Russian drone strikes on Sumy Oblast spark fire at children's wellness center, 2 injured in attack on bus
Russian drones struck civilian infrastructure in Sumy Oblast on Jan. 12, leading to multiple casualties.
Dmytro Basmat
Articles
German Defense Minister denies Scholz blocked proposal for $3 billion arms package for Ukraine, says decision awaits
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius denied media reports that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz blocked a proposal for an additional military aid package for Ukraine worth 3 billion euros ($3.09 billion), adding that a decision on the funding awaits.
Russian-friendly incumbent Zoran Milanovic re-elected president of Croatia
Milanovic's re-election to the largely symbolic position serves as a setback for Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s government, whose government was recently embroiled in a corruption scandal implicating a former health minister.
Sweden to increase military presence in Baltic Sea following suspected cable sabotage
Sweden will increase its military presence in the Baltic Sea through the deployment of three warships and a radar reconnaissance aircraft in response to the suspected sabotage of several underwater cables, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Jan. 12.
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.
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.
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.
French official confirms 'dozens' of Ukrainian soldiers deserted while training in France, AFP reports
A French army official confirmed to AFP on Jan. 6 that several dozen Ukrainian soldiers serving in the 155th "Anne of Kyiv" Mechanized Brigade deserted while undergoing military training in France.
Incoming Ukraine peace envoy postpones visit to Kyiv until after Trump's inauguration, Reuters reports
The Trump administration's Ukraine peace envoy, Keith Kellogg, has postponed a visit to Kyiv until after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, Reuters reported on Jan. 6, citing four sources with knowledge of the trip.
Head of Ukraine's Customs Service suspected of failing to declare over $100,000 in assets
Law enforcement agents are investigating Serhiy Zvyagintsev, the interim head of Ukraine's State Customs Service, over suspicions that Zvyagintsev failed to declare a home near Kyiv, that has been evaluated to be worth over $100,000, the country's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said on Jan. 6.
3,800 North Korean troops killed or injured in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Zelensky says
A total of 3,800 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman on Jan. 5.
Kerch Strait oil spill significantly smaller than initially thought, Russia claims
The amount of oil spilled in the Kerch Strait by two Russian oil tankers is "significantly less than the initial estimate," Russia's Transport Ministry claimed on Jan. 2.
'Trump can be decisive in ending war' — Zelensky on Ukraine's outlook for 2025
President Volodymyr Zelensky, joined alongside his wife First Lady Olena Zelenska, delivered a candid, wide-ranging interview on Ukrainian television released on Jan. 2, laying out his vision for Ukraine's prospects of a potential peace in 2025. "How many days did 2024 have? 1,000?" Zelensky joked before addressing questions about
Latvia to provide over 1,000 drones to Ukraine
Latvia will transfer over 1,000 "combat drones of various types" to Ukraine through the international drone coalition, the country's Defense Minister Andris Spruds announced on social media on Dec. 28.
US officials believe Ukraine may be forced to retreat from Kursk Oblast in spring, Bloomberg reports
U.S. officials told Bloomberg on Dec. 27 that they believe Ukraine may only have a few months left in its incursion into Kursk Oblast until Ukraine's military is forced to retreat from the region or risk being encircled by Russian forces.
NATO to 'enhance military presence' in Baltic Sea following damage to undersea power cable, Rutte says
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Dec. 27 that "NATO will enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea" following the recent damage to the Estlink 2 power cable in the Gulf of Finland likely caused by Russia.
Ukraine receives $485 million in humanitarian aid from USAID, World Bank
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in coordination with the World Bank under the PEACE in Ukraine program, has delivered $485 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Dec. 27.
Construction of fortifications in Zaporizhzhia complete, Shmyhal says
Ukraine has been building heavy fortifications near the city of Zaporizhzhia in preparations for a potential Russian offensive in the region.
'Weapon' may have brought down Azerbaijan Airlines plane, Azerbaijan's transport minister says
Azerbaijani Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev said on Dec. 27 that an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan was due to 'external interference,' with authorities investigating "the type of weapon used in the interference."
Ukraine repelling Russian attempt to gain foothold in Kherson Oblast, military says
Ukrainian troops have thwarted a Russian attempt to gain a foothold on one of its islands on the Dnipro River delta, Vladyslav Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian military's Southern Command, said on national TV on Dec. 27.
Ukrainian platoon commander charged with abuse of authority, accused of beating, humiliating subordinates
Ukrainian law enforcement agents have charged a platoon commander of Ukraine's 211th Pontoon Bridge Brigade with abuse of authority, accusing the individual of beating and humiliating subordinates, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on Dec. 26.
Trump administration should make first move to 'restore dialogue,' Lavrov says
Russia is willing to improve relations with the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, if the United States makes the "first move" in restarting dialogue, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Dec. 26.
Russia 'not opposed' to having Slovakia host peace talks, Putin says
Responding to questions from journalists, Putin said that Slovakian officials "would be happy to provide their own country as a platform for negotiations. We are not opposed, if it comes to that. Why not? Since Slovakia takes such a neutral position."
Ukraine to prohibit withdrawal of foreign issuer securities amid efforts to curb bypasses to currency restrictions
Ukraine's National Securities and Stock Market Commission announced on Dec. 23 that it will prohibit the withdrawal of foreign issuer securities, with the ban taking effect on Jan. 1.
Media identifies nearly 85,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine
According to the outlets' conclusions for the year, 2024 will likely mark the "war's deadliest year," with a current count of over 20,000 deaths confirmed over the past 12 months — although final conclusions cannot yet be made as data on casualties continues to emerge.
Oil depot in Russia’s Oryol Oblast targeted by ‘massive’ Ukrainian drone strike, governor says
Oryol Oblast Governor Andrey Klychkov claimed that Russian forces downed 20 drones over Oryol Oblast targeting fuel and energy infrastructure facilities.
Ukrainian boxer Usyk defeats Fury to retain heavyweight championship belt
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated U.K.-born Tyson Fury by unanimous decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Dec. 22 to retain his unified heavyweight championship title.
Russian attack on cancer treatment center in Kherson 'heinous act of cruelty against civilians,' Zelensky says
The oncology center, which has operated in a limited capacity since the start of the full-scale invasion, housed the only linear accelerator offering radiotherapy treatment in the city.
Fire, casualties reported in Kyiv amid Russian missile attack
Russia attacked the capital with five ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M or the North Korean KN-23 model, the Air Force said. All five missiles were reportedly shot down, with debris falling in several districts of the city.
Ukraine must decide between 'carrying on the fight or looking to negotiate ceasefire,' Blinken says
In a wide ranging interview with MSNBC on Dec. 19, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about prospects for a potential ceasefire in Ukraine as well as support for the embattled country ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in January.
5 killed, 7 injured in fire at detention facility housing war deserters in Russia's Sakha Republic
Five people have been killed and a further seven injured in a fire at a detention center in the city of Yakutsk, which houses Russian soldiers who deserted their units during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian officials reported.
Russian hockey player sentenced to prison in Poland for spying
Russian ice hockey player Maxim Sergeyev was convicted by a Polish court on Dec. 16 on charges of espionage and sentenced to nearly three years in prison.
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