Overview
- Ukraine said Storm Shadow missiles struck the Novoshakhtinsk refinery and long‑range drones ignited oil tanks at Temryuk, where officials reported a blaze spanning about 2,000 square meters, and targeted a gas processing plant in Orenburg.
- Russia reported downing large numbers of Ukrainian drones over multiple regions, including the approaches to Moscow, as both sides traded barrages that damaged energy infrastructure and caused power outages and casualties in Ukrainian cities.
- Zelensky reported a productive call with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and announced a meeting with President Trump will occur in the near future as work continues on detailed elements of the 20‑point plan.
- Moscow has not signaled any withdrawal from occupied areas and continues to demand Ukraine relinquish remaining parts of the Donbas, even as Russian officials describe negotiations with the U.S. as slow but steadily progressing.
- On the battlefield, Russia said its forces captured the settlement of Sviato‑Pokrovske in Donetsk, while the U.S. Senate formally condemned Russia's holiday strikes on Ukrainian civilians and urged stronger air‑defense support for Kyiv.