Russia: 'We will give US evidence of attack on Putin residence'. Kiev attack: at least 24 victims in Kherson

The Ukrainian intelligence services say they faked the killing of Denis Kapustin, commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a paramilitary group that fights on the side of Kiev's troops and has claimed several raids on Russian territory in past years during the Kremlin army's invasion of Ukraine. Kapustin, also known as Denis Nikitin, is described by various media as a nationalist with links to the radical right. According to the Ukrainian intelligence version, the alleged staging saved Kapustin from an assassination attempt commissioned by Moscow. On Saturday, his group had claimed that Kapustin had been killed at the front. But today the head of Ukraine's military intelligence (Gur), Kyrylo Budanov, claimed that he had 'come back to life' during what was allegedly a video link-up with Kapustin himself. Kiev claims that Russian intelligence had 'allocated half a million dollars to commit the crime'.

The oil tanker fleeing US forces in the Atlantic Ocean has been formally renamed and added to an official Russian database of ships registered in that country, which could complicate US efforts to board the ship. The New York Times writes this.

According to the Russian Maritime Registry, the ship, formerly known as Bella 1, is now registered as Marinera. The database lists it as flying the Russian flag, with port of registration in Soci. According to international law, ships flying the flag of a country are under the protection of that nation.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that Moscow has evidence to support Russian diplomatic chief Sergei Lavrov's claim that a Ukrainian drone launched on Monday was directed at Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's residence in Novgorod. According to the ministry, "the materials will be sent to the Americans through established channels". Ukraine denied these claims earlier this week.

Croatia has joined Purl, the NATO initiative that envisages the purchase of American armament for Ukraine. The Serbian news agency Tanjug, citing the Ukrainian portal EuroPravda, reported the news. Zagreb's contribution, it says, amounts to about EUR 14 million.

Russia is waging war, which has lasted almost four years, 'in the New Year' with over 200 drones launched against Ukraine, mainly against its energy infrastructure. This was emphasised on social media by Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky: 'Russia is deliberately bringing war into the New Year, launching over two hundred attack drones against Ukraine overnight,' he said, adding that 'the targets were our energy infrastructure'.

Russian air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 168 Ukrainian drones in the regions overnight, the Defence Ministry said. This was reported by the Russian Tass news agency. "Last night, 168 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed by the air defence systems in service: 61 on the territory of Bryansk region, 25 on the territory of Krasnodar region, 23 on the territory of Tula region, 16 on the territory of the Crimean Republic; 12 on Moscow region, including nine drones flying towards Moscow; seven on the territory of Kaluga region; 24 drones were destroyed over the waters of the Azov Sea," a note reads.

According to US officials, the CIA has assessed that Ukraine was not targeting a residence used by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a recent drone attack in the north of his country, denying a claim made by the Russian leader to President Donald Trump in a phone call on Monday. CNN writes. Yesterday, CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed Trump on the assessment, officials said. Russia had publicly raised allegations that Ukraine attempted to strike Putin's house on Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a peace agreement to end the war with Russia is "90% ready",in his New Year's address focused mainly on resisting Moscow's large-scale invasion. Zelensky said that the remaining 10% of the agreement to end almost four years of conflict 'will determine the fate of peace, that of Ukraine and Europe'. Zelensky thanked the leaders who supported Ukraine, but said that 'intentions must turn into security guarantees and therefore be ratified'.

Twenty-four people were killed and at least 50 others injured in an attack by the Ukrainian armed forces on a bar and a hotel in Kherson. This was reported by regional governor Volodymyr Saldo, pointing out that 'three drones hit a bar and a hotel on the Black Sea coast in Khorly'. "According to initial reconstructions, more than 50 people were injured and 24 died," Saldo wrote on his Telegram channel. Details on the injured and dead are being clarified, the governor added, according to which, among the victims is also a child. The Ukrainian Armed Forces also used a drone armed with an incendiary mixture. The attack took place around midnight, triggering a fire that was only extinguished this morning.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised his troops fighting abroad, calling them the symbol of the invincible alliance with Russia, in a New Year message, according to state media reports. According to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, Pyongyang has sent thousands of soldiers to support the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to South Korean estimates, at least 600 people died and thousands were injured. Analysts claim that North Korea receives financial aid, military technology, and food and energy supplies from Russia in return.