The Olina, the fifth tanker seized by the U.S. in recent weeks, has previously been sanctioned for transporting Russian oil in violation of earlier restrictions.

Over the past several years, Iran has witnessed a number of popular uprisings, varying in both scale and demands. The ongoing mass protest movement that swept across the country in the closing days of 2025, however, is seen as the one that may actually topple the country’s autocratic regime. The Jan. 8 demonstrations in Iran were the largest in years and more violent than many previous protests. A number of buildings were set ablaze, while protesters have been clear in their demands — "Death t

"This is a man who must be stopped," John Healey told the Kyiv Independent.

Four people were killed and 25 others injured in Kyiv after Russia launched a mass attack across Ukraine overnight on Jan. 8-9. Rescue workers were among the victims of Russia's double-tap strike.

The Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile was said to be used in the attack on Lviv, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Polish border. Lviv Oblast Governor Maksym Kozytskyi reported that a critical infrastructure facility in the region was hit.

Hello, this is Tania Myronyshena reporting on day 1,416 of Russia's full-scale invasion from Kyiv — a city shaken by a massive overnight Russian attack and now struggling without heat and power. Today's top story so far: Russia ranked first worldwide for internet censorship and shutdowns in 2025, according to Top10VPN’s report by Top10VPN, an independent digital privacy and VPN comparison platform tracking global internet disruptions. Russia began mass internet shutdowns in May 2025 under the

Kyiv has awarded a tender to a group of investors to mine one of its most promising lithium deposits following a tender for a production sharing agreement launched in the summer, the New York Times reported on Jan. 8, citing two anonymous Ukrainian officials.

Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' public newsletter, The Week Ahead, covering events from January 11-18. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every week. President Volodymyr Zelensky may travel to the United States next week to meet with Donald Trump to finalize a Ukraine–U.S. security agreement. The Ukrainian side says the document is ready and is awaiting approval from Trump. Zelensk

The Oreshnik is a Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile designed to carry nuclear weapons.

Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov submitted their resignations to the Ukrainian parliament on Jan. 9 amid an ongoing political reshuffle.

U.S. President Donald Trump may soon hold a game-changing lever over Moscow. After months of hesitation, he has finally backed a sanctions bill targeting Russia, giving him the ability to hit the Kremlin where it hurts most — its oil and gas revenues. The bill would impose sweeping secondary sanctions on countries that continue buying Russian energy, including major buyers such as China, India, and Brazil, aiming to cut off one of Moscow's key funding streams for its war in Ukraine. Senator L

"We are doing everything we can to resolve this as quickly as possible. However, the combined attack on Kyiv last night was the most devastating for the capital's critical infrastructure," Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

At Moscow's request, Trump agreed to release two Russian crew members of the Marinera oil tanker seized by U.S. authorities earlier this week, the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed.

Critics like to chastise Ukraine for its heavy-handed mobilization tactics; more friendly observers view it as an area of strategic vulnerability. So, where does it stand now? The sometimes heavy-handed process of bundling unwilling men into vans is loathed by many and exploited by anti-Ukrainian propaganda — especially in the darker corners of social media. So it may come as a surprise that over the past 12 months, mobilization in Ukraine has grown less violent and more resistant to Russian t

"I feel strongly they (Russia) wouldn't re-invade, or I wouldn't agree to it," Trump told the New York Times when asked about Washington's potential involvement in safeguarding Ukraine against future Russian aggression.

Hello, this is Chris York reporting from Kyiv on day 1,415 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story: An oil tanker en-route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk was struck by a drone on Jan.8, Reuters reported citing a notice by Lloyd's List Intelligence The Palau-flagged Elbus "experienced an unmanned marine-vehicle and drone attack" in the Black Sea after departing from Singapore. None of the 25 crew were reported injured and the vessel made its way to the Turkish port o

Witkoff and Kushner met Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Paris to discuss a U.S. peace plan for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Zelensky is seeking a meeting with Trump to press for U.S.-backed security guarantees.

More than 1 million people in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast remained without water and heating as of the morning of Jan. 8, Communities and Territories Development Minister Oleksii Kuleba said.

Anka Feldhusen, the German ambassador from 2019-2023, replaces Canadian Roman Washchuk, who led the Business Ombudsman Council from December 2021-2025.

The European-U.S. alliance, already buckling under the Trump administration's aggressive foreign policy, faces its most daunting challenge yet — Greenland. U.S. President Donald Trump recently reiterated his dubious claim on Denmark's autonomous island, fanning fears about the fragility of transatlantic unity at the worst possible moment. European leaders must now balance between standing up to Washington's expansionism and their reliance on the U.S. backing in the face of Russian aggression i

The new round of peace negotiations felt different. Not because of the substance of the talks, rather due to the people leading them. In early January, President Volodymyr Zelensky conducted a major reshuffle of Ukraine's leadership, signaling a new approach to governing the country going forward. For key positions, Zelensky picked popular officials and military figures, many of whom had previously been sidelined by former President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak. The negotiations team now featu

Behind closed doors, Ukraine and its allies are discussing the war-torn country’s economic recovery alongside a potential peace deal. At the heart of these conversations is the new so-called Economic Prosperity Plan — a package "for economic recovery, restoring jobs, and bringing life back to Ukraine," President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Dec. 30. Ukrainian officials say rebuilding the country and jump-starting long-term growth will require as much as $800 billion over 10 years — rou

The DeepState monitoring group reported on the evening of Jan. 7 that Andriivka was back under Russian control.

"We understand that the American side will engage with Russia, and we expect feedback on whether the aggressor is genuinely willing to end the war," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The loan will help state-owned Ukrhydroenergo purchase stockpiles of critical supplies, replacements for equipment damaged by Russian attacks, as well as to refurbish and modernize old equipment.

U.S. President Donald Trump has approved moving forward with a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, opening the door for a potential Senate vote as early as next week, according to Senator Lindsey Graham.

"The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own, or a threat to our nation's sovereignty, freedoms, and general prosperity," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

"This will allow us to build the 'Dream Military' that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us safe and secure, regardless of foe," Donald Trump said on Truth Social.

As Ukraine enters 2026, mobilization has emerged as one of the most decisive challenges shaping the country’s military resilience, political stability, and negotiating position. Where is the mobilization system under the greatest strain, how will recent personnel changes at the top of Ukraine’s security apparatus impact policy, and what can mobilization realistically deliver in the year ahead? Join KI Insights for our January monthly briefing, focused on Ukraine’s mobilization challenge. The di

Russia appealed to the U.S. to halt the pursuit and reportedly dispatched a submarine and other vessels to escort the tanker before it was boarded by U.S. forces.

The report follows an agreement reached in December 2025 by EU countries to ban Russian gas imports beginning Jan. 1, 2028, with LNG imports set to be prohibited at the start of 2027.

President Volodymyr Zelensky urged additional pressure from the United States on Jan. 7 to help achieve a peace deal in Ukraine in the coming months, jokingly evoking calls for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to suffer the same fate as captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.