Russia on Monday said it took control of two settlements in the Sumy and Donetsk regions while Ukraine claimed to have repelled Russian attacks in multiple directions over the past day, according to the latest updates from both sides.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that over the past day, its forces struck energy and transportation infrastructure facilities in Ukraine used for military purposes.
Russia's air defense systems successfully shot down eight HIMARS rockets and 345 fixed-wing drones.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said 235 combat engagements occurred on the front lines over the past day and 601 Russian drones were shot down.
Russia claims control of 2 settlements, Ukraine reports repelling attacks
A video about a master craftsman and his son making headpieces, or "Kui Mao", for a Wu opera troupe ahead of their Chinese New Year tour was featured in the 2026 Spring Festival Gala broadcast on Monday evening.
The China Global Television Network (CGTN) Super Night segment, titled "The Story of the Kui Mao", showed a story about craftsman Mei Lizhong, who has made these iconic headdresses for over 30 years, and is now passing on the cultural heritage to his son.
Wu Opera, also known as Jinhua Opera, is a time-honored art form from east China's Zhejiang Province.
More than a costume piece, each "Kui Mao" conveys a character's gender, status and personality traits.
Built on a paper-carved frame and adorned with delicate kingfisher feathers and shimmering gold gilding, each detail reveals the character's identity.
The annual gala, also known as "Chunwan," was first broadcast in 1983 and has become a hallmark of Spring Festival celebrations in China.
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s most-watched annual television program, the show attracts more than one billion viewers each year.
Craft inheritors prepare headpieces for opera troupe ahead of Spring Festival tour
