New footage shows FP-2 drones of the Ukrainian "Kairos" battalion of the 414th Special Operations Brigade striking rear Russian targets in Donetsk Oblast.

The following was hit:

- "Myrna" 330 kV electrical substation in the city of Mariupol (47.185541, 37.561191) by 2 drones. 2 of the substation's transformers were damaged.

- "Azovska" 220 kV electrical substation in the city of Mariupol (47.164252,37.513224) by 1 drone. 1 of the substations transformers was damaged.

- Warehouses containing rockets and artillery shells of the Russian 51st Guards Combined Arms Army in Donetsk City (48.065319,37.851658) by 2 drones. A fire broke out, followed by secondary detonations.

Additionally, it is claimed that drones also struck an oil depot in the city of Makiivka.

In the Kostyanytnivka direction, both sides have advanced, with Russian forces continuing to collapse Ukrainian defences southwest of Kostyantynivka.

In the west, Russian forces continued their attacks in the direction of Stepanivka and managed to capture the remaining positions in the forest plantations west of the village, before entering its first houses (without consolidating yet). Russian attacks also continued from the treelines to the south.

To the southeast, Russian forces continued advancing east along the highway, capturing new positions in the treelines there and operationally encircling Ukrainian formations in their strongpoints to the south. Other assault groups are now clearing out the pocket, capturing strongpoints in the forests.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continued infiltrating in small groups through the forests and into the village of Illinivka. Ukrainian drone operators continue attempts at fully eliminating the Russian groupings there, however the total number of Russian soldiers recorded in the village is growing.

To the east, Russian forces consolidated in additional positions in the forests on the northern bank of the Kleban-Byksky reservoir, and managed to enter the agricultural buildings on the southern outskirts of Beretok. On the other hand, the Ukrainians are continuing their incremental withdrawal from their last positions in the forests north of the reservoir due to the risk of encirclement.

To the northeast, Russian forces continued to advance in Kostyantynivka, and began bypassing the railway station from the north, capturing positions in the residential streets across the highway. However, more recently, they have begun struggling with supplies due to increased Ukrainian FPV drone strikes on the area between the city and Oleksandro-Shultyne.

Meanwhile, at some point recently, Ukrainian forces managed to clear the Hora District of northeastern Kostyantynivka from Russian DRGs, as well as the adjacent forests, where they are now trying to accumulate. Additionally, the Ukrainians infiltrated across the fields south of the highway and recaptured the western and central parts of Predtechyne again. They also improved their positions in the forests just north of the highway.

Russian forces are now trying to counterattack in Predtechyne, and continue their attempts at consolidating in the eastern part of the forests north of the highway. DRGs are also infiltrating further west through the treelines, where they were able to reach the village of Novodmytrivka. This has resulted in some of the Ukrainian formations in the salient west of Chasiv Yar withdrawing further west.

+ ~5.24 km² in favour of Russia.
+ ~3.97 km² in favour of Ukraine.

Interactive map link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?hl=en&mid=1thW9kqnDOaS2lAepLhLdzSX8Ur9Sc4k&ll

Russian forces have captured the village of Bondarne, Rai-Oleksandrivka direction, Donetsk Oblast.

Pre-war population: ~43.
Total land area: ~0.89 km².

The fighting for Bondarne lasted approximately 20 days.

Any integration of the SDF into the STG seems extremely unlikely anymore, although I doubt Turkey would've allowed it anyway.

Well, the first two weeks of 2026 have been very eventful.

- The U.S. bombs Venezuela and kidnaps Maduro.
- The Southern Transitional Council in Yemen capitulates after a lightning offensive by the PLC.
- Russia strikes Lviv with an Oreshnik IRBM.
- Aleppo finally falls to the new Syrian government.
- Mass protests in Iran.
- Trump expressing his wish to annex Greenland again.

It's gonna be a busy year...

Russian Geran-3 jet-drones are currently attacking the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant. Explosions are heard.

Another Geran-3 is approaching the CHP-5 power plant in Kyiv.

It flew further east, away from the power plant in the direction of Boryspil.

The drone turned back to Kyiv and was subsequently shot down over the southern outskirts of the city.

Multiple more Geran-3 jet-powered drones seem to be flying to Kyiv from Chernihiv Oblast.

Iran has issued a NOTAM, closing its airspace to all civilian aircraft.

Missile defences have been put on their highest alert, with air defence reportedly ordered to shoot down any aircraft entering their airspace without prior identification.

Heavy Israeli fighter jet activity in northern Israel. Iranian fighter jets have also taken off.

Explosions were heard in multiple cities in Iraq from fighter jets breaking the sound barrier.

It’s unclear who these aircraft belong to.

The UK FCDO has advised against all non essential travel to Israel and Palestine.

Additional fighter jet activity reported near the IDF-occupied Golan heights in southern Syria.

This doesn’t necessarily mean there will be an American/Israeli attack on Iran today.

Reports suggest that a U.S. strike carrier group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln is redeploying from the South China Sea to CENTOM’s area of responsibility in the Middle East, and will take around 6 days to get there.