Image: Getty Images)
The Canary Islands are a firm favourite for Brit holidaymakers thanks to their year-round sun and luxurious resorts.
However, in recent years local residents have launched protests against overtourism on the Spanish islands. People blame rising house prices on holiday lets, and have been left furious about the environmental impact of millions of visitors.
‘Tourists go home’ has been spotted graffitied on locations across the Canary Islands. The slogan has also popped up in popular destinations on the Spanish mainland.
This all led to the Canary Islands being included in a ‘No List’ by travel guide Fodor’s Travel for 2025 – and it’s on the list again for 2026. The publication clarified that the list is “not a call for boycott”, but the aim is “to highlight destinations where tourism is placing unsustainable pressures on the land and local communities“, Manchester Evening News reports.
It said the key issues highlighted by the list are “overtouristed sites, fragile ecosystems and communities struggling to stay afloat”. Fodor’s said: “The No List serves a gentle but pointed nudge to ease up on a spot for now–not forever–and give a rest to any location that clearly needs a breather.”
Regarding the Canary Islands, it cited that tourism has soared in 2025, with 7.8million visitors arriving in the islands and more than 27million airport passengers processed in the first half of the year, a five per cent increase on the previous years. Fodor’s points out that tourism contributes to more than a third of the Canary Islands’ GDP and employs roughly 40 per cent of its population, “yet success comes at a price”.
The impact of visitors on traffic, housing (such as driving up rental prices), damage to the natural environment and water scarcity is felt by the local population. The guide said: “Academics and experts warn that the combination of rising visitor numbers and a warming climate is unsustainable.”
It added: “For many Canarians, tourism is both a lifeline and a burden. The islands rely heavily on visitor spending, yet locals often see little of it. “
Last year other Spanish destinations Barcelona and Majorca, however, they have not been featured this year. But Fodor’s adds this doesn’t mean that tourists should descend upon them in their thousands. The publication said: “These destinations haven’t been magically cured–they’re still mired in challenges–but the usual suspects too often pull focus from other hotspots in need of a break.”
Alongside the Canary Islands, Antarctica, Glacier National Park (USA), Isola Sacra (Italy), The Jungfrau Region (Switzerland), Mexico City (Mexico), Mombasa (Kenya), Montmartre (Paris, France) also feature in this year’s ‘No List’.
Asia travel experts TransIndus have crunched the numbers to find the cheapest city for money for budget-conscious travellers looking to save money
Sunset view of the Tran Quoc Pagoda and West Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam.(Image: Getty Images)
Hanoi may not be the first destination that springs to mind for Brits seeking a budget-friendly holiday but research suggests that Vietnam’s capital could be one of the best-value cities on the planet.
Asia travel specialists TransIndus have put together a basket consisting of three supermarket beers, a 5km bike taxi ride, and a McDonald’s combo meal and it adds up to £5.60 in Hanoi, so much cheaper than it would be in the UK.
A spokesperson for TransIndus said: “People understandably want their holiday money to go further in 2026 – but the smartest approach is to plan with a few simple ‘anchor’ costs in mind.
“A short ride, a casual meal, and a couple of drinks are the sort of everyday purchases many travellers make in the first 24 hours. If those are low, it’s a strong sign the city is going to feel great value overall.”
• McDonald’s combo meal (Big Mac Meal or similar): £3.14.
• Domestic beer (0.5L) from a supermarket: £0.42 each (so £1.26 for three).
• Bike taxi ride (5km estimate): about £1.20 – based on common fares for motorcycle taxis booked on local ride-hailing apps.
This brings the total to £5.60 for the complete basket.
Researchers looked at typical local prices reported by travellers and expats who currently live there. But Hanoi isn’t the only Asian destination where visitors can enjoy themselves for less.
Other Asian cities to consider visiting include:
• Yogyakarta, Indonesia: approximately £8.07 for the identical basket.
• Manila, Philippines: approximately £8.38.
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: approximately £9.29.
Vietnam is certainly a cheap place to enjoy yourself – a recent Post Office Money report highlights how Hoi An – 479 miles south – is 10% cheaper than it was in 2023.
The town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century.
In the evenings the lights from the yellow painted buildings and orange sun reflect off the water making it look magical. Thanks to an Unesco decree, more than 800 buildings have been preserved, meaning the village still looks like it did several centuries ago.
Travle blogger Travel Lush recommends cycling around the city. “Wandering aimlessly around the Ancient Town is easily one of the best things to do in Hoi An.
“And sure, it is very touristy, but I always love marveling at the old buildings, snapping photos of the postcard-perfect alleyways, sampling street snacks and popping into all of the little shops – you honestly never know what gems you’ll stumble upon in Hoi An’s historic center. The people-watching is pretty great too!
“Getting the chance to take in Hoi An’s magical scenery from a bicycle is one of my all-time favorite Hoi An activities. Cycling is big in Hoi An and most hotels here offer complimentary bicycles. It’s an incredible way to check out all of the city’s beautiful temples, emerald rice paddies and everyday street scenes.”
The weathers not bad either – throughout the year the Vietnamese city enjoys temperature of around 29C on most days. However, it does have a long rainy season, from November through to January, so it may be wise to visit before, during the autumn, or from February. And while it’s cheap once you get there flights from the UK will set you back around £780.
Now Christmas is over for another year, many people are making plans for the new year – including travel plans to destinations with great weather and activities to do
Jess Flaherty Senior News Reporter
07:04, 01 Jan 2026Updated 07:16, 01 Jan 2026
The best budget-friendly destinations for 2026 have been revealed (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
After the expense of Christmas, and the ongoing cost of living crisis, finding reasonably priced options for holidays or a spot of travelling can be quite tricky. Social media is rife with ideas, recommendations and tips from experienced and novice jet-setters alike.
One person turned to Reddit looking for a viable option for a trip with their girlfriend this month. The couple want to spend 30-35 days abroad, with a budget of around £2,600 to £3,000, excluding the cost of their flights.
That sum would purely be their spending money for “accommodation, food, transport, activities, etc”. They live in the Baltics, so would be flying out from either Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia and were “open to any destination – Asia, South America, Africa, Europe, islands, you name it”.
Their main requests were for “good weather (ideally warm/sunny in Jan); a mix of nature, culture, and relaxation; a destination that’s good value for money over a full month of travel;” as well as the option for “adventure”, including “hiking, wildlife, or just exploring new places”.
They asked guidance from people who’d done a similar trip or had “any suggestions on where to go”. And fellow Reddit users were keen to share their thoughts and recommendations.
One person said: “Two weeks in Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai). Five days in Bangkok. Two weeks on Islands in Southern Thailand (Koh Lipe, Koh Phanang)”.
Another agreed: “Can 100% recommend Koh Lipe. It is a small island so you’ll probably max out of things to do after about four days unless you’re happy just lazing by the beach all day.”
A third said: “It’ll be summer in the southern hemisphere if you’re looking for warm weather. New Zealand comes to mind as it sounds like you’re looking for nature – haven’t been there myself but the pics look incredible”.
But someone else replied: “That budget won’t get you far in NZ for that long sadly”.
Another suggested: “Tanzania and Zanzibar might suit you”.
To which, someone else shared: “I am leaving Zanzibar tomorrow after a week here. It has been great. The people are friendly and the beaches are great.
“Even the vendors on the beach are easygoing and fun to chat with. There is a good range of accommodation options too, and the food has been awesome. Asante sana.”
Another recommendation came for south east Asia: “Malaysia would be an excellent option. Accommodation, transport and food is very cheap and there’s lots to see.
“I’d visit Penang, Langkawi, Perhentian islands, Borneo, KL and Cameron Highlands. You’ll get to see lots of wildlife, hikes, history, beaches etc.”
And another said: “El Nido, in the Philippines would work, as would Da Nang in Vietnam or one of the kohs in Thailand. If you haven’t ever ‘done’ the ‘Banana Pancake Trail’, that’s really the first place that I would start. Start watching flights to BKK [Bangkok].”
Offering a different perspective, one person said: “Northern Turkey is fabulous with all its ancient sites from Roman and Greek eras especially on western side.
“The lodging and food is very inexpensive. The wine is excellent. Istanbul area is also great. Also greatly enjoyed Athens Greece with all its history. Food and drink was fabulous. Ate at one restaurant which gave us unlimited after dinner wine.”
Full list of new tourist taxes for 2026 including huge £23 charge – The Mirror
Need to know
Tourist taxes can be a way for governments to raise funds to pay for infrastructure and mitigate the impact of tourism. However, they’re often a controversial measure, with some claiming they deter tourists from visiting. Here are some destinations introducing or increasing their tourist taxes in 2026.
Tourist taxes can be tied to accommodation costs or be a flat nightly fee(Image: Getty Images)
Bucharest, often nicknamed ‘Little Paris’ due to the Romanian capital’s striking resemblance to the French city, will be bringing in a new tourist tax of 10 Romanian Leu a night, around £1.70, for stays in 2026 and beyond. Funds raised will be used to further promote this increasingly popular city as a tourist destination.
England will gain the same powers as the rest of the UK, with mayors allowed to decide whether to implement tourist taxes in their region. The North East is already considering a tourist tax of £2 a night, which could give the region a boost of £20m a year. London continues to debate the introduction of a tourist tax, which could be in the form of a flat fee or percentage of accommodation cost.
Edinburgh is rolling out its tourist tax on bookings in the city from July 24. This visitors’ levy will be a total of 5% added to your bill, either at check-in or check-out, and is based on the cost of accommodation alone and not any extras. The cost is only applied to the first five nights of your stay.
Thailand has been planning a tourist tax for several years now, and it’s rumoured it’ll begin from mid-2026. The fee will be 300 Baht, just over £7 for passengers arriving by air, and for those that arrive by sea it’ll be 150 Baht.
Los Angeles has recently hiked its tourist tax to 15.5% of visitors’ accommodation cost, making it the most expensive in the world. Visit from 2026 and stay in a hotel room for $280 a night (around £208), and you’d be charged an extra $32, or $225 extra for the week, which works out at approximately £167. This is quite a large extra cost for visitors to the city.
Norway will be giving the power to local municipalities to decide whether they want to implement a 3% tourist tax in their region. So far, Lofoten and Tromsø, both popular destinations for Northern Light watching, have said they’ll be introducing the tax, and it’s likely more will follow.
Kyoto already has a tourist tax, which will increase in 2026, which the local authorities claim will help this pretty Japanese city balance visitor numbers and preserve its heritage. The tax is paid in tiers, depending on accommodation cost, so those spending under 6,000 yen a night (about £28) will pay just 200 yen in taxes (about £0.95). However, the biggest hike is for luxury accommodation costing over 100,000 yen (£about £474) a night as, the tax will be increasing tenfold to a hefty 10,000 yen per night (approximately £48).
These are the key developments from day 1,406 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published On 31 Dec 202531 Dec 2025
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Here is where things stand on Wednesday, December 31:
Fighting
Russian forces shelled the town of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, killing one person, an official said. The deadly attack came a day after an attack in Druzhkivka killed another person and wounded four, according to the Ukrinform news agency.
Russian forces also launched waves of attacks on the Black Sea ports of Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk in Ukraine’s Odesa region, hitting two Panama-flagged civilian vessels – Emmakris III and Captain Karam – as they approached to load wheat, the Ukrainian navy said.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said that oil storage tanks were also hit in the port attacks.
Authorities in Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv region introduced a mandatory evacuation order for the residents of 14 border villages in four districts. The order will affect some 300 people who still live in the Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka, Snovsk, and Horodnya communities, which have been experiencing daily shelling, an official said.
Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Energy Olha Yukhymchuk said that 75,000 households in Chernihiv remain without electricity following Russian attacks on energy infrastructure in the region. There were also settlements in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions that were fully or partially without electricity, she said.
Yukhymchuk also said that repair work had been completed on transmission lines near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to ensure “stable and reliable power supply to the station in the event of damage or shutdown of the Dniprovska overhead line due to” Russian shelling.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said it had taken control of two more settlements in eastern Ukraine. It identified them as the village of Lukianivske in the Zaporizhia region and the settlement of Bohuslavka in the Kharkiv region.
Russian authorities said that a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Black Sea port of Tuapse damaged port infrastructure and a gas pipeline in a residential area there. The regional administration said no injuries were reported.
Other Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s Belgorod region killed a woman and wounded four other people, local authorities said.
Alleged attack on Putin’s residence
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia will “toughen” its negotiating position in talks on a deal to end the war in Ukraine as a “diplomatic consequence” of an alleged attempted drone attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northwestern Russia’s Novgorod on Sunday.
Peskov said the attack, which Ukraine denies, was aimed at collapsing the peace talks and accused Western media of playing along with Kyiv’s denial.
Ukraine has dismissed the Russian claim as lies aimed at justifying additional attacks against Kyiv and prolonging the war.
Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha said Russia had not provided any plausible evidence of its accusations. “And they won’t. Because there’s none. No such attack happened,” Sybiha said on X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed countries, including India and the United Arab Emirates, that have condemned the alleged attack, which he said “didn’t even happen”. He called the moves “confusing and unpleasant”.
China said “dialogue and negotiation” remain the only “viable way out of the Ukraine crisis”, when asked for a comment on the alleged attack on Putin’s residence.
Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also called on “relevant parties to follow the principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocation by any party”, to work towards the de-escalation of the situation, and to “accumulate conditions for the political settlement of the crisis”.
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington, DC-based think tank, said that its analysts found that the “circumstances” of the alleged attack did not fit the “pattern of observed evidence” usually seen “when Ukrainian forces conduct strikes into Russia”.
The US ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, cast doubt on Russia’s accusation, saying he wants to see US intelligence on the incident. “It is unclear whether it actually happened,” Whitaker told Fox Business’s Varney & Co.
The German government also said it shares Ukraine’s concern that Russian allegations of the attack could be used as a pretext for further escalation of Moscow’s war.
Diplomacy
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine and the Coalition of the Willing group of nations backing Kyiv plan to hold their next meetings at the start of January. Zelenskyy said that the countries’ national security advisers would meet in Ukraine on January 3, and with the leaders in France on January 6.
He also told reporters that Kyiv was discussing with US President Donald Trump the possible presence of US troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees.
“Of course, we are discussing this with President Trump and with representatives of the [Western] coalition [supporting Kyiv]. We want this. We would like this. This would be a strong position of the security guarantees,” the Ukrainian president said.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told officials that there is reason to hope for peace in Ukraine quite soon. “Peace is on the horizon; there is no doubt that things have happened that give grounds for hope that this war can end, and quite quickly, but it is still a hope, far from 100 percent certain,” he said.
Tusk said security guarantees offered to Kyiv by the US were a reason to hope the conflict could end soon, but that Kyiv would need to compromise on territorial issues.
The US removed sanctions on Alexandra Buriko, the former chief financial officer of Russia’s state-owned Sberbank, according to the US Treasury Department.
Buriko was among a group of senior executives and board members who resigned from Western-sanctioned Sberbank shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. She sued the Treasury Department in a Washington federal court in December 2024, arguing she had severed ties with Sberbank days after it was sanctioned and that her continued inclusion on the sanctioned list was unlawful.
Weapons
Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the country would spend 50 million euros ($58m) to support a European initiative to buy weapons made by US companies for Ukraine, known as the Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL).
Belarus released a video of what it said was the deployment on its territory of the Russian nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile system, a development meant to bolster Moscow’s ability to strike targets across Europe in the event of a war.
These are the key developments from day 1,404 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published On 29 Dec 202529 Dec 2025
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Here is where things stand on Monday, December 29:
Diplomacy
United States President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for talks at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and said the two leaders were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump and Zelenskyy reported progress on two of the most contentious issues in the peace talks: security guarantees for Ukraine and the division of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region that Russia has sought to capture.
On security guarantees, Zelenskyy said that a deal had been reached, while Trump said they were 95 percent of the way to such an agreement.
Both Trump and Zelenskyy said that the future of the mostly Russian-occupied Donbas had not been settled, though the US president said discussions were “moving in the right direction”. “It’s unresolved, but it’s getting a lot closer. That’s a very tough issue,” Trump said.
The two leaders did not offer further details or a deadline for completing the deal, but Zelenskyy said any peace agreement would have to be approved by Ukraine’s parliament or by a referendum.
Shortly after the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, wrote on X that the “whole world appreciates” Trump and his team’s peace efforts.
Ahead of the meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump and Putin spoke for more than two hours on the telephone. The US president described the call as “excellent” and “productive”.
Trump said he would call Putin again after the meeting with Zelenskyy.
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said the initial call was “friendly” and that Putin had told Trump that a 60-day ceasefire, proposed by the European Union and Ukraine, would simply prolong the war.
Ushakov said that a “bold, responsible, political decision is needed from Kyiv” on the Donbas region and other disputed matters for there to be a “complete cessation” of hostilities.
European leaders, including those from Finland, France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, joined at least part of the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting by phone.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement that Europe was ready to keep working with Ukraine and the US, and that having ironclad security guarantees would be of “paramount” importance.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that progress had been made on security guarantees at the meeting. Macron said that countries in the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” would meet in Paris in early January to finalise their “concrete contributions”.
Zelenskyy said that Trump had agreed to host European leaders again, possibly at the White House, sometime in January. Trump said the meeting could be in Washington, DC, or “someplace”.
Earlier on Sunday, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov warned that any European troop contingents deployed to Ukraine would become legitimate targets for Russia’s forces. Lavrov also accused European politicians of being driven by “ambitions” in their relations with Kyiv, and disregarding the people of Ukraine and of their own nations.
Fighting
Russian forces attacked a heating plant in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, wounding one person and causing “significant damage” to the facility, state oil and gas firm Naftogaz said.
Ukraine’s leading private energy provider, DTEK, said it had restored power to more than a million households in and around Kyiv a day after a massive Russian air attack had forced emergency outages.
Ukraine’s military said it had struck the Syzran oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region in a drone attack. The strike caused a fire, and damages were still being assessed, the army said in a statement.
The military also said that only part of the southeastern town of Huliaipole was under Russian control, contradicting an earlier claim by Moscow that it had been captured. It added that fighting was also still under way for Stepnohirsk, another town in the southeastern Zaporizhia region that Russia claimed it had captured.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement that its troops had taken control of four other settlements in the Donetsk region. It identified them as Myrnohrad, Artemivka, Rodynske and Vilne.
These are the key developments from day 1,403 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published On 28 Dec 202528 Dec 2025
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Here is where things stand on Sunday, December 28:
Fighting
At least two people were killed in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and the surrounding region, after Russian forces launched a massive attack with hundreds of missiles and drones, ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with United States President Donald Trump to work out a plan to end nearly four years of war.
The attack also wounded at least 46 people, including two children, according to Ukrainian officials.
Zelenskyy, who was on his way to meet Trump in Florida, said that Russia had launched nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles, targeting energy and civilian infrastructure.
Ukraine’s state grid operator, Ukrenergo, said that energy facilities across Ukraine were struck, and emergency power cuts had been implemented across the capital. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, said the attack had left more than a million households in and around Kyiv without power.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said that more than 40 percent of residential buildings in Kyiv were left without heat, as temperatures hovered around 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) following the attack.
Poland’s Air Navigation Services Agency said in a statement on X that the Rzeszow and Lublin airports in the country’s southeastern region were temporarily shut following Russia’s strikes on Ukraine. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said that Polish and allied jets were deployed during the attack, but no violations of Polish airspace were reported.
In Russia, air defence forces shot down 11 drones headed for the capital, Moscow, according to the city’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin.
Russia’s aviation watchdog, Rosaviatsia, said that Moscow’s Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports imposed temporary restrictions on airspace due to security reasons.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence also said that its air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed more than 100 Ukrainian drones in three hours over six other Russian regions.
Russian commanders told President Vladimir Putin that Moscow’s forces had captured the Ukrainian towns of Myrnohrad, Rodynske and Artemivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, as well as Huliaipole and Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhia region, the Kremlin and Russian news agencies said on Telegram.
But Ukraine’s military said in its daily battlefield update that its forces had beaten back Russian attempts to advance in the vicinity of Myrnohrad and Huliaipole.
Politics and diplomacy
Zelenskyy announced in a Telegram message that he would hold talks with European leaders after his meeting with Trump on Sunday, as Kyiv pushes for a stronger position in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations to prevent Russia from prolonging the war in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said he wants to discuss with Trump territorial issues, the main stumbling block in talks to end the war, as a 20-point peace framework and a security guarantee deal near completion.
On the way to the meeting in Florida, Zelenskyy stopped in Canada’s Halifax to meet Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister said in a statement after the meeting.
Carney denounced the latest Russian attack as “barbarism”, stressing that it is important for allies to “stand with Ukraine in this difficult time”. He also announced $1.83bn in additional economic aid to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy spoke to European leaders following the meeting with Carney. In a statement posted on X, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “We welcome all efforts leading to our shared objective – a just and lasting peace that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. And that strengthens the country’s security and defence capabilities.”
Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, which represents the bloc’s 27 member states, echoed von der Leyen’s promise to continue backing Ukraine, saying on X: “The EU’s support for Ukraine will not falter. In war, in peace, in reconstruction.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Zelenskyy had “the full support” of European leaders ahead of his talks with Trump. The leaders of NATO and the European Union said they would work “in close coordination” with the US “for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine”, Merz added in a statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in a call with Zelenskyy that the latest Russian strikes on Kyiv showed that Moscow was not interested in ending the war, the AFP news agency reported, citing officials from Macron’s office. During the call, Macron highlighted what he called the “contrast” between “the willingness of Ukraine to build a lasting peace and Russia’s determination to prolong the war that it started”, the report said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia could see Kyiv was in no hurry to end the war by peaceful means, according to the Interfax news agency. Putin said that if Ukraine did not want to resolve the conflict peacefully, then Russia would accomplish all goals of its “special military operation” by force, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (right) and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (left) speak to the media as they meet in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, ahead of the former’s meeting with US President Donald Trump on Sunday [Ukrainian Presidential Office/Handout Photo via AFP]
While the swirl of chatter around Travis Kelce on Christmas Day was on whether he plans to retire at the end of the season, the 11-time Pro Bowl tight end quietly moved up to No. 9 on the NFL all-time receiving list.
Kelce’s fifth and last catch in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos was No. 1,077, pushing him past Anquan Boldin. With two more receptions in the Chiefs’ regular-season finale, Kelce will surpass Terrell Owens in the No. 8 spot.
Statistics were seemingly the last thing on Kelce’s mind as he walked off the Arrowhead Stadium field on Thursday, perhaps for the last time. The Chiefs finish the season on the road next week against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Kelce’s recent years are inextricably linked to his fiance Taylor Swift. Was this the last time the music megastar would grace the Kelce family luxury suite to watch her beau rack up the receptions? (If so, let the record show that Swift wore a red bomber jacket from the Frankie Shop.)
Kelce, 36, admitted he was feeling reflective afterward.
“A whole lot of emotions,” he told reporters. “You’ve got everybody in the world watching you. You get to go out there with the young guys on prime-time television. Young guys getting an opportunity to taste what this NFL life is like.”
For Kelce, the NFL life has been fulfilling. He’s won three Super Bowls and is all but certain to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. And he’s played his entire 13-year career with the Chiefs.
So while he sorted through emotions and memories after the game, he basked in the adulation beforehand.
“You only get a few of those where you get to stand there and appreciate 70,000 Chiefs fans cheering for you,” he explained. “I always embrace that moment.
“You feel the generations of happiness and the love [the fans] have. It’s a beautiful thing, man.”
For a decade, Kelce was a regional sports figure, revered in the Midwest as a hard-nosed, consistent producer on the field. His profile began to change ahead of the 2022 season when he and his brother, Jason, launched an immediately popular podcast, “New Heights.”
Kelce and Swift began dating ahead of the 2023 season, and a year later, the Kelce brothers signed a three-year, $100-million podcast deal with Amazon’s Wondery. Then in August, Kelce and Swift announced their engagement.
Tight ends, with their three-point stances and proximity to tackles and guards, traditionally don’t seek or attract attention. But Kelce is now a full-fledged national celebrity.
Just don’t allow that to obscure his numbers. Kelce has 73 catches for 839 yards in 2025, putting him alongside Jerry Rice as the only players in NFL history to eclipse the 800‐yards receiving mark in 12 consecutive seasons. Kelce also is the only tight end to exceed 90 catches for seven seasons in a row, a streak that will end this year.
Rice, the former San Francisco 49ers great, is the NFL‘s all-time leading receiver with 1,549 catches. Larry Fitzgerald is next with 1,432. Then come the only tight ends with more catches than Kelce: Tony Gonzalez (1,325) and Jason Witten (1,228).
Should Kelce decide to play another season, he almost certainly would climb to No. 5, passing Marvin Harrison (1,102), Cris Carter (1,101) and Tim Brown (1,094) in addition to Owens.
Kelce may have already decided whether this is the right time to retire. He just isn’t ready to say so, indicating he will let the Chiefs know soon after the season ends.
“I’ll let that be a decision I’ll make with my family, friends and the Chiefs organization when the time comes,” he said.
These are the key developments from day 1,401 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published On 26 Dec 202526 Dec 2025
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Here is where things stand on Friday, December 26:
Fighting
Officials in Russia’s Krasnodar region reported a huge fire following a Ukrainian drone strike on two storage tanks holding oil products in the southern Russian port of Temryuk. The blaze spread across roughly 2,000 square metres (some 21,500 square feet).
Long-range Ukrainian drones targeted oil storage facilities at Temryuk port, as well as a gas processing plant in Russia’s Orenburg region, Ukraine’s SBU security service said.
Ukraine’s General Staff said its military also struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region using Storm Shadow missiles, triggering several explosions.
The General Staff described the Russian refinery as a major supplier of oil products in southern Russia that supports Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced that its forces had taken control of the settlement of Sviato-Pokrovske in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, according to reports from Russian state news agencies.
Regional security
Poland sent fighter jets to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near its airspace over the Baltic Sea and said dozens of objects entered Polish airspace from Belarus overnight, warning the incidents during the holiday season may signal a provocation.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the United States of encouraging what it called “piracy” in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean by blockading Venezuela, while expressing hope that US President Donald Trump’s pragmatism could prevent further escalation.
Moscow also reiterated its support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government and its efforts to safeguard national sovereignty amid threats by the US to remove Maduro from power.
Peace talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for about an hour on how to end the war with Russia and “how to bring the real peace closer”.
“Of course, there is still work to be done on sensitive issues,” the Ukrainian leader said. “But together with the American team, we understand how to put all of this in place. The weeks ahead may also be intensive. Thank you, America!”
Russia believes negotiations with the US to end the war in Ukraine are making gradual progress, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. She described the talks as slow-moving but advancing steadily.
Politics and diplomacy
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had sent the US president a Christmas greeting along with a congratulatory message.
Russia said it had put forward a proposal to France concerning Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher imprisoned under Russia’s foreign agent laws, adding that the next steps in the Frenchman’s case now rest with Paris.
Sanctions
Russia’s target of producing 100 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually has been pushed back by several years due to international sanctions, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in comments aired on state television.
These are the key developments from day 1,400 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published On 25 Dec 202525 Dec 2025
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Here is where things stand on Thursday, December 25:
Fighting
An explosion in Moscow killed three people, including two police officers, just days after a car bomb killed a high-ranking Russian general in the same area of the capital.
An official from Ukraine’s military intelligence, known as GUR, told The Associated Press news agency that the attack had been carried out as part of a Ukrainian operation and the two police officers were targeted for taking part in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Russian air defence units downed 16 Ukrainian drones en route to Moscow throughout Wednesday, the capital’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.
Sobyanin said the drones were repelled over a period of about 17 hours, and emergency crews were examining fragments where the drones hit the ground, but no damage was reported.
Two of four major airports servicing Moscow were forced to limit operations for a time due to the drone attacks, Russia’s civil aviation authority said on Telegram.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its aerial defence units destroyed 172 Ukrainian drones overnight, nearly half of them over regions bordering Ukraine.
Ukraine said its drones had struck the Yefremov synthetic rubber plant in Russia’s Tula region, south of Moscow, and a storage facility for marine drones in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Tula regional governor, Dmitry Milyaev, said debris from a downed Ukrainian drone ignited a fire at an industrial site, and Russian air defence units destroyed 12 Ukrainian drones over the region.
A sunflower oil spill, caused by Russian aerial bombardments, has contaminated the shoreline around the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, killing wildlife and triggering warnings from conservationists, the AFP news agency reports.
“The cause was damage to sunflower oil tanks as a result of massive enemy attacks on port infrastructure, causing some of the oil to spill,” Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said in a statement. The Pivdenny port in the region was temporarily closed on Wednesday to help with the cleanup.
A Russian-backed court in occupied Ukraine sentenced a Colombian man to 19 years in prison for fighting for Kyiv’s army.
Russia’s Prosecutor General said the Supreme Court in the Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Donetsk region sentenced Oscar Mauricio Blanco Lopez, 42, to 19 years in jail. The Colombian arrived in Ukraine in May 2024 to sign up with the Ukrainian army and had been “taken prisoner by Russian servicemen” in December 2025.
Ceasefire talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed for the first time details of an agreement between the United States and Ukrainian negotiators on ending the war with Russia. The 20-point plan, agreed on by US and Ukrainian negotiators after marathon talks, is now being reviewed by Moscow.
As part of the plan, President Zelenskyy said Ukraine would be willing to withdraw troops from the country’s eastern industrial heartland if Moscow also pulled back and the area becomes a demilitarised zone monitored by international forces.
A similar arrangement could be possible for the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian control, Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian leader said that any peace plan would need to be put to a referendum in Ukraine.
Asked about the latest development in ceasefire talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would decide its position based on information received by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who met with US envoys in Florida over the weekend.
Russia has given no indication that it will agree to any kind of withdrawal from land it has seized in Ukraine. Moscow has also insisted that Ukraine relinquish the remaining territory it still holds in the Donbas. Russia has captured most of Luhansk and about 70 percent of Donetsk – the two areas that make up the Donbas.
Politics and diplomacy
A majority of Russians expect the war in Ukraine to end in 2026, Russia’s state pollster VTsIOM said, in a sign that the Kremlin could be testing public reaction to a possible peace settlement as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict intensify.
During the pollster’s year-end presentation, VTsIOM Deputy Head Mikhail Mamonov said 70 percent of the 1,600 respondents saw 2026 as a more “successful” year for Russia than 2025, while for 55 percent that hope was linked to a possible end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
A Russian court has scheduled the first public hearing in a criminal case against German sculptor Jacques Tilly, who is accused of discrediting the Russian military through his satirical Carnival floats depicting Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
The court in Moscow said the trial will begin on December 30 and proceedings will be held in absentia, as Tilly – who faces up to 10 years in jail or a fine – is not in Russia.
Zelenskyy said in his Christmas address on Wednesday that despite marking the holiday at a “difficult” time, the nation’s unity remains intact. “Ukrainians are together tonight,” Zelenskyy said, adding the country had “without a doubt” been changed by the war. “It hardly matters what dishes are on the table – what matters is who is at the table,” he said.
Artillerymen of the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade fire a M777 Howitzer towards Russian troops, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, on December 24, 2025 [Reuters]
Regional security
France’s President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke with NATO chief Mark Rutte to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the work undertaken by the “coalition of the willing”. “Starting in January in Paris, we will continue the work begun within this framework to provide Ukraine with solid security guarantees, a prerequisite for a robust and lasting peace,” Macron said on social media.
Democratic senators in the US have urged President Donald Trump to reverse a recall of nearly 30 career ambassadors, warning the move leaves a dangerous leadership vacuum that allows adversaries like Russia and China to expand their influence. The Trump administration in recent days has ordered career diplomats serving across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America back to Washington to ensure US missions abroad reflect its “America First” priorities.
Economics
Kazakhstan’s exports of its flagship CPC Blend of oil will be their lowest in 14 months in December, as bad weather delays efforts to repair Russian loading infrastructure after Ukrainian drone strikes last month, two sources told the Reuters news agency.
On November 29, Ukrainian drones hit the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal located near Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, leaving just one out of three jetties operational and prolonging export delays. Poor weather has added to the difficulty of carrying out maintenance work necessary to allow exports to recover.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance said it completed the settlement of a deal to restructure $2.6bn of growth-linked debt.
A FORMER Nickelodeon child star has laid bare his life on the streets, revealing a staggering list of drugs he says he is taking even as his mother urges fans not to help him financially.
Tylor Chase, 36, once a fresh-faced teen actor on Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, is now roaming the streets of Riverside, California, picking up cigarette butts and discarded Christmas cards.
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Chase revealed he is taking several drugs, including Prozac, Adderall, and ZoloftCredit: TiktokChase appeared on Ned’s Declassified School Survival GuideCredit: Nickelodeon
When reporters found Chase behind a 7-Eleven on Monday, he was digging in the dirt, dressed in a torn jacket, a scruffy LA Raiders polo and pants patched with characters from Rugrats.
His hands were cut and blistered, dirt packed under his fingernails.
Offered food, Chase instead asked for marijuana.
“I could use maybe a joint or a bong. Do you guys smoke weed?” he told the Daily Mail.
He also revealed the list of drugs he says he is taking while living on the streets.
“I like to vape,” Chase said, adding that he takes “Prozac, Adderall, Sudafed, Wellbutrin or also Zoloft,” which he claimed were prescribed by a psychiatrist, though he denied having any diagnosed mental health conditions.
Chase rose to fame at 15 playing brainy Martin Qwerly on the Nickelodeon hit from 2004 to 2007.
After the show wrapped, his acting career fizzled and his life slowly unraveled.
In 2014, he posted bleak poetry online hinting at his mental state.
In one poem titled Bipolar, he wrote: “I’m a leaf in a running gutter with the inevitable fate of ending up in a drain… Perhaps I am doomed. Perhaps I have done nothing. Perhaps I am nothing.”
The former actor eventually moved to Riverside “about seven to nine years” ago, where his mother lives.
He tried to pursue art, self-publishing two fantasy novels in 2020 and continuing to post poetry online until 2021.
But Chase also began spending more time on the streets and racked up a long rap sheet.
Riverside County court records show 12 criminal cases since August 2023, including eight this year.
His most recent arrests involve alleged shoplifting and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Both cases are ongoing.
Riverside Police say Chase is not wanted for any crimes.
Police spokesman Ryan Railsback told the Mail that during all interactions with cops, Chase “has been cordial and cooperative”.
He added that officers offer him shelter, treatment and mental health services weekly, all of which he has declined.
The former Nickelodeon star is living on the streets of Riverside, CaliforniaCredit: TikTokHis mother, Paula Moisio, urged fans not to donate money, stating he needs medical attentionCredit: TikTok
Despite his appearance, Chase insisted he is not homeless.
“I stay around here locally. My mom is here,” he said.
“I have a lot of good people helping me.
“It’s not too shabby. A lot of people help out. It goes a long way.”
Chase said he may move back to Georgia to live with his father and enter a housing assistance programme.
“I’m not really active homeless at this time,” he said.
“I’m thinking that I would like to go see my dad… Probably a housing assistance program in Georgia most likely.”
After videos of Chase looking unrecognisable went viral, a GoFundMe raised more than $1,200.
But his mother, Paula Moisio, demanded it be taken down.
“Tylor needs medical attention not money. But he refuses it,” she wrote in messages shared online.
“Money would not be a benefit to him. He can’t manage money for his meds by himself.”
Chase pictured during his time as a child actorCredit: Nickelodeon
These are the key developments from day 1,399 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published On 24 Dec 202524 Dec 2025
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Here is where things stand on Wednesday, December 24:
Fighting
Russian forces began a “massive attack” on Ukraine on Monday night, killing three people and targeting 13 regions with 650 drones and 30 missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
Those killed in the overnight attack included a four-year-old girl in the central Zhytomyr region, Governor Vitalii Bunechko said on Telegram. “Doctors struggled to save the child’s life, but in the end, they were unable to save her,” Bunechko said, adding that five people were also injured in the attack.
Russian forces also launched drones and missiles at the Vyshhorod district of Ukraine’s Kyiv region, killing a woman and injuring three people, Governor Mykola Kalashnyk said.
In Ukraine’s western Khmelnytskyi region, one person was killed by Russian shelling, Governor Serhii Tiurin said.
Russian drone attacks on Kyiv’s Sviatoshynskyi district left five people injured, said Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration.
An injured elderly woman looks out of her broken window after an apartment building was hit by a Russian drone during an aerial attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday [Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo]
Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy said that “emergency power outages” were introduced in several regions across the country due to Russian forces targeting energy infrastructure. The ministry said that it was working to restore electricity to the Rivne, Ternopil and Odesa regions. The ministry said that the situation was “most difficult” in the border regions, “as restoring electricity is complicated by continuous fighting”.
Ukraine’s General Staff said Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the Donetsk region’s Siversk area after heavy fighting, noting that Moscow’s forces had a “significant advantage” there.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots shot down 621 of 673 Russian “aerial targets” on Tuesday night, including 34 of 35 cruise missiles.
In Russia, a Ukrainian drone strike on a car killed three men in the Belgorod region on Monday, the region’s emergency response team reported.
Another Ukrainian drone attack in Belgorod on Tuesday killed one person and injured three, the region’s operational headquarters said on Telegram.
Russian forces shot down 56 Ukrainian drones in a day, as well as a guided bomb, Russia’s Ministry of Defence said, according to the state news agency TASS.
Ceasefire
Zelenskyy said in his nightly address, “We sense that America wants to reach a final agreement” to end the war in Ukraine, and that “there is full cooperation” from the Ukrainian side.
In an earlier post on X, Zelenskyy said that “several draft documents have now been prepared”, following talks in Miami. “In particular, these include documents on security guarantees for Ukraine, on recovery, and on a basic framework for ending this war,” he said.
Pope Leo said that Russia’s apparent refusal to agree to a ceasefire on December 25 is “among the things that cause me much sadness”.
“I will make an appeal one more time to people of goodwill to respect at least Christmas Day as a day of peace,” Leo told reporters outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.
These are the key developments from day 1,398 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published On 23 Dec 202523 Dec 2025
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Here is where things stand on Tuesday, December 23:
Fighting
A car bomb killed Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov in southern Moscow, the third such killing of a senior Russian military officer in just more than a year. Russian investors pointed the finger at Ukraine. Kyiv has not commented on the incident.
Russian forces struck Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa late on Monday, damaging port facilities and a ship in the second such attack on the region in less than 24 hours, according to Ukrainian officials.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said on the Telegram app that the latest attack on Odesa is part of Russia’s attempt “to disrupt maritime logistics by launching systematic attacks on port and energy infrastructure”.
Kuleba said the attack also caused damage to energy infrastructure, disrupting electricity supply to more than 120,000 customers in the Odesa region. One person was hurt in the attack, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed media reports that residents of Hrabovske village, straddling the border with Russia in Ukraine’s Sumy region and home to 52 people, were taken by Russian troops. Zelenskyy said that 13 Ukrainian servicemen were among those taken.
Ukraine’s military said it hit a Tamanneftegaz oil terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar region in an overnight attack, causing explosions and a fire. The Ukrainian General Staff said the oil terminal was part of Russia’s energy infrastructure that supported the financing and logistics of Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.
A Ukrainian drone attack also damaged two vessels in the same region. All crew on the ships at the Volna terminal have been safely evacuated, according to regional authorities.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said it had captured Vilcha village in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region. The claim could not be immediately verified.
Politics and diplomacy
US President Donald Trump said that talks to end the war in Ukraine are going “OK”, amid questions about their progress, with Moscow and Kyiv still far apart on some key matters.
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, described the negotiations in Miami as “very close to a real result”. He also told a gathering of Ukrainian diplomats that the peace process “all looks quite worthy”, even as he conceded that “not everything is ideal with this, but the plan is there”.
Separately, in his nightly video address to the nation, Zelenskyy said the key issue in the talks was to determine whether the US was able to “get a response from Russia; real readiness on the part of that country to focus on something other than aggression”. He said that continued pressure on the Kremlin was vital to reduce Moscow’s capacity to wage war.
The Kremlin said talks between Russia and the US in Miami on ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine should not be seen as a breakthrough. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Izvestia news outlet that the discussions were expected to continue in a “meticulous” expert-level format.
Peskov also questioned the reliability of the sources cited in a Reuters news agency report, which said that the US intelligence community believes Putin wants to seize all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet bloc. Peskov told reporters in Moscow that if the report was accurate, then the US’s intelligence conclusions were wrong.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov declared that Moscow is ready to confirm in a legal agreement that it has no intention of attacking either the European Union or the US-led NATO military alliance, the state RIA news agency reported.
Military aid
The Czech Republic’s National Security Council will debate the future of a Czech-led, Western-financed scheme organising artillery ammunition supplies for Ukraine on January 7, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said. The scheme also brings together foreign donors, including Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Regional security
Swedish customs released the Russian ship Adler, which it boarded over the weekend to perform an inspection, with marine tracking data showing the vessel was on the move again. Swedish customs declined to say what cargo the Adler had been carrying. The Adler is under EU sanctions, while the vessel and its owners, M Leasing LLC, are both subject to US sanctions, suspected of involvement in weapons transport.