Russia said on Monday that its forces had launched strikes against Ukrainian energy, transportation facilities and military targets in the past day, while Ukraine reported that its troops had repelled Russian attacks from multiple directions on the same day.
In its latest briefing on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that over the past 24 hours, Russian military forces had carried out strikes in 157 areas against the Ukrainian energy and transportation infrastructure, military airports, long-range drone production and storage facilities, as well as temporary deployment points of the Ukrainian army and foreign mercenaries. In addition, the Russian forces have taken control of one more settlement in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The ministry also reported targeting the Lviv State Aviation Repair Plant with an Oreshnik missile early on Friday, thus disabling the factory. The facility is responsible for repairing Ukrainian military aircraft, including F-16 fighters supplied by Western allies, and produces mid- and long-range attack drones used against Russian territory.
On the same day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that 219 combat engagements had taken place along the front lines over the past day, with Ukrainian forces repelling more than 100 Russian attacks in multiple directions including Lyman, Pokrovsk and Oleksandrivsk.
Ukrainian forces also claimed to have struck seven Russian personnel and weapons concentration points and a drone control station.
In addition, Ukrainian officials released footage showing soldiers from the National Guard raising the national flag over the city hall in Kupiansk.
According to release from the Kremlin on its official website on Monday, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov briefed President Vladimir Putin that in 2025, Russia had deployed over 1,000 new types of modern military equipment for frontline testing.
Manturov said that Russian defense industries had largely fulfilled their national defense orders for the year and Russia had signed military export contracts worth 70 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2025.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that he had received a detailed briefing on negotiations with the United States. And the schedule for the next two weeks was discussed, including meeting arrangements, document preparation, and potential signing of agreements.
Zelensky also ordered the completion of a document regarding U.S. security guarantees to Ukraine, to be submitted for high-level review.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Monday warned that if the UK and France send troops to Ukraine, it could escalate into a direct NATO-Russia conflict. As Ukraine's neighbor, Hungary expressed concern about being dragged into the war.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on January 6 that the UK and France signed an agreement of intent to deploy forces to Ukraine if Russia and Ukraine reach a peace settlement.
Russia's Foreign Ministry reiterated on January 8 that all military units and facilities deployed by Western countries in Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets under international law.
Russia reports strikes on Ukrainian energy, transportation facilities; Ukraine claims repelling Russian attacks
The Ecological and Environmental Code solidifies China's successful reform experiences in the form of law, transforming ecological conservation into a long-term national goal for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, said a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday.
Chinese lawmakers voted to adopt the Ecological and Environmental Code at the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing earlier in the day.
Lyu Zhongmei, also vice chair of the NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee, who first proposed the drafting of the code, said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) that the adoption of the code represents a milestone in transforming the country's successful reform policies into a stable legal framework, with profound implications on both national ecological governance and people's daily lives.
"I think this actually sends a very strong signal to the world. Many of our past achievements in ecological civilization system reform were reflected through policies, with numerous reform measures introduced. This time, we are institutionalizing the successful experience of those reforms in the form of law, the most authoritative and stable way to solidify them. This shows that our efforts are not just a one-off campaign. Rather, ecological and environmental protection and the building of an ecological civilization are national goals that reflect the people’s aspiration for a better life and serve the ultimate purpose of ensuring the sustainable development of the Chinese nation," said Lyu.
Lyu highlighted that the code directly enshrines China's greenhouse gas pledge and dual-carbon goals into law, demonstrating the country's concrete actions to fulfill its international responsibilities and uphold its image as a responsible major country.
"We have directly written the commitment to fully meet greenhouse gas targets into the code, and incorporated pledges to use the 'dual carbon' goals as a driving force to advance a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. I think this reflects our concrete actions to honor our commitments and take responsibility to the international community, demonstrating China’s image as a responsible major country," she said.
On the topic of global trade, she explained how the code will help safeguard China's interests.
"On the one hand, we are raising standards for the green and low-carbon transition and adopting market-based measures. Some of the standards we have established based on China's actual situation and the methodologies we have created can contribute China's experience and expertise to the world. On the other hand, the Ecological and Environmental Code also includes provisions on extraterritorial application and establishes China’s own system of environmental protection standards," Lyu said.
Looking to the future, she discussed the code's role in the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, I believe our ecological and environmental protection will undergo fundamental changes. In the past, it relied more on strict administrative enforcement and control. But now, while not lowering strict control standards or reducing strict control measures, we must also introduce more incentive-based measures. Strict regulation will push enterprises to transform and encourage them to pursue environmental protection. The code will provide a clear, long-term and stable norm. In my view, the Ecological and Environmental Code is not only a 'tightening band' that constrains corporate behavior, but also an 'engine' that opens up new tracks for enterprises’ future development," she said.
China's ecological environmental code represents milestone in environmental rule of law
