Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russian troops in Ukraine are on a 'sacred mission'. He made the remarks on Wednesday at an event with military personnel and their families at the Church of St. George the Victorious in Moscow. Putin compared the soldiers’ role to that of Jesus Christ, saying they are working to protect their homeland and its people.

Putin said that throughout Russian history, soldiers have been viewed as fulfilling a 'sacred mission' sent by God. Addressing the children of service members, he urged them to be proud of their parents and relatives currently engaged in the war, emphasizing that the Russian people have always taken pride in their fighters.

According to the report, Russian forces began their military operation in Ukraine in 2022, and the conflict continues. Since January 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has been attempting to bring an end to the hostilities.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal citing US intelligence sources, American officials have stated that there is no evidence Ukraine attempted to attack Russian President Vladimir Putin or his residence. The CIA’s assessment indicates that Ukraine did not target Putin or any of his residences in the recent drone incident. Officials clarified that Ukraine’s intended target was a military site located in the same region as Putin’s residence but not near it.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia has failed to provide credible evidence supporting its claim of a Ukrainian drone strike on the president’s residence in the Novgorod region. Former US President Donald Trump also dismissed the Russian claim in a social media post linking to a New York Post editorial that criticized Putin’s reaction to the alleged attack. Trump later said he believed the attack might not have occurred after speaking with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky denied the allegation, arguing that such claims undermine Ukraine’s diplomatic progress with Trump’s team and could be used to justify further Russian aggression.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia’s formal recognition of Afghanistan’s Taliban government has opened new opportunities for regional cooperation. Russia granted official recognition to the Taliban administration in July, a move welcomed by the Afghan government, according to Tolo News. Lavrov emphasized that the recognition has paved the way for collaboration between the two countries in areas including regional security.

The Taliban government in Kabul expressed appreciation for Russia’s stance, saying that expanding regional cooperation would contribute to regional stability. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid called on other countries to normalize relations with Afghanistan, describing Russia’s decision as courageous and beneficial for positive engagement.

Political analyst Najibullah Hotak noted that Russia, as a regional power, could encourage Central Asian and other nations to strengthen ties with Afghanistan. Russia remains the only country to have officially recognized the Taliban government as of July 4.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine shows no urgency toward establishing peace and warned that if Kyiv does not pursue a peaceful resolution, Russia will achieve its objectives through force. His remarks were reported by the state news agency TASS.

The statement came after Russia launched extensive missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that while Kyiv seeks peace, Moscow continues to show a determination to wage war. Zelensky is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday to discuss a possible peace agreement, and Putin’s comments emerged ahead of that meeting. Reuters reported that the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin announced on Telegram that Russian forces had captured several towns in eastern Ukraine and the Zaporizhzhia region. However, Ukraine’s military denied Russia’s claims, calling them baseless and asserting that Ukrainian troops continue defensive operations in those areas.

A new survey by Russia’s state-owned polling agency VTsIOM reveals that most Russians believe the war in Ukraine will conclude in 2026. The optimism stems from Russia’s recent battlefield advances and intensified diplomatic efforts between Moscow and Kyiv to reach a ceasefire agreement. The poll, conducted among 1,600 respondents, found that 55% expect the conflict to end next year, while 70% foresee 2026 as a more successful year for Russia overall.

VTsIOM’s deputy head, Mikhail Mamonov, noted that the positive outlook is linked to President Vladimir Putin’s recent remarks suggesting the “special military operation” could soon align with national interests and approach resolution. Despite ongoing economic and social challenges, the survey indicates a shift in public sentiment toward cautious optimism about the future.

Analysts suggest the findings reflect a combination of war fatigue and growing expectations for stability. However, observers warn that the path to peace remains uncertain, dependent on both battlefield dynamics and diplomatic negotiations in the coming months.

Russia’s state space agency Roscosmos has announced plans to construct a nuclear power plant on the Moon by 2036. The facility is expected to supply electricity to Russia’s lunar exploration program and a planned joint Russia-China research base. The project will be developed in partnership with the Lavochkin Association, with participation from the state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute, Russia’s leading nuclear research center.

The initiative marks Moscow’s renewed ambition to regain prominence in space exploration after setbacks such as the crash of its Luna-25 lander in 2023. Roscosmos described the proposed power plant as a critical step toward establishing a sustainable lunar presence. Although the agency did not explicitly confirm the plant’s nuclear nature, the involvement of major nuclear institutions strongly indicates that direction.

Analysts view the project as part of Russia’s broader strategy to compete with the United States and China in lunar development. If successful, it could enable long-term human and robotic operations on the Moon, though technical and financial challenges remain significant.

A bomb explosion outside a police station in Moscow early Wednesday killed three people, including two traffic police officers. According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, the blast occurred on Yeletskaya Street when officers approached a suspicious man who then detonated an explosive device. The incident follows a car bomb attack two days earlier in the same area that killed Russian Army General Fanil Sarvarov.

Authorities have not yet confirmed who was behind the latest explosion, though previous similar attacks in Russia have been linked to alleged Ukrainian intelligence involvement. The deceased officers were aged 24 and 25, and one reportedly leaves behind a wife and a nine-month-old child. The attack has prompted heightened security measures across Moscow.

The explosion underscores growing security concerns in the Russian capital amid ongoing regional tensions and recent high-profile attacks. Investigators are working to determine whether the two incidents are connected as Moscow tightens surveillance around police and military facilities.

Russian authorities reported that Ukraine launched a major overnight drone assault targeting Moscow and surrounding regions, including the Tula industrial zone where a fire broke out. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at least three drones approaching the capital were shot down, and emergency services were deployed to affected areas. No immediate casualties or damage were reported.

Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that its air defense systems destroyed 172 Ukrainian drones overnight, with nearly half intercepted near border regions. Two of Moscow’s four main airports temporarily restricted operations following the attacks. Tula Governor Dmitry Milyaev confirmed that debris from a downed drone caused a fire at an industrial facility, though details about the site or damage remain undisclosed.

The incident marks another escalation in Ukraine’s long-range drone campaign targeting Russian military, energy, and logistics infrastructure. Kyiv maintains that such strikes are a defensive response to Russia’s continued assaults on Ukrainian territory, signaling the deepening technological and strategic dimensions of the conflict.

Russia’s government has formally authorized its Defense Ministry to terminate a series of bilateral military cooperation agreements signed with several European countries between 1992 and 2002. The annulled accords include those with Germany, Poland, Norway, Denmark, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic. The move marks a symbolic end to the post-Cold War framework that once sought to foster mutual security and transparency between Moscow and Western capitals.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the decision reflects the shifting geopolitical reality and the deterioration of relations with NATO member states. Analysts note that the cancellation underscores Moscow’s pivot toward its own security alliances, particularly the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which includes Belarus and other former Soviet republics. European officials have yet to issue a coordinated response, though observers view the step as further evidence of deepening East-West estrangement.

The decision may complicate future arms control or confidence-building measures in Europe, reinforcing the divide between Russia and NATO and signaling a long-term restructuring of regional security architecture.

A senior Russian military officer, General Fanil Sarvarov, was killed in a car bomb explosion in Moscow early Monday morning. The blast occurred around 6:55 a.m. local time on Yasenovaya Street, destroying his vehicle and damaging several others nearby. Sarvarov, who headed the General Staff’s Operational Training Directorate, was initially found critically injured but died shortly after. Russian investigators have opened a criminal case into the incident.

Authorities in Moscow suspect that Ukrainian special forces may have been behind the attack, though Kyiv has not issued any official comment. Sarvarov had previously played a key role in planning and executing Russian military operations in Syria between 2015 and 2016 before assuming his current post in 2016. The explosion has heightened security concerns in the Russian capital amid ongoing tensions with Ukraine.

Analysts suggest the killing could further strain Moscow-Kyiv relations and prompt tighter internal security measures. Investigations are ongoing to determine the perpetrators and possible cross-border links.

The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will send New Year and Christmas greetings to U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that the gesture reflects diplomatic civility, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions. He added that Moscow expects all parties involved in the Ukraine peace process to adhere to previously agreed terms.

The announcement follows earlier comments from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who said that any such greeting would be formally communicated by the Kremlin. Russian media also reported that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently extended holiday greetings to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, signaling a modest continuation of diplomatic exchanges.

Observers note that the exchange of greetings underscores the persistence of diplomatic communication between Washington and Moscow despite strained relations. However, analysts remain cautious about whether such symbolic gestures can influence the broader geopolitical landscape, particularly as Trump’s 20-point peace plan discussions continue in Florida.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to engage in dialogue with French President Emmanuel Macron over the ongoing war in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in an interview published Sunday. Peskov told Russia’s RIA Novosti that Putin had clearly expressed his willingness to hold talks, adding that such dialogue would be viewed positively if there is mutual political goodwill.

Earlier this week, Macron urged European leaders to reopen communication channels with Moscow to help end the conflict, emphasizing the need for a structured framework for negotiations in the coming weeks. The statement comes as the war enters its fourth year, with the European Union agreeing on a €90 billion loan package to help Ukraine address budget shortfalls.

However, EU leaders remain divided over whether to use frozen Russian assets to finance the aid. Analysts say renewed dialogue between Moscow and Paris could signal a cautious diplomatic shift, though significant obstacles remain before any substantive peace talks can begin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is ready to consider halting attacks on Ukraine during its election days if Ukrainians living in Russia are granted voting rights. Speaking at a year-end press conference in Moscow, Putin linked a potential ceasefire to the participation of Ukrainian citizens residing in Russia, estimated between five and ten million people, in Ukraine’s national elections.

Putin stated that Russia could ensure security during the Ukrainian elections by refraining from deep strikes into Ukrainian territory, provided that Kyiv allows its citizens in Russia to vote. The proposal, reported by Turkey-based Anadolu Agency, marks a rare public linkage between Russia’s military actions and Ukraine’s electoral process.

Analysts view the statement as a strategic move to influence Ukraine’s domestic politics and international negotiations. Kyiv has not yet responded officially, but Western observers are likely to interpret the offer as an attempt to exert political pressure under the guise of humanitarian concern.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia will not engage in any new wars after Ukraine if Western nations respect Moscow’s interests. Speaking during a televised interview on Friday, Putin dismissed allegations that Russia intends to attack European countries, calling such claims baseless. He emphasized that mutual respect between Russia and the West could prevent further military conflicts.

Earlier this month, Putin reiterated that Russia has no plans to go to war with Europe, but warned that his country remains ready if provoked. He also conditioned peace on NATO refraining from what he described as deceptive eastern expansion. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian missile strike in the southern Odesa region killed seven people and injured fifteen others, underscoring the ongoing toll of the conflict that began in February 2022.

Analysts suggest Putin’s remarks aim to project a defensive posture while maintaining pressure on NATO and Western governments. The statement comes amid continued international scrutiny of Russia’s military actions and diplomatic isolation.

At least three people were killed early Thursday in a Ukrainian drone strike targeting Russia’s Rostov region, according to regional governor Yuri Slyusar. The attack hit a cargo ship docked at the regional capital’s port, igniting a fire that killed two sailors and injured three others. Another civilian was killed and six wounded in nearby Bataysk city. Authorities said damage assessments are underway.

The assault marks another escalation in Ukraine’s campaign to strike deep inside Russian territory, focusing on energy and logistics infrastructure that sustain Moscow’s war effort. Russian officials claim to intercept dozens of drones nightly, while Kyiv has recently acknowledged attacks on oil tankers and ports in the Black Sea, including Novorossiysk, a key oil terminal temporarily shut down after a previous strike.

Despite renewed U.S.-led diplomatic initiatives for a ceasefire, neither side has shown willingness to halt hostilities. Turkey has warned that continued attacks on Black Sea shipping could dangerously heighten regional tensions.