Russian missile attack on Kharkiv injures at least 19 people, including a baby

Russian forces launched a missile strike on a residential neighborhood in Kharkiv on January 2, injuring at least 19 people, including a six-month-old baby, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Six victims were hospitalized, one woman in serious condition, while the infant did not require hospitalization. In total, 25 people sought medical help, including several suffering acute stress.

The attack destroyed a five-story apartment building and damaged nearby civilian infrastructure, including a shopping center and parked cars. A fire broke out at the site, and rescue operations are ongoing as authorities fear people may still be trapped under the rubble.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strike, saying Russia continues to target civilians despite international diplomatic efforts to end the war. The attack came a day after Russian forces hit the Feldman EcoPark near Kharkiv with a glide bomb, killing and injuring dozens of animals. Located roughly 30 kilometers from the Russian border, Kharkiv remains under frequent Russian attack, suffering repeated civilian casualties and widespread destruction.

Russia launched one of its largest attacks on the city of Zaporizhzhia

Russian forces launched one of their largest drone attacks on the city of Zaporizhzhia overnight on January 1–2, striking civilian areas but causing no casualties, Ukrainian officials said.

Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko reported that residential buildings, a shopping center, and other civilian infrastructure were damaged. “Even in the new year, the Russians continue to terrorize our people in peaceful cities, systematically bombing homes and energy infrastructure,” she said, thanking emergency services for their swift response.

According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, the attack came in two waves using strike drones. The first strike late on January 1 triggered three fires, damaging residential buildings, roads, and vehicles. A second wave around 2 a.m. on Jan. 2 set a shopping center ablaze, though firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. Bomb disposal teams later inspected the area for hazardous drone debris.

Emergency services remain on site, and authorities confirmed that no one was injured.

Indian refinery resumed import of Russian oil

Bloomberg reports that India's largest refinery, operated by Reliance Industries Ltd. at the Jamnagar complex on the western coast, has resumed importing Russian Urals crude after a brief pause triggered by heightened U.S. scrutiny and sanctions on major Russian producers. Three tankers carrying nearly 2.2 million barrels of Urals are currently en route, with deliveries expected early this month, according to vessel-tracking data from Kpler.

The crude is intended for processing into fuels for domestic consumption rather than export, highlighting India's ongoing reliance on discounted Russian oil amid geopolitical pressures.

Intelligence warns the Kremlin is preparing a large-scale provocation involving casualties

Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service warned that Russia is preparing a large-scale provocation involving civilian casualties around January 7 in an effort to sabotage U.S.-mediated peace talks.

According to the agency, the Kremlin is escalating disinformation following what Ukraine says was a fabricated claim about an attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence. Ukrainian intelligence believes Russian security services may soon shift from information manipulation to a staged violent incident with significant loss of life. The provocation could occur shortly before or during Orthodox Christmas celebrations and may target a place of worship or another highly symbolic site, either inside Russia or in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.

The agency said Russia plans to falsely implicate Ukraine by planting debris from Western-made drones brought from the front line. Ukrainian intelligence urged journalists and the public to carefully verify Kremlin claims and avoid spreading Russian disinformation.