A firefighter battles a blaze set by Russian strikes on Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv, January 3, 2026

Sunday’s Coverage: Zelensky — Security Guarantees Must Include Foreign Troops on Ukrainian Territory

UPDATE 1247 GMT:

Under pressure from President Volodymyr Zelensky, the head of Ukraine’s State security service SBU, Vasyl Maliuk, has resigned.

Maliuk will remain in the agency to focus on asymmetric operations against Russia.

“He knows how to do this best and will continue within the SBU system,” Zelensky said. “Together, we discussed candidates for the new head of the SBU.”

Maliuk said he will carry out world‑class asymmetric operations to inflict “maximum damage” on Moscow.

The SBU head has been criticized because of his agency’s involvement in actions trying to curb anti-corruption agencies, including raids on staff.

UPDATE 0817 GMT:

Donald Trump has withdrawn his initial support of Russian disinformation that Ukrainian drones attacked a residence of Vladimir Putin, south of St. Petersburg, on December 29.

Trump said at the time that he was “very angry”, even though the Russians produced no evidence of the supposed attack.

US intelligence agencies subsequently concluded that the drones had targeted a military facility, also in the Novgorod region but far from Putin’s residence. CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Trump of the findings.

Trump told reporters on his return to Washington from Florida on Sunday night:

UPDATE 0752 GMT:

Ukraine air defenses downed 137 of 165 drones launched by Russia overnight. Missiles and 26 UAVs hit 10 locations.

UPDATE 0740 GMT:

Ukrainian drones set afire the Energia defense plant in the Lipetsk region in western Russia on Sunday evening.

The factory produces components for Russian missiles and drones, including batteries for the Iskander ballistic missile system and cruise missiles. Ukrainian officials have described it as “one of the most critical targets in Russia”.

Russian authorities have not commented on the strike.

Three of Moscow’s four airports were shut to air traffic on Sunday amid the drone overflights.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: The toll from Russia’s strikes on Kharkiv city on Saturday has risen to six killed, including a 3-year-old boy, and injured 31, including a 6-month-old baby.

The Russians destroyed a five-story apartment building. Victims were recovered from rubble throughout Sunday, and search and rescue operations continue.

Among the bodies found was a woman who could be the murdered boy’s mother.

Sixteen of the wounded were hospitalized, including a woman in serious condition.

Other civilian infrastructure, a shopping center, cars, and power lines were damaged.

In the Kyiv region, two civilians were murdered early Monday by Russian attacks.

In the Obolonskyi district in Kyiv city, a privately owned medical center in Kyiv’s Obolonskyi district was damaged, killing one patient and injuring at least three people.

Two of the wounded, women aged 77 and 97, are in serious condition.

Around 70 people were inside the center. Of 26 patients, 16 were transferred to municipal hospitals.

In the Kyiv region, a multi-story residential building, seven houses, garages, several cars, and warehouses were damaged.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on Sunday that the Russians launched more than 1,070 guided aerial bombs, almost 1,000 attack drones, and six missiles during the week.

Stability and predictability of assistance to Ukraine are what can really push Moscow toward diplomacy. We count on continued defense assistance and support for the prepared documents on security guarantees by the United States, Europe, and partners within the Coalition of the Willing.