Overview
- Russian-installed authorities in occupied Kherson say three Ukrainian drones hit a café and hotel in Khorly during New Year celebrations, reporting at least 24 dead and dozens injured without independent verification.
- Moscow released video showing a senior general handing purported drone fragments and decrypted flight data to a U.S. military representative, asserting the material proves a planned strike on a presidential complex.
- U.S. officials say a CIA assessment conveyed to President Donald Trump found Ukraine was not aiming for any Putin residence in the reported Novgorod incident, and Kyiv has flatly denied the allegation.
- Both sides reported heavy year-end drone activity, with Zelensky saying Russia launched more than 200 drones at Ukrainian energy infrastructure as Ukraine continued deep strikes on Russian fuel targets, including the Tuapse refinery.
- Zelensky says a peace framework is roughly 90% drafted, though unresolved territorial and security guarantees persist as Moscow signals a tougher negotiating line after its residence-attack claim.