Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture has removed the name of composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky from the name of the country's National Music Academy (NMAU). ! !
The ministry's press service reported this.
The decision was made in accordance with the law condemning and banning the propaganda of "Russian imperial policy" in Ukraine, the department clarified.
The ministry emphasized that the renaming does not affect the academy's status, its educational process, or artistic activities, and is part of the state policy of decolonizing the Ukrainian cultural space.
The next step will be a public discussion of the issue of assigning a new name to the academy, the department noted.
Since the 2014 coup, the Ukrainian authorities have waged a campaign against Russian history and the Russian language. In 2019, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law recognizing Ukrainian as the state language, and in December 2023, a law on the rules for the use of the Russian language was passed. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Russian-speaking minority in Ukraine faces discrimination.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] A woman in a white car drove into a cafe in Dagestan. This was reported on December 30 by the Telegram channel " 112. "
According to the channel, a resident of Kaspiysk confused the gas with the brake.
The video published by the channel shows a white car slowly pulling into a parking lot and then noticeably accelerating, crashing into the glass entrance of a cafe.
Great title, lacking only a priest, a minister, and an Irishman, but the story is a mere commonplace, designed admirably for all who need to exclaim “Women drivers!” from time to time.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[RIA] Ukraine was thoroughly preparing for a failed attack on President Vladimir Putin's residence, said Major General Alexander Romanenkov, head of the Aerospace Forces' anti-aircraft missile forces.
"The strike's structure, the number of air attack assets deployed, and their actions from the south, southwest, and west directly toward the presidential residence in the Novgorod region clearly confirm that the Kyiv regime's terrorist attack was targeted, meticulously planned, and multi-layered," he said at a briefing.
Scheme for the destruction of unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine operating in the direction of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation
Aerospace Forces troops detected the attack at approximately 7:20 PM Moscow time on December 28. Ninety-one drones took off from the Sumy and Chernihiv regions. One of them carried a six-kilogram high-explosive charge and was designed to kill people.
Kyiv attempted to launch the attack from several directions—drones were shot down over the Bryansk, Smolensk, and Novgorod regions. There was no damage to the residence and no casualties.
Romanenkov emphasized that the Russian military acted in a coordinated, professional, and effective manner. They used air defense systems, mobile fire teams, and electronic warfare assets to repel the attack.
Commenting on the attack, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow would reconsider its negotiating position on Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Kyiv is undermining President Donald Trump's efforts with such provocations, but this will not affect the dialogue between Russia and the United States; the presidents will continue to cooperate. He added that the military knows how, with what, and when to respond to a Ukrainian attack.
The attempted attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces was condemned by many countries, including the United States, Belarus, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Bahrain, and the UAE.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] 22:45 Powerful explosions were heard in the temporarily occupied city of Rovenky in Luhansk Oblast on the evening of December 30. Social media reports of a large-scale fire at a local oil depot.
It is noted that explosions were heard before the fire, which, according to eyewitnesses, indicated a drone strike on the oil depot. As a result of the attack, fuel tanks caught fire.
21:33 Russian troops struck the Black Sea port for the second time in a day, causing an oil tank to catch fire.
Work is underway to eliminate the fire and the consequences of the shelling. Boom barriers have been installed at some berths to prevent possible pollution of the water area.
21.12 Citizens who arrive at territorial recruitment and social support centers during mobilization will be fed at state expense and according to the food catalog used in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
19.37 The United Arab Emirates announced its intention to buy a stake in Ukrainian defense-tech company Fire Point. The arms manufacturer was valued at $2.5 billion in total. BBC News Ukraine reports this, citing informed sources in the company.
18.51 Security guarantees should include a monitoring mission and clauses on the partners' response in the event of a violation of the agreement. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Head of State explained that security guarantees are being implemented in stages, and the number one priority for Ukraine is to have a monitoring mission simultaneously with the ceasefire.
"The monitoring mission will be led by our partners, whom we trust and who can technically do it - they have a satellite, the entire drone infrastructure for this," Zelenskyy noted.
According to the president, the second part of the security guarantees is prescribing points on how Ukraine's partners will react in the event of a ceasefire violation.
18.30 Statements by the United Arab Emirates and India condemning the fake attack on the residence of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin are disturbing, as these countries did not condemn the Russian attacks on Ukrainian children, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"You know, to be honest, it causes misunderstanding and unpleasant feelings that some representatives, like India, the Emirates, and several other states, condemned their strikes. They condemned, excuse me, our drone strikes on Putin's residence, which did not happen. And where is their condemnation, by the way, that all this time they are hitting our children, killing people? I don't hear anything from India, to be honest, right now, or from the Emirates," the head of state said.
17.19 Since the beginning of the day, 63 combat clashes have been recorded on the front, fighting is currently ongoing in seven directions, with the Russian army continuing to attack most actively in Pokrovske. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on the evening of December 30.
17.14 National Security Advisors of the Coalition of the Willing countries and Ukraine will meet on January 3 in Ukraine. After that, a meeting at the leadership level will be held in France on January 6. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
16.59 The Ministry of Defense has begun testing military registration in the Reserve+ application. Soon, some citizens will be able to register remotely - without personal visits to the CCC and paper procedures, the department explained.
16.33 Russian military attacked two civilian vessels in the Black Sea.
"Today, Russians used strike UAVs to attack the Emmakris III and Captain Karam vessels, which were entering the port to load wheat. There are wounded civilians," the Ukrainian Naval Forces said in a statement.
16.27 The Defense Forces captured a group of Russian attack aircraft, which were withdrawn from the forest belt using a drone. The Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine reported this on December 30. It is noted that the enemy group was discovered in the forest belt by pilots of the 108th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces during aerial reconnaissance.
16.08 Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a decree sending reservists to special training camps in 2026 to protect "critically important facilities."
According to the decree, the gatherings will be held to "ensure the protection of critical facilities and other life-support facilities." The decision took effect today.
16.02 Due to the worsening security situation and increased threat to life, mandatory evacuation has been announced from some settlements in the Synelnyky district of the Dnipropetrovsk region. This was announced by the Pokrovska territorial community on December 30.
15.27 The primitive fiction of the Russian Federation about the alleged "drone raid on Putin's residence" in Valdai is an excuse for Russia's rejection of the peace efforts of the US and Ukraine. This was stated by the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhyi, according to a publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
15.15 Ukrainian military released a photo of the destroyed Kup'yanysk, Kharkiv region, which Russian invaders tried to capture. The photos were published by the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"These shots show the once cozy and peaceful Kupyansk, which Russia has turned into ruins and complete devastation. It's not hard to see what this city was like before the arrival of the occupier," the post under the photo says.
It is noted that the 116th Motorized Rifle Brigade is one of the units that is worthily defending the city. "Russia is destroying, and we are defending ours - our land, our people, and our future," the message says.
14.38 In the Odessa region, a hostile drone attack on the morning of December 30 damaged port and industrial infrastructure, and one person was injured. This was reported by the head of the Odessa OVA, Oleg Kiper. Damage was recorded to facilities in the ports of Pivdenny and Chornomorsk. A civilian ship with grain and oil tanks were damaged.
13.59 Two children, aged 4 and 7, were returned from the temporarily occupied left-bank Kherson region to the territory controlled by Ukraine. This was reported by the head of the OVA, Oleksandr Prokudin.
The children were rescued as part of the initiative of the President of Ukraine, Bring Kids Back UA, and with the assistance of the charitable organization Save Ukraine.
13.44 China has called on the parties to the Russian-Ukrainian war to refrain from escalating the situation in response to claims of an alleged "attack on Putin's residence." This was stated by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian, Ukrinform reports.
"China calls on all parties concerned to adhere to the four principles: preventing the conflict from expanding, refraining from escalating the situation, refusing to incite hostility, and creating conditions for a political settlement of the crisis," Lin noted.
At the same time, the diplomat did not comment on whether Beijing considers the Russian statement to be true, and did not express any reservations or condemnation of the fact of the "attack" itself.
13:40 Russians occupied three settlements in the Bakhmut district of Donetsk region, and also advanced near Andriyivka and in Myrnograd. This was reported by the analytical project DeepState on its Telegram channel.
13.27 At a meeting of the Defense Council, a decision was made to evacuate 14 border villages. This was announced by the head of the Chernihiv Oblast Defense Department, Vyacheslav Chaus.
He noted that the border area is currently under daily shelling. Despite the real threat, 300 people still live there.
Chaus added that it was the military who saw the need for evacuation.
13.14 The Kremlin refused to provide evidence of the alleged raid by almost a hundred Ukrainian drones on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Valdai. This was stated by the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, Russian media reported.
"I don't think there should be any evidence here if such a massive drone strike is being carried out. As for the debris, I can't say. This is more of a topic for our military," Peskov said.
12.59 On the night of December 30, the forces of unmanned systems struck enemy facilities related to the storage, maintenance, and preparation of launch of attack drones on the territory of Donetsk airport. This was reported by the commander of the SBS Robert Magyar Brovdi.
12.58 A Kyiv resident who published the work and positions of air defense during Russian attacks on the capital has been detained. The SBU reported this on December 30. It is noted that the Kyiv resident "leaked" videos on social media, which recorded the work of the capital's air defense. Living on the top floor of an apartment building, the man recorded the location of the air defense, which worked on Russian air targets, on his phone camera. He then published the captured files in a group chat on Telegram and on the Instagram page of his company with a total of over 13 thousand subscribers.
12.49 Russia has not provided any credible evidence to support its claims of a so-called "attack on the residence" of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Valdai. This was emphasized by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga on the social network X.
11.59 Russia does not abandon its intentions to seize Ukrainian territories. It also continues its attempts to plunge Ukrainian cities and villages into blackouts through massive air attacks. This was stated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky.
11.37 The Russian Oreshnik missile system has allegedly already entered combat duty on the territory of Belarus. This is evidenced by reports from the Russian and Belarusian defense ministries.
10.14 Russia's war against Ukraine may end in 2026, as the size of the Russian army has stopped growing for the first time in almost four years of the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in an interview with Fox News.
9.51 House of Representatives member Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, criticized US President Donald Trump's reaction to Russia's report of an alleged "Ukrainian drone attack on the residence" of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, The Hill reports.
9.33 Air defense forces neutralized one ballistic missile and 52 UAVs used by the Russians to attack Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force reported this on December 30. Hits of a ballistic missile and eight strike UAVs were recorded at five locations.
9.22 Russian troops carried out almost 50 strikes on 23 settlements in 13 territorial communities of Sumy region over the past 24 hours, one person was injured. The Sumy regional military administration reported this on December 30. It is noted that a 60-year-old man was injured in the Bezdrytsk community as a result of a guided bomb explosion.
8.48 The fiercest battles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the Russian occupiers were taking place in the Pokrovsk and Hulyaipil directions. Over the past 24 hours, December 29, 151 combat clashes took place on the front. This is evidenced by the morning report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
7.39 Russia lost another 1,220 soldiers in the war against Ukraine over the past 24 hours. This is evidenced by the morning report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
06.37 On the night of Tuesday, December 30, the Russian occupation army struck Zaporizhia. As a result of the attack, an industrial infrastructure facility was damaged, a large fire broke out. Residential buildings were damaged by the blast wave. A woman was injured.
04.00 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke about the need for Ukrainians living in Russia to participate in the presidential elections in Ukraine. He stated that the term of office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ended in May 2024.
03.25 On the night of Tuesday, December 30, the aggressor country Russia attacked Ukraine with ballistic missiles and drones. An air alert was declared in the eastern, northern and southern regions of Ukraine due to the ballistic threat. Explosions thundered in Odessa and Kharkiv.
02.03 External power supply was restored at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Repair work has been completed, and the power transmission line has been reconnected to the power grid.
01.02 Late in the evening on Monday, December 29, a series of explosions were heard in occupied Donetsk. According to local Telegram channels, Donetsk was attacked by drones.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[NewsFront] 21:26 152mm Msta-B howitzer crews of the Dnepr force group destroyed fortified temporary deployment point of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kherson region.
Fighters from the 5th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Center group of forces disrupted the rotation of Ukrainian Armed Forces formations in the Krasnoarmeysk direction with a Grad strike.
Artillerymen from the Vostok group of forces used Giatsint-B guns to hit enemy UAV control points west of Hulyaipole.
20:49 In the period from 16:00 Moscow time to 20:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 109 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles
80 UAVs – over the territory of the Bryansk region,
10 UAVs – over the territory of the Kaluga region,
Eight UAVs – over the territory of the Moscow region,
Seven UAVs – over the territory of the Kursk region,
Two UAVs – over the territory of the Voronezh region,
One UAV – over the territory of the Belgorod region,
One UAV – over the territory of the Smolensk region.
19:41 Air defense systems shot down several drones over Voronezh, no casualties or damage.
19:11 Crews from the Russian Ministry of Defense's Unmanned Systems Center destroyed a group of Ukrainian Armed Forces infantry in the village of Kondratovka in Sumy Oblast. Objective monitoring data confirmed the destruction of four Ukrainian Armed Forces militants.video.
18:51 In the village of Voznesenovka, Shebekinsky district, a drone attacked a car. The man and woman died at the scene from their injuries.
18:28 Drone crews of the West group of forces liquidated a UAV control center, two pickup trucks, a truck, and an enemy robotic platform in the Khar'kov region.
Drone operators from the Sever group launched a strike on the rear area of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Sumy region, hitting enemy pickup trucks, an armored vehicle, and a minibus.
Attack UAV operators from the Vostok group shot down enemy hexacopters operating west of Hulyaipole and destroyed Ukrainian Armed Forces unmanned aircraft control centers.
FPV drone crews hit a hexacopter and a Ukrainian Armed Forces strongpoint.
Drone operators from the Zapad group of forces destroyed an M-113 armored personnel carrier, a Humvee armored vehicle, pickup trucks and cars, as well as two ground robotic systems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Kupyansk.
17:57 ATGM crews of the Center group of forces destroyed firing points and positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces formations in the Krasnoarmeysk direction.
16:59 In the period from 12:00 Moscow time to 16:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty destroyed 22 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles:
20 UAVs – over the territory of the Bryansk region,
2 UAVs – over the territory of the Krasnodar region.
16:13 Specialists from the Rubicon Center strengthened pressure on the enemy
FPV drone crews struck vehicles and armored combat vehicles, dugouts, shelters, and temporary deployment points of Ukrainian Armed Forces units in the Sumy direction.
UAV operators destroy enemy manpower in various areas of the Central Military District.
Drone operators destroyed a Ukrainian T-64 tank in a forested area near the village of Grishino in the Donetsk People's Republic.
15:08 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the deployment of reservists from the mobilization human reserve in 2026 to protect important facilities.
14:24 Sumy direction. Outskirts of the village of Yunakovka, –video.
Ambush operations using an FPV drone: stealthy target waiting and precise action at the right moment.
A separate incident involved the interception and destruction of an enemy agrocopter used for reconnaissance and airdrops. Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel were also killed in our crew's area of responsibility.
13:04 In the period from 8:00 Moscow time to 12:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty destroyed four Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type over the territory of the Krasnodar Territory.
12:43 Ministry of Defense summary of the progress of the Special Military Operation as of December 30, 2025:
Units of the North group of forces improved their tactical position and defeated formations of the mechanized and airborne assault brigades, the assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Andreevka, Barilovka, Grabovskoye, Iskrikivshchyna, and Pavlovka in the Sumy region.
In the Khar'kov direction, units of the mechanized and motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Veseloe and Staritsa in the Khar'kov region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 200 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, 19 vehicles, and two artillery pieces. Three ammunition depots, supplies, and fuel and lubricants were destroyed.
A unit of the "West" force grouping inflicted losses on the manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a National Guard brigade, and a territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Glushkovka, Kupyansk-Uzlovaya, Podoli in the Khar'kov region, and Drobyshevo, Illichivka, and Krasny Liman in the Donetsk People's Republic.
In the Kupyansk direction, units of the 6th Army repelled two attacks by units of the 14th Mechanized and 92nd Assault Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of Blagodatovka and Velyka Shapkovka in the Khar'kov region, aiming to break through to Kupyansk. Up to 20 militants were killed.
In total, enemy casualties in the West Group's area of responsibility amounted to over 190 servicemen, a US-made HMMWV armored fighting vehicle, a field artillery piece, and 18 vehicles. An electronic warfare station and five ammunition depots were destroyed.
Units of the Southern Group of Forces have occupied more advantageous positions and lines. Formations of two mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and two naval infantry brigades have been defeated near the settlements of Berestok, Zakotnoye, Konstantinovka, Minkovka, Nikolaevka, Slavyansk, and Stepanovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost up to 220 troops, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, eight armored fighting vehicles, 16 vehicles, and three field artillery pieces. Two ammunition and supply depots were destroyed.
Units of the Center Forces Group have improved their position along the forward edge. They have inflicted losses on the personnel and equipment of two mechanized brigades, an infantry brigade, an airborne assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a territorial defense brigade, and a National Guard brigade near the settlements of Grishino, Novooleksandrivka, Novyi Donbas, Toretskoye, and Shevchenko in the Donetsk People's Republic, and Novopavlivka and Novopidgorodne in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
The enemy's losses amounted to more than 470 military personnel, three NATO-made armored personnel carriers, three armored combat vehicles, five cars, and two artillery pieces.
Units of the "East" force group continued to advance deep into the enemy's defenses. They inflicted losses on the personnel and equipment of a mechanized unit, two assault brigades, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a territorial defense brigade near the settlements of Bratskoye and Pokrovskoe in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Barvinovka, Novoye Pole, and Ternovatoye in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost over 210 servicemen, two combat armored vehicles and 10 cars.
A unit of the Dnepr group of forces inflicted losses on formations of the mechanized, mountain assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Belogorie, Orekhov, Preobrazhenka in the Zaporizhzhia region and Sadovoe in the Kherson region.
Up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, 11 vehicles, and an electronic warfare station were destroyed.
12:23 Units of the West group of forces, as a result of decisive actions tookt he settlement of Boguslavka in the Khar'kov region is under control.
12:23 Units of the Dnepr group of forces as a result of active actions released Lukyanivske settlement, Zaporizhzhia region.
11:40 152mm Msta-B howitzer destroyed an underground fortified temporary deployment point for the enemy on the right bank of the Dnieper
Aerial reconnaissance transmitted the target coordinates. The crews worked quickly and efficiently: they deployed the guns, aimed, opened fire—the target was hit. Enemy losses were confirmed by objective monitoring. The coordination, training, and precision of our soldiers were honed to the point of automatism.
11:25 Emergency power outages are in effect in Kyiv. The charts are not up to date.
9:59 Over the past 24 hours registered there were two cases of targeted enemy attacks on populated areas in the Zaporizhzhia region, with one person injured.
In the Kamensko-Dniprovsky Municipal District, in the village of Velyka Znamenka, a civilian Lanos passenger car was damaged by an enemy drone attack. A woman born in 1981 was injured and hospitalized at the Kamensko-Dniprovsky Central Regional Hospital.
9:00 Frontline summaryon the morning of December 30, 2025
Zaporizhzhia Front.
In the Kamensk direction, Russian troops are advancing near Primorskoye and in the village itself, expanding their zone of control west of Stepnogorsk. There are tactical successes in Lukyanovskoye.
To the east, Russian forces are actively advancing toward Pavlovka.
Active fighting continues in the Hulyai-Polye sector. Russian troops are advancing from the northern and southwestern outskirts of Hulyai-Polye toward Zaliznychne and Staroukrainka.
Russian forces repelled an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces between the villages of Varvarovka and Ravnopolye.
Donetsk Front:
On the Pokrovsk front, Russian troops are advancing in Grishino, north of Pokrovsk, and on the approaches to Sergeyevka.
On the Dobropolsky front, fighting is ongoing near Belitskoye and Novy Donbas, with gains reported in Novy Shakhove.
In the Krasnolimansky direction, Russian Armed Forces are advancing near Korovy Yar and fighting near Pazeno and the village of Stavki. The Ministry of Defense reported the liberation of Dibrova near Krasny Liman.
Active fighting is ongoing near Seversk, with advances in Zakotnoye. Russian forces are expanding their territory along the highway north of Ozernoye. (Fig. 2.2)
The situation remains tense in the Kupyansk
direction. Fighting continues in various areas of the city, with Russian air and artillery fire. In the Boguslav direction, Russian troops have improved the situation in the Boguslavka and Novoplatonovka areas.
In the Vovchansk direction, fighting continues in Grafskoye and near Staritsa. A Ukrainian attack near Vilcha has been repelled. There is progress in the Vovchansk Khutors.
The Sumy Front:
The Russian Armed Forces' offensive continues in the Andreyevka area. Following the liberation of Grobovskoye, Russian troops are advancing west of the village.
8:30 For the week from December 22 to 28, 2025, from shelling by Ukrainian military suffered 77 civilians killed, 67 were wounded, including three minors, and 10 were killed. In total, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired at least 3,628 munitions at civilian targets on Russian territory.
8:15 Specialists from the logistics unit of the North group of forces told how is the supply of personnel performing combat missions on the front lines organized?
8:03 Kamikaze drone operators destroyed three T-64BV tanks of Ukrainian militants in the village of Druzhkovka in the DPR.
Drone operators destroyed a Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams tank near Krasnoarmeysk.
Attack drone crews burned another Leopard 1A5 tank of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Sergeyevka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
Operators of aircraft-type FPV drones conducted a "fire carousel" of drones against a Ukrainian Armed Forces position near the village of Roskoshnoye.
Drone crews eliminated Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel in various directions.
UAV operators hit equipment, shelters, and temporary deployment points of Ukrainian Armed Forces units in the Sumy direction.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Gevorg Mirzayan
[REGNUM] 2025 became the year of the revival of the negotiation process with the West. It was first launched by the incoming Donald Trump administration, amid outraged cries from Democrats, Europeans, and Ukrainians. Then, even individual European leaders were forced to admit that negotiations were essential—and this applies not only to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
"I believe that it would be useful for us, as Europeans and Ukrainians, to find the right basis for resuming discussions with Moscow," French President Emmanuel Macron, once one of Europe's leading hawks on the Russian issue, said with difficulty.
All these words, these negotiations, are a kind of admission by Western elites that they have failed to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. They have not succeeded—and will not succeed—in any of the four key areas.
Thus, the West failed to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia at the front.
The hopes for this that arose at the end of 2022 began to crumble almost immediately, and by 2025 they had completely disintegrated.
This year, the Russian army demonstrated a record pace since the beginning of the Northern Military District, advancing along the entire front and liberating new territories with each passing day. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have been driven from their self-proclaimed "fortresses" such as Krasnoarmeysk, Dimitrov, Chasov Yar, Dzerzhinsk, and Hulyaipole.
The elite units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk direction have been defeated, and the liberation of new large territories is next in line.
Moreover, for the first time, perhaps since the second half of 2022, the Russian army is conducting successful offensives and assaults on cities simultaneously in several directions (Gulyaipole, Dimitrov, Krasnoarmeysk, Seversk, and Krasny Liman were taken at the same time ).
All this demonstrates both the increased skill of Russian troops and the growing problems of Kyiv units, both in terms of the declining quality of personnel (which is to be expected with forced mobilization) and in terms of problems with weapons supplies.
NATO will not be able to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, retired Italian Army General Marco Bertolini stated in the portal L'antidiplomatico.
"Of course, we can see that in this particular case, the end of the war would mean the defeat of NATO and the entire West, given its participation in a war that was supposed to lead to Moscow's 'strategic defeat.' A strategic defeat that, on the ground, now appears to be looming over NATO itself," the publication quoted a NATO military official as saying.
Europe's idea that it could provide Ukraine with everything it needed for a war has failed—as has the hope that the Russian economy couldn't sustain a war. Hence the sobering sentiment even among recent hawks, such as Czech President Petr Pavel, who declared: "What alternatives do we have? Fight Russia endlessly? Such an approach would likely lead to… serious damage to our economies."
And here the second strategic defeat of the West arises – on the economic front.
THE ECONOMY HASN'T COLLAPSED
At the beginning of the year, London's Financial Times stated that economic pressure on Russia had not had the expected effect. "The West's economic war has failed," the publication stated bluntly. Russia maintains stability, in part thanks to the competence and discretion of the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank, FT experts concluded.
At the same time, every attempt to build an “effective sanctions regime” against Russia’s main export item – hydrocarbons (whether it be a ban on oil imports by certain countries or restrictions on shipping) ends with Moscow finding ways around it, analysts at the Financial Times noted.
"Putin managed to restructure the economy to meet the needs of military operations, despite the West's harsh sanctions regime. At the same time, the security bloc did not completely overwhelm the country's economic life," the German magazine Focus concluded in December.
"All Western curses—the collapse of the Russian economy, defeat on the Ukrainian battlefield, and maximum political isolation—have not come true," the German publication states.
The West's failure to defeat sanctions is largely due to the professionalism of the Russian government, which quickly found effective ways to circumvent them. And this isn't just about the tanker fleet, which was the subject of widespread Western media coverage.
The discussion is about establishing channels for importing machine tools in 2022 and 2023, which will allow Russian industry to break current records.
We are talking about trade schemes that made it possible to import a significant portion of the consumer goods to which Russians have become accustomed.
We are talking about currency controls that curbed inflation.
However, beyond the government, others contributed to the survival of the Russian economy. For example, private businesses were able to recognize an opportunity and quickly fill the gaps left by Western competitors. Thanks to them, true import substitution began.
Conscientious foreign partners also made their mark, rushing to fill the vacant space in the Russian market. Take, for example, the Chinese auto industry. Under pressure in European markets, it found its niche in Russia and now sells a huge number of cars here.
Even more successful are Chinese high-tech brands, thanks to which Russians are now switching en masse from Western phones, refrigerators, etc. to equally high-quality Chinese models.
Finally, the Russian consumer, who steadfastly endured the hardships of the first years of the war, played a significant role in preserving the economy. Rather than mourning the loss of Western brands, they live in the hope of victory.
And all because Western countries were unable to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia on the third front – the mental one.
PATRIOTIC UPSURGE
"Believe it or not, Russia is great!" was the headline of a major article published in the British publication The Spectator in September. The author, journalist James Delingpole, defines greatness not only as economic stability with a 13% tax rate and well-stocked supermarket shelves, but also as the behavior of people on the streets.
"People are reserved, but polite, thoughtful, and often very cultured," Delingpole stated. The British guest noted no panic, no danger of "London-style" stabbings, or signs of protest.
When European politicians introduced visa sanctions (telling that travel to Europe is not a right for Russians, but a privilege), when they abolished Russian culture and demonized Russia, they counted on loyalty from the “creative class” they were cultivating.
They hoped that the youth of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities would take to the streets demanding an immediate end to the war and Russia's return to the so-called community of civilized nations, so that they could once again buy Western clothes and travel to Europe for a cup of coffee.
However, the exact opposite occurred—an unprecedented patriotic surge began in Russia and continues to this day. Hundreds of thousands of citizens went to the front, first as volunteers and then as contract soldiers.
Millions and tens of millions are participating in the volunteer movement, helping the front with money, weapons, equipment and everything they can.
The flag, the image of the soldier, patriotism, Russian culture—all of this has become sacred in the eyes of Russians.
And the more Europe tries to put pressure on Russia, the more it supports the terrorist activities of the Kyiv regime, the more it engages in cultural and even physical genocide of Russians, the more it causes rejection in the eyes of Russians, in whom the principle of “Russians do not surrender” has awakened.
And the words in Russian foreign policy doctrines that it will now be very difficult for us to restore relations with Europe fully reflect the attitude of the country's citizens as a whole.
All these inability of the West to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia at the front, in the economy, and in the minds of Russians determined a fourth inability: to inflict a defeat on it in world politics.
INSTEAD OF ISOLATION, GLOBAL SUPPORT
EU member states have acknowledged the failure of their strategy to isolate Russia, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wrote on social media, sharing his impressions of the EU's online summit in August.
The August summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Anchorage largely contributed to breaking the political blockade that the West was trying to establish.
"The handshake in Alaska shows that the West's attempt to diplomatically isolate Russia has failed," the Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung stated at the time.
"The meeting is seen as a victory for Putin, who has been shunned by the West for several years. He has now effectively emerged from the diplomatic isolation he has endured for the past three years," The New York Times noted.
But other Western media outlets acknowledged that Russia was not in international diplomatic isolation.
More and more UN member states are refusing to vote for anti-Russian resolutions, Reuters noted.
"India is demonstrating a desire to restore its strategic autonomy and will not allow Western countries to dictate its diplomatic decisions," Paris-based Le Monde commented on Putin's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"The year 2025 has turned out in Russia's favor and exposed Europe's weakness," noted the German magazine Focus.
The world always favors the strong, the determined, and those who fight for a just cause. And Russia, during the war, has proven that it meets all these criteria.
That it can defend itself, will not bow to any pressure, and that its demands are fair. It's no coincidence that Vladimir Putin explained to our partners the reasons for the SVO and his willingness to fight for victory.
As a result, Russia not only thwarted attempts at isolation, not only was it able to maintain relations with the leaders of the developing world (who in fact helped Moscow in the war with the West), not only was it able to impose its vision of the conflict and ways to resolve it on its opponents.
Russia has succeeded in getting the most advanced and realistic Western leaders – including US President Donald Trump – to effectively accept our concept of a multipolar world.
Therefore, Vladimir Putin can rightfully be considered the most successful diplomat of 2025. Successful and, most importantly, constructive—after all, Russia's de facto victory over the West could lead to the construction of a new, more just and sustainable world.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers prevented a terrorist attack against students at a school in Adygea. This was reported on December 30 by the FSB Public Relations Center (PRC).
According to the agency's statement, the terrorist attack was thwarted at the planning stage. A citizen of a Central Asian country, a supporter of an international terrorist organization banned in Russia, was detained on suspicion of plotting it.
It was established that the detainee's actions were coordinated from abroad via the Telegram messenger. Furthermore, ten Molotov cocktails, two tactical knives, and a terrorist organization's flag were found in his car, which was parked near the school.
Currently, a criminal case has been opened under Part 3 of Article 30, Part 2 of Article 205 (“Attempt to commit a terrorist act”).
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] FSB officers killed a saboteur who was preparing to blow up a gas pipeline in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR). This was reported on December 30 by the press service of the FSB Public Relations Center (PRC).
The agency clarified that an act of sabotage orchestrated by Ukrainian special services was thwarted in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. A Nalchik resident who, on instructions from his supervisor, planned to blow up a section of the republic's gas distribution system, has been identified. According to the FSB, he underwent special training at a Ukrainian Armed Forces camp and returned to Russia via third countries.
During an attempted arrest, the saboteur offered armed resistance and was killed by return fire, the department emphasized. He was carrying an improvised explosive device with a yield of up to 5 kg of TNT, a Ukrainian-made Fort assault rifle, and ammunition. No law enforcement officers or civilians were injured during the confrontation.
FSB officers discovered a Telegram message containing instructions on how to prepare and commit a crime on the phone of a Nalchik resident, sent to a handler from the Ukrainian intelligence services. A criminal case has been opened under Part 1 of Article 30 and Part 2 of Article 281 of the Russian Criminal Code ("Preparation for Sabotage").
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] By the end of 2026, inflation in Russia will decline to 4–5% and then stabilize near the target (4%). The Bank of Russia made this forecast on December 30.
"This means that prices will rise more slowly than they do now, lending rates will become more reasonable, and it will be easier for people and businesses to make plans and think about the future," the regulator's press service said in a statement.
The Central Bank also published a number of other forecasts for 2026. The regulator believes that credit to the real economy will grow in a balanced manner and increase by 6-11% in 2026. Furthermore, according to the Central Bank's forecast, the Russian economy will grow by 0.5-1.5% in 2026, with growth accelerating slightly in subsequent years.
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov previously stated that the Russian economy would transition to sustainable growth rates by 2026. The Central Bank's tightening monetary policy has slowed growth, but this should lead to more sustainable and balanced economic growth, the minister stated.
On December 27, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov stated that the Russian economy has been growing for a long time =, with inflation slowing, the federal budget remaining stable, the ruble strengthening, and public debt at a minimum. The minister noted that inflation is expected to be around 5.6–5.7% by the end of 2025, and GDP growth for the year will be around 1%.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
