January 5 began with shelling across Ukraine and important political developments. Russia launched massive attacks, including a strike on a Kyiv hospital that caused civilian casualties.
The main political news is the possible resignation of SBU head Vasyl Maliuk. According to reports, President Zelensky proposed Maliuk take up another top post, but he refused, mainly due to political differences. Maliuk’s resignation, if submitted, must be approved by the parliament, where support is uncertain.
Overnight, Russian attacks on Kyiv and the region resulted in deaths and injuries, and damaged medical facilities. This was one of the largest combined assaults: Russia used 165 kamikaze drones and nine ballistic missiles. The use of drones armed with MANPADS shows a change in Russian tactics.
In Serbia, Gazprom was granted a temporary US license to restart its oil refinery. The license is valid until January 23 while Russian stakeholders seek new owners. If a deal is not made by March 24, sanctions may be reinstated.
It emerged that the US prepared an extensive operation to capture Venezuelan President Maduro, even building a replica of his residence for drills, but the mission was not executed due to high risks.
North Korea tested hypersonic missiles that maneuver and evade interception, underlining both technical ambitions and political messaging from Pyongyang.
These events illustrate the current volatility in Ukraine and global politics amid ongoing war and security challenges.
