Russian drone attack killed 2 and injured 6, damaged central bank building in Kyiv

On January 1, Russia launched a devastating drone attack on Kyiv, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to at least six others, including two pregnant women, according to Ukrainian officials. Falling debris damaged a National Bank of Ukraine building in the Pechersk District, though the central bank assured that its operations remained unaffected. Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia deployed 111 drones, of which 63 were intercepted by air defense, while another 46 failed to hit their targets.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, emphasizing Russia's intent to inflict harm even during the New Year's holiday. He extended condolences to the victims' families and expressed gratitude to the military, medical staff, and emergency responders. The assault follows a pattern of intensified Russian strikes during the holiday season, including a major attack on December 25 involving 78 missiles and 106 drones targeting multiple Ukrainian cities.

Ukraine brought back 1,358 POWs from Russian captivity in 2024

In 2024, Ukraine successfully freed more captives from Russian detention than in the previous year, reflecting a significant increase in prisoner exchanges. According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Ukraine conducted 11 exchanges, securing the release of 1,358 individuals, 356 more than in 2023. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, a total of 3,956 Ukrainians have been liberated. President Volodymyr Zelensky underscored the importance of each return in his New Year address, emphasizing the personal significance of every individual brought back to Ukraine.

One of the largest exchanges occurred on December 30, with 189 captives released, including military personnel and two civilians. This group comprised defenders from key battlegrounds, including Azovstal, Mariupol, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and Snake Island. Among the freed were 87 Armed Forces members, 43 National Guard personnel, 33 border guards, 24 sailors, and Azov Regiment fighters, highlighting the diverse contributions of Ukraine’s defenders.

Four Ukrainian children returned home from Russian-occupied territories

Ukraine successfully returned four children from Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast on Dec. 31, marking a significant achievement under the "Bring Kids Back UA" initiative and the "Save Ukraine" organization. Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin described the rescue of two boys and two girls, aged 3 to 17, as a "true New Year's miracle," noting the profound hardships these children endured, including threats, interrogations, and the terror of occupation. Prokudin also reported that 246 children from Kherson Oblast have been rescued from Russian occupation since the beginning of 2024.

The scale of child abductions remains alarming, with Ukraine's "Children of War" database reporting at least 20,000 children abducted from occupied territories, while estimates from Ukrainian officials range from 150,000 to as many as 300,000 children forcibly deported to Russian-controlled areas or Russia itself. A Yale School of Public Health study published in December 2024 highlighted Russia's systematic program to forcibly assimilate Ukrainian children, including transportation by military aircraft, reclassification in Russian databases, and re-education to adopt pro-Russian views before being placed in Russian families. These actions have drawn widespread condemnation as blatant violations of international law.