Moscow Blames West After Drones Kill 24 in Kherson

Russia conquered 5,600 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in 2025 as Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a peace agreement is approximately 90% ready. These territorial gains represent the most significant Russian advance since 2022, following a year of intensified fighting and a recent strike that killed 27 people in Kherson. Ukrainian intelligence warned of a potential false flag attack on January 7 intended to derail diplomatic efforts involving Donald Trump and U.S. officials.The proposed peace deal involves freezing front lines in several regions while Ukrainian forces recently reclaimed small areas in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Russian forces currently control nearly 20% of Ukraine as ongoing drone warfare continues to target critical energy infrastructure and civilian areas. Diplomatic discussions continue with international partners as both sides navigate complex territorial disputes and security guarantees for a potential ceasefire.Military analysts noted that while Russian progress slowed in December, the cumulative advances from the spring and autumn surpassed previous annual totals. Western intelligence agencies dismissed Russian claims of a strike on the residence of Vladimir Putin as a possible tactic to stall negotiations. Despite the diplomatic push, the humanitarian situation remains dire with thousands of casualties and widespread power outages affecting the civilian population across the country.