Saturday, October 5

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Oleksandr and Mykolay, local residents who chose not to evacuate, boil water on a bonfire outside a bombed residential building amid ongoing artillery shelling and missile strikes on Oct. 4, 2024 in Myrnohrad, Ukraine. Russian invading forces, approximately two kilometers from Myrnohrad, are advancing and pushing Ukrainian defenses toward the front-line city. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

Kursk operation 'motivates those who give us weapons' — Zelensky visits troops in Sumy Oblast. During the visit, President Volodymyr Zelensky also met with the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to discuss protecting infrastructure, Ukraine's energy sector, and air defenses.

Russian forces less than 7 km away from Pokrovsk**, authorities say.** Russian forces are less than 7 kilometers from the outskirts of the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast as of Oct. 4, said Serhii Dobriak, the head of Pokrovsk's military administration.

Ukraine may be forced to retreat from Pokrovsk by end of 2024, Estonian intelligence suggests. Over the past week, the average number of Russian attacks on the frontline has been 167 per day, with 50% of them targeting the Donetsk direction of the front line, according to Estonian military intelligence.

Car with pro-Russian collaborator explodes in city near occupied Zaporizhzhia plant, intelligence says. Andrii Korotkyi was a collaborator involved in the organization and execution of war crimes and repression of Ukrainians under Russian occupation, the agency said.

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Oil depots on fire in Russia's Voronezh Oblast**, Perm Krai.** According to the Russian Defense Ministry, air defense downed six Ukrainian drones over Voronezh Oblast, six over Belgorod Oblast, one over Rostov Oblast and one over the Azov Sea.

Ukraine has neutralized over 533,000 explosive devices since February, 2022. Pyrotechnic teams from Ukraine's State Emergency Service have detected and disposed of over 533,200 pieces of explosive ordnance since Russia's full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022.

Russian drone debris found in Danube Delta, Romanian Defense Ministry confirms. Romanian border police on Oct. 4 discovered debris from a Russian drone in the Litcov canal area, located in Romania's Danube Delta region. The investigated area is located in a rural zone, and no infrastructure was damaged, according to police.

Shooting down Russian targets over Ukraine by NATO countries will 'involve' US in war, Pentagon says. "The president (Joe Biden) has made a commitment that the United States is not putting boots on the ground into Ukraine, but we are supporting Ukraine in their efforts to take back their sovereign territory," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said.

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Ukraine war latest: Oil depots on fire in 2 Russian regions

Fires broke out at two oil depots in Russia's Voronezh Oblast and Perm Krai overnight on Oct. 4, local authorities reported. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, its air defense downed six Ukrainian drones over Voronezh Oblast, and six over Belgorod Oblast.

Image: Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry

Russian drone attacks against Ukraine reach record levels

According to Ukraine's Air Force, 1,339 Shahed-type kamikaze drones targeted the country in September, 1,107 of which were shot down, with some others being jammed by electronic warfare and flying into Russian or Belarusian airspace. Around 45 were unaccounted for.

Photo: Gregor Fischer/Getty Images

As Russia makes gains near Pokrovsk, civilians remain frozen in inaction

A key urban milestone in Moscow’s offensive towards the key strategic city of Pokrovsk, Selydove saw Russian forces close the distance to its outskirts in a matter of a couple of weeks over August.

As of early October, this mining city with a population of about 21,000 before the full-scale invasion looks now to become the latest in a series of “fortress” cities in Donetsk Oblast.

Photo: Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent

Ukraine hits ammunition depots with domestic weapons in an attempt to disrupt Russia's logistics

Over the past several months, the war had gradually moved deep inside Russian territory. In September, Ukraine targeted depots in the Russian towns of Tikhoretsk and Toropets with drones, setting ablaze over 30,000 tons of ammunition, which allegedly included ballistic missiles.

Photo: Olexander Scherba / Telegram

Human cost of war

Russia lost more elite soldiers in 1 year near Vuhledar than in 10 years of Chechen War, BBC reports. The elite 155th and 40th marine brigades of the Russian Armed Forces, also known as the Black Berets, were involved in the storming of the city, supported by armored vehicles.

Russia has summarily executed at least 93 Ukrainian POWs on battlefield, top prosecutor says. Yurii Belousov, the head of the department focused on war-related crimes, explained that 80% of these cases were recorded in 2024, but the trend appeared already late last year.

At least 177 Ukrainian POWs have died in Russian captivity**, Kyiv says.** Most Ukrainian soldiers who were released had never been visited by the Red Cross representatives while in Russian captivity, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said in July.

International response

Poland ready to start training volunteers for Ukrainian Legion. Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that Poland was prepared to begin the training of Ukrainian volunteers in September, but a shortage of volunteers delayed the start.

France to send another 12 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine, minister says. French-German defense company KNDS signed a deal on Oct. 3 for the supply of 12 Caesar howitzers financed by Ukraine, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.

EU readies to sanction Iran over missile shipments to Russia, Bloomberg reports. According to Bloomberg, the EU's sanctions would target "about a dozen individuals and entities," which includes firms involved in the engineering, metals, and aviation sectors.

'Switzerland has not changed its position' on peace in Ukraine — ambassador clarifies stance on China-Brazil initiative. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva touted his peace plan jointly developed with China in New York, despite the proposal already being dismissed as "destructive" by Ukraine.

In other news

2 Ukrainian regional officials alleged of corruption**, nearly $6 million found.** "Law enforcement officers found money in the apartment in almost every corner — in wardrobes, drawers, niches," the State Bureau of Investigation said.

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Wednesday, October 2

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A mural depicting Ukrainian poet and writer Taras Shevchenko reads 'Fight and win your battle, God will help you' on Oct. 1, 2024 in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast. Russian invading forces, approximately 7 kilometers from Pokrovsk, are advancing and pushing Ukrainian defenses toward the city. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

Russian forces enter Vuhledar**, situation 'extremely difficult,' governor says.** "The fighting is going on within the town, so it is almost impossible to bring in humanitarian aid," Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Ukraine faces 'very challenging' situation on front lines, Zelensky says. Russia continues to press forward on its offensives across the eastern front, primarily on the Pokrovsk, Vuhledar, and Toretsk axes in Donetsk Oblast.

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant 'on verge of blackout' after Russian attack on substation, Ukraine says. President Volodymyr Zelensky told the U.N. Security Council on Sept. 24 that Russia was preparing to target three Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

Russia attempts to capture new positions in Zaporizhzhia sector, preparing small-scale assaults, military says. According to Ukrainian military's Southern Command spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn, Russia does not have enough troops to launch a large-scale offensive.

Russian forces execute 16 Ukrainian POWs near Pokrovsk, prosecutors say. Russian forces appear to have shot 16 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in Donetsk Oblast, the largest recorded case of mass execution of surrendered soldiers on the battlefield, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office said on Oct. 1.

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Ukraine boosts defense production**, successfully tests ballistic missile, Zelensky says.** "In the first half of this year alone, Ukraine produced 25 times more artillery and mortar ammunition than in the entire year of 2022," Zelensky said at the second international defense industry forum in Kyiv.

Russia's Crimean Bridge defenses are reportedly washing up on shore. According to the Crimean Wind Telegram channel, plastic and metal barrels connected by metal frames were spotted littering the beach in Kerch on the occupied peninsula.

Foreign Ministry refutes FT report that minister discussed territorial compromises. Ukraine's new Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha did not discuss compromising with Russia in recent meetings with his Western counterparts, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on Oct. 1, refuting a report by the Financial Times (FT) that he had discussed "potential compromise solutions."

Russia desperate to recruit workers at defense plants amid personnel shortage, BBC reports. More than 90,000 vacancies for defense industry jobs appeared on Russian job portals between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, with companies offering triple the average regional salary for workers with high-demand specialties.

Ukraine names pro-Russian collaborators suspected of forcibly deporting Ukrainian children. One suspect was identified by the Kyiv Independent's War Crimes Investigations Unit in the documentary "Uprooted."

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Ukraine war latest: Russian forces reportedly capture most of Vuhledar, Kyiv doesn't comment

Geolocated to the northern streets of Vuhledar's small and dense urban area, the videos suggest that a complete Ukrainian withdrawal from the town is highly likely. A total of 107 civilians remain in Vuhledar.

Photo: Libkos/Getty Images

Historical grievances resurface in Polish-Ukrainian relations, threatening to stall Kyiv’s EU accession

Relations between Ukraine and Poland have turned sour. Again. And the tune is much the same – a World War II massacre that has been at the center of bilateral relations between the two countries since the 1990s.

Photo: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Two years on, the Nord Stream explosion remains a mystery

Two years after a series of explosions tore apart Russia’s controversial Nord Stream pipelines, the investigation has largely remained a mystery full of accusations that have exposed political fault lines across Europe.

Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The words of Ukraine’s fallen soldiers inspiring the nation to fight on

“When people ask me what war is, I will answer without hesitation: names.” Ukrainians gathered at war memorials around the country on Oct. 1 to honor the soldiers killed defending their nation from Russia's invasion.

Photo: Danylo Antoniuk/The Kyiv Independent

Human cost of war

Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia kills 1, injures 24. Russia launched at least six guided aerial bombs against Zaporizhzhia, damaging apartment buildings and houses.

Russian strike hits market in Kherson, killing at least 6, injuring 6. Russian forces attacked downtown Kherson on Oct. 1, killing at least six people and injuring six others, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

General Staff: Russia has lost 654,430 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,370 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Opinions and insights

The Counteroffensive: Why doesn’t Ukraine have a national military cemetery?

“Even in the third year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and over 10 years since the war began, Ukraine still does not have a national military cemetery. Many veterans and their families fear this neglect reflects a lack of respect for those who sacrificed their lives,” write The Counteroffensive’s Tim Mak and Oleh Tymoshenko.

Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images

International response

Ukraine top of the agenda as Mark Rutte takes up NATO general secretary role. "We have to make sure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation," Mark Rutte said on Oct. 1.

Biden may advance Ukraine's NATO membership bid status, FT reports. U.S. President Joe Biden may agree to advance the status of Ukraine's NATO membership bid before leaving office in January, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Oct. 1, citing an unnamed Western official.

'Ukraine will be 2nd strongest NATO member' in Europe, Latvian FM says. Ukraine will have the second-strongest military in NATO on the European continent once it joins the alliance, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze said on Oct. 1.

Ukraine doesn't need US permission to strike back at Russia with homemade weapons, State Department says. "If you look at the weapons we've provided them, we've made it very clear that they can use them to retaliate against Russian targets across the border that are conducting attacks," U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a briefing on Sept. 30.

Germany's Scholz hoping for phone call with Putin**, Zeit reports.** Olaf Scholz last spoke with Putin in December 2022, the same year the leaders of the U.S., France, and the U.K. last had direct contact.

Estonia's planned 'war tax' unprecedented, defense minister says. Speaking at a panel discussion at the Warsaw Security Forum attended by the Kyiv Independent, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur explained that "everybody in the society will contribute a bit more."

European defense manufacturer KNDS opens office in Ukraine. French-German defense company KNDS has opened an office in Kyiv to support Ukraine carry out the domestic maintenance and repair of weapons systems, the company announced on Oct. 1.

'A real myth' — Trump's Ukraine peace plan rubbished by former national security advisor. Trump has promised to end Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine within a day if elected but has not publicly elaborated on how he plans to achieve that.

In other news

Ukraine evacuates 179 people from Lebanon. Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) and Foreign Ministry evacuated 179 people, including 134 Ukrainian citizens, following Israel's ground incursion into southern Lebanon, the Foreign Ministry reported on Oct. 1.

Ukraine's defense minister requests dismissal of 3 deputies, state secretary. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov called the system of the Defense Ministry, including the Armed Forces, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), and State Transport Special Service "a closed perimeter" during martial law, without giving a clear reason for the reshuffle.

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Tuesday, January 21

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A mural depicting a Ukrainian tractor pulling a Russian tank is pictured on an apartment block in Kharkiv's Saltivka district on Jan. 20, 2025. Ukraine faces a pivotal moment in its war with Russia as its biggest military ally, the United States, inaugurates a new president and with it a new foreign policy. (Carl Court / Getty Images)

Russia launched nearly 550 drones, 60 missiles**, over 660 aerial bombs against Ukraine in a week.** "More Patriot (air defenses) for Ukraine means more protection of life," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

'I didn't know who I'd be fighting' — North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine speaks in new footage. The POW said he arrived in Russia on a cargo ferry with over 100 other North Korean soldiers.

Commander of scandal-hit Ukrainian brigade detained**, accused of failing to report desertions.** The State Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation into the 155th "Anne of Kyiv" Brigade on Jan. 3.

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Putin congratulates Trump amid inauguration, signals readiness for talks. This comes as reported peace proposals, including freezing the front lines, have been publicly rejected by Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that his country would begin peace negotiations if Kyiv agreed to withdraw from the four Ukrainian regions Moscow partly controls.

Trump instructs aides to arrange call with Putin 'in coming days' after inauguration, CNN reports. President-elect Donald Trump has previously said he wants to meet with Putin "very quickly" after his inauguration.

Ukraine Air Force specialists safe from transfer to infantry but mobilization issues remain, Syrskyi says. Reports last week indicated that since 2024, thousands of Air Force soldiers have been transferred to the Ground Forces.

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Ukraine war latest: Ammunition used by Russians halved following Ukrainian strikes, Syrskyi says

Despite being regularly outgunned by Russian forces since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has managed to progress in arms production, with the country producing about 33-34% of its annual weapons needs — up from less than 10% before the all-out war.

Photo: Ukraine's Defense Ministry media center / Telegram

Massive Russian hack on government database shows cracks in Ukraine's digitalization drive

The hack posed a major threat, highlighting how vulnerable government and Ukrainians’ personal data is to cyber attacks. In pushing to digitize its services quickly, the government may have taken shortcuts that opened the door to digital onslaughts.

Photo: Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images

Russia's primitive glide bombs are still outmatching Ukraine's air defenses, killing more civilians

Russia continues to modify and adapt its glide bombs, increasing their range and destructive power, meaning more and more Ukrainian towns and cities are coming under threat.

Photo: Ivan Samoilov / Gwara Media / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

International response

Macron warns of prolonged Ukraine war**, urges stronger European defense strategy.** "It is essential to provide Ukraine with the means to endure and to negotiate from a position of strength in the future," French President Emmanuel Macron said on Jan. 20.

China’s support for Russia falls short in replacing Western materials**, media reports.** China has emerged as Russia's largest supplier of goods, but Chinese imports have failed to fully replace Western equipment and raw materials lost due to sanctions, The Moscow Times reported on Jan. 20, citing data from the Gaidar Institute.

Lithuania sends drones, thermal imagers**, loaders in new Ukraine aid package, Defense Ministry says.** "Keeping Ukraine safe means taking care of our security. We have as much time as Ukraine has," Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said.

'False story' — Denmark denies Russian claims of F-16 instructor killed in Kryvyi Rih strike. "This is a false story being spread by the Russian media — probably with the aim of discrediting Denmark," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

EU plans to eliminate Russian fossil fuels, aims to end gas imports. Gas deliveries from Russia to Europe persist despite the EU's efforts, and Brussels is determined to halt this, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, the EU’s spokesperson for energy and housing, said on Jan. 20.

Opinions and insights

Trump sees peace in Ukraine as a deal but refuses to play his winning hand

“Trump and Kellogg don’t appear to have a deep understanding of Ukraine, Putin, or European security. Ukraine’s fate doesn’t seem to rank high among Trump’s priorities, which focus instead on ‘Making America Great Again,’” writes Timothy Ash, an associate fellow at the Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia Programme.

Photo: Charly Truballeau / AFP / Getty Images

In other news

Trump sworn in as 47th US president, says he's taking back Panama Canal; doesn't mention Ukraine. "Golden age of America begins right now," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

Arms procurement head should keep post**, supervisory board says.** Defense Minister Rustem Umerov planned to merge the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) and the State Logistics Operator (DOT) into one agency but changed his mind after a NATO statement said that the two agencies should be kept separate and two separate supervisory boards should be established.

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Sunday, January 19

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade 'Kholodnyi Yar' participate in tactical training exercises in a rural area in Ukraine on Jan. 17, 2025. (Piotr Sobik / Anadolu via Getty Images)

Ukrainian troops withdraw from, launch attack on Chasiv Yar refractory plant. Ukrainian forces launched an aerial attack against a Russian-occupied refractory plant in the embattled city of Chasiv Yar, confirming earlier reports that Ukraine had withdrawn from the site.

Dnipropetrovsk firm helped Russia build nuclear weapons labs**, SBU says.** The company allegedly shipped a large-scale batch of stainless steel profiles to Russia after the full-scale invasion. These products were used to outfit the Russian Institute for Nuclear Research, the SBU said.

SBU detains metro engineer who allegedly directed Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, Kharkiv. The engineer allegedly led a network of agents who tracked the movement and positions of Ukrainian troops in order to coordinate Russian aerial attacks, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said.

Russia's Jan. 18 attack damages Ukraine's oldest McDonald’s in Kyiv. A Russian missile strike on Kyiv early on Jan. 18 damaged Ukraine's oldest McDonald’s, located near the Lukianivska metro station in the city's Shevchenkivskyi district. Open since 1997, this is the first McDonald's restaurant in the country.

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Ukraine hits 2 oil depots in Russia overnight. Ukrainian forces attacked oil depots in Russia's Tula and Kaluga oblasts overnight on Jan. 18, according to the General Staff and a Kyiv Independent's source in Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR).

'Direct threat' — Ukraine's 48th Separate Assault Battalion denounces commander replacement. "Changing the commander at a critical moment is a direct threat to the unit's combat capability and undermines the trust of the fighters," the statement read.

Russia used chemical weapons 434 times in December, Ukraine's General Staff says. These included K-51 and RG-VO munitions, anti-riot weapons that are prohibited for use in warfare, and ammunition loaded with chemicals of "unspecified type."

Russia condemns 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and UK. Russia criticized a newly announced 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and the U.K., rejecting any cooperation between the two nations in the Azov Sea.

Human cost of war

24-year-old Belarusian volunteer soldier killed in action near Bakhmut. Maria Zaitseva joined the Ukrainian army after the start of Russia's full-scale war and fought with the 2nd International Legion Battalion.

3 killed, 3 injured following Russia's attack on Kyiv. Russia launched an attack on Kyiv early in the morning on Jan. 18, killing three people and injuring three others, Kyiv city military administration head Tymur Tkachenko reported.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 8, injure 38 over past day. Russia launched 39 drones, including Shahed-type, and four ballistic missiles of either the Iskander-M or the North Korean KN-23 model overnight, the Air Force reported.

Opinions and insights

Europe needs plans A, B, and C for Trump and Russia

As Trump stumbles on Ukraine, Europe must prepare with plans A, B, and C for its security.

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The flaws in Ukraine's new brigades and foreign training programs

Ukraine’s newly formed brigades face devastating losses as poor leadership, inadequate training hinder their effectiveness on the battlefield.

Photo: Valentyna Polishchuk / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

International response

Germany may consider sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, defense minister says. "We're the largest NATO partner in Europe. We'll obviously have a role to play," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Jan. 18 when asked about the possibility of sending troops to monitor a ceasefire in Ukraine.

In other news

Trump eyes China visit amid strained ties, WSJ reports. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed interest in visiting China shortly after assuming office, potentially within his first 100 days, sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

Ex-MP, leader of Russia-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church charged with treason. Ukrainian law enforcement officers charged former lawmaker and businessman Vadym Novynskyi with high treason and incitement to religious hatred in absentia, the State Bureau of Investigation said.

Former pro-Russian lawmaker charged with treason resurfaces in China. Former Ukrainian pro-Russian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev published a two-hour propaganda interview on Jan. 17, marking his first public appearance after almost three years of Russia's full-scale war.

Lukashenko frees 23 more Belarusian political prisoners. Nearly 1,300 prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Students who fail military exam or refuse oath cannot continue higher ed, official says. "If students cannot pass the exam ... if they refuse to take the military oath, they will not be able to study in higher education institutions in the future," Deputy Defense Minister Serhii Melnyk said.

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Wednesday, January 15

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Screenshot from a video purporting to show a fire at a distillery in Novaya Lyada, Tambov Oblast, Russia, on Jan. 15, 2025. (Astra / Telegram)

Drone strike reportedly targets Russian chemical plant in Tatarstan, causing fire. The Telegram channel Vechernya Kazan claimed that the strike hit a liquified gas storage area, setting gas tanks on fire. Russian authorities confirmed that a fire broke out in the city as a result of the drone strike but claimed that it resulted in no significant damage.

Ukraine says it targeted Russia's Engels airbase infrastructure in 'multi-day, comprehensive operation.' Located in Saratov Oblast, over 750 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, Engels airbase is home to Russian heavy bombers.

Ukraine denies transferring Air Force personnel to infantry amid troop shortages. The Ukrainian Air Force will transfer military personnel "en masse" to reinforce the Ground Forces' combat brigades in early 2025, Ukrainska Pravda reported on Jan. 14, citing an undisclosed Air Force source.

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Equipping troops takes priority over lowering draft age, Zelensky says. Ukraine's immediate focus is on adequately equipping its military, rather than further reducing the draft age, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 14, according to Interfax-Ukraine.

Drone hits distillery in Russia's Tambov Oblast, local media reports. Local residents said a fire broke out at the distillery, which is located near a military training ground in the village of Novaya Lyada.

Zelensky addresses personnel transfer controversy, orders Air Force commander not to reassign specialists to Ground Forces. President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed the controversy surrounding the reassignment of Air Force personnel to the Ground Forces, in his evening address on Jan. 14.

Read our exclusives

**Biden leaves nearly $4 billion in US aid to Ukraine unused. What will happen to it under Trump?
**

U.S. President Joe Biden will be passing around $3.8 billion in the so-called Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to his successor — Donald Trump. On the campaign trail, Trump hasrepeatedly criticized the Biden administration for providing Ukraine with military assistance, including through military shipments using the PDA.

Photo: Kent Nishimura / Getty Images

Will Transnistria's gas crisis lead to its collapse and reintegration into Moldova?

By halting natural gas supplies to Moldova on Jan. 1, Russia created an unprecedented economic crisis in the Russian-occupied part of the country — Transnistria. The crisis prompted a question: will the breakaway region, occupied by Russia since 1992, survive without Russian gas?

Photo: Daniel Mihalescu/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine targets Russian industrial plants, ammunition depots in overnight strike

Ukraine launched its "most massive" attack against Russian military and industrial facilities in a range of up to 1,100 kilometers (620 miles) overnight on Jan. 14, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported.

Photo: Mash/Telegram

Human cost of war

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure 19 over past day. Russia attacked Ukraine with 80 Shahed-type drones and various other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) overnight, Ukraine’s Air Forces reported on their Telegram channel. Air defenses shot down 58 drones over 11 oblasts, while 21 dummy drones were lost in the airspace, the Air Force said.

International response

Trump wants to meet Putin 'very quickly' after inauguration. Talking to Newsmax, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to meet as the war "hasn't gone so well for him either."

German defense minister arrives in Kyiv to discuss Ukraine aid. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Kyiv to discuss further military aid for the country resisting Russian aggression, Deutsche Welle reported on Jan. 14.

Fico will not visit Kyiv, Slovak lawmaker says. The development is the latest in an escalating conflict between Ukraine and Slovakia over Kyiv's decision to stop Russian gas transit.

65 oil tankers drop anchor after latest US sanctions against Russia, Reuters reports. Sixty-five oil tankers paused operations in various places around the world following the recent U.S.-U.K. sanctions against Russia’s oil industry and shadow fleet, Reuters reported on Jan. 13, citing maritime tracking data.

NATO chief says alliance either raises defense spending or can begin taking 'Russian language courses.' "Everything I'm seeing at this moment is not nearly enough, and if we don't do it (raise the spending targets) we are safe now but not in four or five years. So if you don't do it, get out your Russian language courses or go to New Zealand," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.

European allies grow optimistic about Trump not abandoning Ukraine, Bloomberg reports. Following closed-door talks with Trump's team, European officials see a rising chance that the new U.S. leadership will seek to help Ukraine negotiate from the position of strength, the outlet wrote.

Germany continues talks on $3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Pistorius says. The German government is still discussing a proposed 3 billion euros ($3.09 billion) aid package for Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Jan. 14, according to Ukrinform.

Seoul to consult with Kyiv on transfer of captured North Korean soldiers, Yonhap reports. Seoul plans to hold consultations with Kyiv regarding the transfer of captured North Korean soldiers if they request defection, Yonhap reported on Jan. 14, citing South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong.

Australia making 'urgent inquiries' after reports of volunteer fighter's execution in Russian captivity. Canberra is making "urgent inquiries" about the status of Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins, a volunteer soldier captured by Russia in Ukraine, after unconfirmed reports of his death, the 7News outlet wrote on Jan. 14.

Germany to deploy Patriot at Poland's key hub for Ukraine aid by end of January. Monitoring group German Aid to Ukraine wrote earlier that two MIM-104 Patriot fire units and a total of 200 Bundeswehr soldiers will be deployed to Poland for an estimated six months to protect Polish airspace.

NATO launches Baltic Sea naval operation after undersea infrastructure sabotage. The summit welcomed NATO’s "Baltic Sentry" mission, aimed at monitoring, deterring, and responding to potential threats. Up to 10 NATO vessels will patrol the Baltic Sea until April, enhancing situational awareness and protecting critical undersea infrastructure.

In other news

Putin aide claims 'Moldova will become part of another state or cease to exist,' Chisinau responds. Moldovan officials have condemned recent remarks by Nikolai Patrushev, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who claimed that Moldova “will either become part of another state or cease to exist” due to its “anti-Russian policy,” Moldovan media outlet NewsMaker reported on January 14.

Biden's aides warned Putin against Russia's plot to smuggle incendiary devices onto cargo planes, NYT reports. Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden's team delivered a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin to put an end to Russian intelligence's suspected plans to smuggle incendiary devices onto U.S.-bound cargo planes, The New York Times reported on Jan. 14, citing unnamed sources.

Russian FSB officer found dead in Moscow Defense Ministry building, media reports. Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) counterintelligence officer Vladimir Feshchenko was found dead in a Russian Defense Ministry building in Moscow, Russian state-owned outlet RIA Novosti reported on Jan. 14.

Metinvest suspends operations at Pokrovsk coal mine amid security concerns. Metinvest, Ukraine's largest steel producer, has suspended operations at the Pokrovsk coking coal mine in Donetsk Oblast due to worsening security conditions and power outages, the company announced on Jan. 14.

Slovak opposition announces no-confidence vote against PM. Slovakia's pro-Western opposition parties announced plans to initiate a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Robert Fico's government, citing concerns over his governance and foreign policy direction, TASR news agency reported on Jan. 14.

Transnistria head travels to Russia for talks amid energy crisis, Russian state media claims. Vadim Krasnoselsky, the head of Moldova's Russian-controlled region of Transnistria, held talks in Moscow regarding the region’s energy crisis, Russian state news agency TASS claimed on Jan. 14, citing sources within Transnistria's administration.

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