Ukrainian intel chief appointed as head of Zelensky’s office

Dmitry Litvin, Vladimir Zelensky’s communications adviser, said earlier that formal procedures regarding Kirill Budanov’s appointment had already begun

Russian forces delivered one massive and six combined strikes by precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles on Ukrainian military-industrial and energy sites over the past week in response to Kiev’s attacks on civilian facilities, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported

US President Donald Trump wrote earlier on January 2 on his Truth Social media platform that "If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue"

In December, LNG imports also hit a record 12.7 billion cubic meters

Twenty of them were destroyed in the Samara Region

Russian Permanent to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva Gennady Gatilov emphasized that "concealing this tragedy would be tantamount to open complicity and participation"

According to the newspaper, photos and videos show several people hold large champagne bottles over their heads, with firework sparkers attached to them, sparks reached ceiling at a certain point of time and sound-proof acoustic panels caught fire

The leader of the Other Ukraine movement Viktor Medvedchuk stressed that "the Ukrainian people should determine their future"

"If there are doubts, these are only in respect of clean habits of the doubters," Official Spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said

Identification of all other victims will be possible only after a special genetic examination

In his view, Banderites must be eliminated wherever they are, be it Ukraine or Europe

According to preliminary reports, over 24 people, including a child, were killed, and another 29 people, among them five kids, suffered injuries

TASS has prepared this factbox on the project dubbed The New Year’s Capital of Russia

Ryazan has taken on the title of the New Year’s capital for the second time during the project’s existence

61 of them were destroyed over the territory of the Bryansk Region

The North Korean leader called on the KPA soldiers to remain brave

The US President didn't answer questions about the CIA's role in the attack on Venezuela or whether American troops would put boots on the ground in Ukraine

According to the US Southern Command, intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were involved in drug smuggling

The custom of decorating Christmas trees dates back to biblical myths

Experts also found that 75% of respondents confirmed that their families still preserve tree decorations from previous generations

On December 23, Russia’s main New Year tree was set up in the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square, fully decorated and ready for the holidays

According to a government decree, the New Year holidays in 2025–2026 will last 12 days — from Wednesday, December 31, 2025, to Sunday, January 11, 2026

In 2025, a great many well-known politicians, statesmen, scientists and cultural figures passed away

At least 12 such incidents were recorded during the year, including two involving big passenger jets

Twenty-seven countries across the globe elected their leaders in 2025

On November 25, a massive fire broke out in the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Hong Kong, China, claiming 161 deaths