4 reasons why Russian elections are fake

1:17 PM

Trump calls on NATO to raise defense spending benchmark to 5% of GDP.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Jan. 7 that NATO should raise its defense spending benchmark from 2% of GDP to 5%, echoing his earlier calls for Europe to spend more on its security.

12:36 PM

Poroshenko's party urges ban on Russian oil transit via Ukraine.

Ex-President Petro Poroshenko and members of his European Solidarity opposition party submitted a bill on Jan. 7 banning the transit of Russian oil and gas through Ukraine's territory during martial law.

12:03 PM

US lawmakers submit resolution labeling Russia's war in Ukraine genocide.

The draft resolution was submitted by a bipartisan group of legislators, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said in a Facebook post.

11:45 AM

Azerbaijan's President Aliyev calls Armenia 'fascist state, threat to region.'

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Jan. 7 called Armenia effectively a "fascist state," adding that Baku might have no other choice but to "destroy" its neighbor's so-called "fascist ideology."

11:05 AM

Ukraine strikes Russian oil depot supplying fuel to Engels-2 airbase, military confirms.

The operation, carried out jointly by Ukraine's military intelligence, the Unmanned Systems Forces, and other units, targeted the Kristal Plant used to supply fuel to the nearby Engels-2 airbase, the military said.

10:31 AM

Venezuela detains 3 Ukrainians, accuses them of 'terror' plot.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro announced the detention of three Ukrainians days before his inauguration, calling them "mercenaries" and accusing them of plotting a terrorist attack, Spanish news agency EFE reported on Jan. 8.

9:57 AM

Hackers claim to have breached Russia’s real estate database, Moscow denies.

A hacker group named Silent Crow has claimed to have hacked and obtained data from Russia's official cadastre and cartography agency, the independent Russian news outlet Agentstvo reported on Jan. 7.

9:29 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure 13 over past day.

Russia launched 64 Shahed-type attack drones and various dummy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported. Air defenses shot down 41 drones over nine different oblasts, while 22 dummy drones were lost in the airspace, three flew to Russia, and one to Belarus, according to the statement.

8:59 AM

Pentagon official coordinating Ukraine aid resigns ahead of Trump inauguration.

Laura Cooper, senior Pentagon official leading the Russia and Ukraine office, stepped down as Donald Trump's inauguration looms, Politico reported on Jan. 6, citing one former and three current officials.

8:19 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 801,670 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,660 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:45 AM

Zelensky signs law strengthening process for creating, designating list of terrorist organizations.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill on Jan. 7 strengthening the process for the formation and designation of groups and organizations to Ukraine's terror list.

4:05 AM  (Updated:  January 8, 2025 6:23 am)

Large fire reported at oil depot in Russia's Saratov Oblast following 'massive' drone attack.

A large fire engulfed an oil depot overnight on Jan. 8 in the city of Engels in Saratov Oblast, various Russian Telegram media channels reported.

5:55 AM

Upcoming Ramstein summit to focus on supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities through 2027, Pentagon says, as Trump inauguration looms.

The Jan. 9 Ramstein-format summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) will focus primarily on supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities in establishing a "credible deterrent force" through 2027, the Pentagon said on Jan. 7.

1:15 AM

Chinese port ban on US-sanctioned tankers tightens oil supply, Reuters reports.

Shandong Port Group has prohibited U.S.-sanctioned tankers from accessing its ports in the eastern Chinese province, three traders familiar with the issue told Reuters. This region, home to many independent refiners, is a significant importer of oil from countries under U.S. embargoes.

10:51 PM

Biden administration prepares final massive Ukraine aid package ahead of Trump inauguration, AP reports.

Defense officials speaking to the Associated Press said the upcoming aid package, scheduled to be announced on Jan. 9, will draw from existing stockpiles with the intent of delivering most of the pledged weapons to Ukraine before Trump takes office.

10:33 PM

War analysis

Russian troops overrun Kurakhove, approach Pokrovsk from east, south, and southwest

10:09 PM

Ukraine

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine hits Russia's infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims

9:32 PM

'Believed he was making a difference' — Scottish combat medic killed in Ukraine, family says.

Jordan Maclachlan, a 26-year-old volunteer and combat medic from Scotland, was killed on the front line in Ukraine on Jan. 3, BBC reported.

8:44 PM

Trump blames Biden for provoking Russia's war by supporting Ukraine's NATO aspirations.

"I could understand their [Russia's] feelings about that," U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said during a Jan. 7 press conference.

8:00 PM

Ukraine secures return of 3 children from Russian-occupied territories, ombudsman says.

One of the children, a 17-year-old boy, faced persecution by Russian occupation authorities for his pro-Ukrainian stance and assistance to the Ukrainian army, according to Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

7:38 PM

US sanctions Orban ally Antal Rogan for corruption, abuse of power.

Antal Rogan is the first high-ranking Hungarian official sanctioned by the U.S. under the Magnitsky Act, which targets individuals involved in serious human rights abuses and corruption.

7:14 PM

Ukraine denies Slovakia's accusation of refusing gas transit talks.

Ukraine initiated the meeting to address Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's threats to halt electricity exports to Ukraine and cut support for Ukrainian refugees, Ukraine's envoy to the EU said.

6:35 PM

Interview

Russia ‘delusional’ about its ability to sustain Ukraine war, says Latvian foreign minister

5:40 PM

Hungary's FM criticizes Ukraine for gas transit halt, claims 20% rise in gas prices.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Ukraine of exacerbating Europe's economic challenges by halting Russian gas transit, leading to a 20% rise in natural gas prices on the European market.

4:54 PM

Ukraine hits Russia's infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims.

"Such fire damage is an integral part of combat operations of Ukraine's Defense Forces units, which are engaged in combat operations on the territory of the Russian Federation," the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said.