Overview
- Russia’s defense ministry released video of GRU chief Igor Kostyukov giving a dossier and a drone component to a U.S. embassy military attaché, saying the materials prove a planned strike near Valdai.
- U.S. officials say the CIA assessed that Ukraine did not target Vladimir Putin or his residences, and President Donald Trump was briefed on the finding.
- Ukraine denies seeking to hit Putin, says it strikes only military or legitimate targets, and has called Moscow’s presented materials fabricated; none of the claims have been independently verified.
- Both sides reported large New Year drone operations, with Ukraine citing Russian barrages across multiple regions and Russian channels reporting hits on oil facilities in Kaluga and southern Russia.
- Russia’s occupation authorities in Kherson accused Ukraine of a deadly drone strike on a celebration in Chorly that killed at least 24 people, while Kyiv did not comment on the specific allegation and verification remains pending.