Overview
- Russian-installed governor Wladimir Saldo says three drones hit a café in Khorly during New Year festivities, killing 24 and injuring dozens, and he declared two days of mourning.
- Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed the Khorly allegation, and the reported casualty figures and circumstances have not been independently verified.
- Moscow says it will share technical data with the United States and has shown alleged drone debris to support its claim that Ukraine targeted President Vladimir Putin’s Novgorod residence.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky called the residence allegation fabricated, and U.S. outlets reported the CIA assessed Ukraine did not conduct such an attack.
- Both sides reported extensive overnight drone operations that also targeted energy infrastructure, with Ukraine citing a 205-drone Russian barrage and Russian channels reporting strikes on oil facilities.