In Ukraine

Day 680 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

A  missile strike killed 32 people in Kiev on Dec. 29, authorities said Thursday, raising the toll of the deadliest attack on the Ukrainian capital since the war began.

Russia has in recent days intensified aerial attacks against Ukraine, which says it has enough munition to withstand a few powerful assaults but would soon need more aid.

A close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sergei Markov, said a new civil war in the United States would be "good for the world".
Pro-Kremlin political scientist Markov suggested during a recent broadcast that an outbreak of civil war in the US would be beneficial for Russia and would end the conflict in Ukraine.

Ukraine has exported about 13 million tons of merchandise on some 400 ships since setting up a protected maritime corridor in August to fend off Russian threats, a government minister said on Dec. 30.

While Ukraine had few military achievements on land in 2023, on the Black Sea it has pushed Russia's much larger navy away from its coasts, allowing the resumption of grain exports.

Day 676 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

Russia launched a massive air attack over Ukraine on Friday, killing at least 30 people and wounding scores across the country in the fiercest assault since the first days of the war nearly two years ago.

Schools, a maternity hospital, shopping arcades and blocks of flats were among the buildings hit in the barrage, said Ukrainian officials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pointed out that the aid package will cover "Ukraine's most urgent needs".

The Russians confirmed: 74 of them were eliminated...

Day 673 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

"Washington is sending Kyiv a bloody New Year's gift. It once again demonstrates its loyalty to the concept of war 'to the last Ukrainian'. True, with a small addition - 'as long as there is money'," said the Russian ambassador in Washington, according to the Telegram channel of the Russian embassy.

The U.S. government on Wednesday announced what it said was the last remaining package of weapons available for Ukraine under existing authorization, with Congress now needing to decide whether to keep supporting Kiev's battle against Russian invasion.