Cabinet appoints 3 deputy defense ministers

7:54 AM  (Updated:  January 16, 2025 1:55 pm)

UK PM Starmer visits Kyiv to sign '100 Year Partnership' with Ukraine.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv on Jan. 16 amid an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital, where Starmer is set to sign a wide-ranging "100 Year Partnership" treaty, covering a number of areas including defense, energy, and trade.

1:43 PM

Trump sending 'non-public messages' on war, he must force Putin to diplomacy, Zelensky says.

"These are his (Trump's) messages, both public and non-public. And he is a capable leader to put pressure on Russia," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

1:26 PM

Russian officer jailed for accidentally shooting down own helicopter in Crimea.

A Russian air defense officer stationed in occupied Sevastopol, Igor Pashkov, has been sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison for shooting down a Russian army helicopter after mistaking it for a drone, pro-government outlet Kommersant reported on Jan. 16.

1:08 PM

Ukraine’s Emergency Service denies claims of mass mobilization, says 90% of staff are exempt.

This denial follows opposition MP Oleksii Honcharenko's Telegram post alleging plans for widespread State Emergency Service mobilization after Feb. 28.

12:33 PM

Ukraine extends cooperation with Norwegian NASAMS systems supplier.

Ukraine and Norway discussed the possibility of integrating Ukrainian-made air defense systems into the NASAMS systems "to increase its effectiveness," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.

12:08 PM

Russia discusses buying gas for Transnistria in Europe, media reports.

According to the Kommersant's sources, gas may be purchased from January to April in the amount of up to 3 million cubic meters per day. The outlet estimates the price at $164 million. The costs are likely to be compensated by the Russian budget, the newspaper reported.

11:44 AM

Ukrainian paratroopers capture 27 Russian soldiers in Kursk Oblast.

"Among them are officers, sergeants, and privates from motorized rifle units, Marines, airborne troops, and other units, coming from various Russian regions and the occupied city of Sevastopol," the Airborne Assault Troops' press service said.

11:14 AM

Italy's Defense Minister Crosetto arrives in Kyiv on official visit.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto arrived in Kyiv on Jan. 16 for a "series of institutional meetings," Italy's Defense Ministry announced.

10:31 AM

'Ukraine is still free' — Biden touts his admin's accomplishments in farewell speech.

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden briefly mentioned Ukraine during his farewell speech on Jan. 15, saying his administration helped to preserve the country's freedom.

10:00 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 4, injure 27 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 34 out of 55 drones, including Shahed-type ones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Another 18 were "lost," it added.

9:33 AM

Ukraine blows up mine shaft to hamper Russian advance to Pokrovsk, NYT reports.

In December, Russian troops advanced to within a mile of mine No. 3, raising fears that they could seize it and use its tunnels to outflank Ukraine's positions, according to the NYT.

9:20 AM

Ukraine hopes to open all 6 negotiating clusters on EU accession in 2025, Zelensky says.

Ukraine aims to potentially open all six EU accession negotiation clusters in 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 15.

8:58 AM

Ukrainian drone strike reportedly targets gunpowder factory in Russia's Tambov Oblast.

A Ukrainian drone strike targeted a Russian gunpowder factory in the village of Kuzmino-Gat in Tambov Oblast overnight on Jan. 16, local Telegram channels and a Ukrainian official claimed.

8:12 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 814,150 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,480 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:59 AM

Members of Trump's team admit Ukraine-Russia peace settlement could take months, Reuters reports.

Several advisors to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump have accepted a timeline of at least several months to strike a deal to settle the Russia-Ukraine war, Reuters reported on Jan. 15, citing two Trump associates who directly spoke to the president-elect about the war.

5:28 AM

NATO, EU membership, military strength are strategic security guarantees for Ukraine, Zelensky says.

Continued weapons shipments, NATO accession, and EU membership are key security guarantees, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 15, noting that the country cannot engage in "games" reducing the size of its military. Ahead of potential peace negotiation, a large military was "the only security guarantee," Zelensky added.

3:39 AM

US sanctions Russian entity operating occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Russian forces have occupied the Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest nuclear station in Europe, since March 2022, and have been using the site in ways that increase the risk of a nuclear disaster.

1:30 AM

Ukraine captures 23 Russian soldiers in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukraine’s Azov Brigade captured 23 Russian soldiers during combat operations in the Toretsk area of Donetsk Oblast, the National Guard of Ukraine reported on Jan. 15.

11:35 PM

Oil depot on fire in Russia's Voronezh region.

An oil depot in Russia's Voronezh region caught fire following multiple drone strikes, regional governor Alexander Gusev said on Jan. 15.

10:17 PM

Putin to demand Ukraine never join NATO during talks with Trump, Bloomberg reports.

Russia will allegedly demand that Ukraine cut its ties with NATO and become "a neutral state with a limited military" during talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 15, citing its sources.

10:12 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine's military now totals 880,000 soldiers, facing 600,000 Russian troops, Kyiv claims

9:50 PM

Ukraine, Russia have to make concessions to end war, Rubio says.

"It is important for everyone to be realistic: There will have to be concessions — made by the Russian Federation, but also by the Ukrainians," said Marco Rubio, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state.

9:16 PM

US targets China-Russia sanctions evasion scheme with new measures.

"Today's actions frustrate the Kremlin's ability to circumvent our sanctions and get access to the goods they need to build weapons for their war of choice in Ukraine," said Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Wally Adeyemo.

8:14 PM

War

Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Ukraine’s European partners can’t afford to watch and wait for Washington’s next move

7:48 PM

Video

Ukrainian soldiers on capturing North Korean POW

After numerous attempts, Ukrainian forces operating in Russia’s Kursk Oblast have finally captured two North Korean soldiers. Watch this video to find out why capturing North Korean soldiers is so challenging — and how Ukrainian forces ultimately succeeded.