Only 10% of Ukrainians believe elections are possible before the ceasefire - survey

Only 10% of Ukrainians believe elections should be held before a ceasefire, roughly unchanged from 11% in September, according to a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology survey conducted from November 26 to December 29, 2025. Support for holding elections after a ceasefire with security guarantees has grown to 23%, up from 9% earlier in the year, while a clear majority of respondents—59%—say elections should take place only after a final peace agreement and the end of the war.

Among Ukrainians who trust President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, overwhelming support remains for postponing elections until after a final peace deal, whereas calls for near-term elections are concentrated mainly among those who completely distrust the president.

Russia attacks Ukraine with 165 drones and 9 missiles: hits confirmed at 10 locations

Russia launched a large-scale air attack on Ukraine on the night of 4–5 January, firing 165 drones — around 100 of them Shahed-type — along with nine Iskander-M ballistic missiles or S-300 missiles, Ukraine’s Air Force reported. As of 08:00, Ukrainian air defences had shot down or jammed 137 drones across northern, central and eastern regions, while missile strikes and 26 drone hits were recorded at ten locations, with debris falling at nine others.

The attack, launched from several Russian regions, was partially repelled using aircraft, air defence systems, electronic warfare and mobile fire groups, and Russian UAVs were still present in Ukrainian airspace at the time of reporting.

Russian drone strikes on a hospital in Kyiv left 1 killed and 4 injured

A Russian overnight drone attack struck a hospital in Kyiv on January 5, killing at least one person and injuring four others, Ukrainian officials said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two of the wounded are in serious condition. Emergency services said a strike hit the second floor of a private four-story hospital, damaging an inpatient ward and forcing the evacuation of 25 people.

The attack also hit Kyiv Oblast, where a man was killed in a southwestern district, according to regional authorities. Russian drones targeted energy infrastructure as well, cutting power to about 8,500 families in the northern city of Slavutych. Condemning the strike, Zelensky urged Western allies to urgently strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and support interceptor drone production and energy infrastructure repairs, as he prepares for a week of diplomatic meetings in Europe aimed at securing further support and pushing to end the war.

Russian strike on the US-owned plant in Dnipro caused a 300-tonne spill of sunflower oil spill onto roads

Around 300 tonnes of oil spilled onto city roads after Russian forces struck a U.S.-owned industrial facility in Dnipro, Mayor Borys Filatov said. He noted that the plant belongs to Bunge, Missuri–based company. Municipal services are cleaning up the spill and treating the roadway with sand and absorbent materials, and traffic along the city’s embankment road is expected to be closed for two to three days.