Russia launched waves of drones to attack the Black Sea ports of Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk, striking two civilian ships as they arrived to load wheat, the Ukrainian navy and government officials said. The Panama-flagged vessels Emmakris III and Captain Karam were hit. Ukrainian authorities condemned the attacks as deliberate war crimes that threaten global food security. Oil storage tanks were also damaged, but both ports continued to operate, said Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba.
Ukraine retaliated with drone attacks on Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse, damaging port infrastructure and a gas pipeline, the regional administration reported. Tuapse and its refinery are key outlets for Russian oil products, which Ukraine targets to disrupt funding for the war. The port has been repeatedly hit by Ukrainian drones.
The United States has verified as fake Russia's claim that a Ukrainian drone attacked President Vladimir Putin's residence, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A French presidential source noted that Moscow's allegations lacked solid proof, even after cross-checking with partners.
Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine will convene a meeting with allied leaders in France on 6 January, preceded by a security advisers' meeting in Ukraine on 3 January, as diplomatic efforts to end the war intensify.
Germany accepted €10m to drop an investigation into Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov for alleged EU sanctions violations, prosecutors said. The US also removed sanctions from Alexandra Buriko, former chief financial officer of Sberbank, after she sought their removal by arguing she had severed ties with the bank.
