The UK military expected to see more high-end Russian equipment, like T-14s and Su-57s, in Ukraine, an officer said. They're not there though.

I would give anything in the world if, in this address, I could say that peace will also come in just a few minutes,” Ukraine's Zelenskyy said just before midnight on New Year's Eve.

Russia and Ukraine accused each other of targeting civilians over the New Year, with Moscow reporting a deadly strike on a hotel in territory it occupies in southern Ukraine while Kyiv said there had been another broad attack on its power supplies.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his New Year address to the nation, said late Wednesday that Kyiv wanted the war to end, but not at any cost, adding he would not sign a "weak" peace agreement that would only prolong the war.

Two of the main sticking points involve territory and the fate of Europe's biggest nuclear plant, which is currently occupied by Russia.

Putin accused Ukraine of launching drone attacks on his residence, derailing momentum on Zelenskyy's peace plan as Russia threatens to harden its position.

For Ukraine, regaining control of the plant is not just about undoing an illegal seizure. It is central to the country’s postwar energy independence. Before the war, the plant supplied roughly a quarter of the country’s electricity needs. Its generation capacity would be vital for powering reconstruction efforts, energy experts say.

Russia launched about 52,000 drones in overnight attacks on Ukraine in 2025, according to data aggregated by Kyle Glen of the U.K.-based Centre for Information Resilience, compared with around 14,000 launched between 2022 and 2024. Odesa is becoming a major target.