Overview

• Russia launched a large overnight drone and missile strike on Kyiv that hit energy facilities and residential buildings, injuring at least nine people and causing power and water outages, while a seven-year-old boy was reported dead in the Zaporizhzhia region.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency said the process to restore external power to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has started after weeks of reliance on diesel generators, with observers noting recent explosions near the site.
• Wladimir Putin told Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev that Russian air defense caused the December 25, 2024 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines jet, citing a Ukrainian drone in the air and a system malfunction, and he pledged compensation and legal action.
• A major Lukoil gas-processing facility in Russia's Volgograd region caught fire after a suspected drone strike, with the regional governor confirming fires at energy sites and satellite data indicating a blaze at the Korobkowski plant.
• NATO allies are discussing measures reported by the Financial Times such as arming surveillance drones and lowering engagement thresholds for pilots in response to repeated incursions, though talks remain early and divided with no commitments.