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.
Ukraine
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.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine's military now totals 880,000 soldiers, facing 600,000 Russian troops, Kyiv claims
Key developments on Jan. 15: * Ukraine's military now totals 880,000 soldiers, facing 600,000 Russian troops, Zelensky says * Russia launches mass missile attack against Ukraine * Ukraine, Russia have to make concessions to end war, Rubio says * Ukraine brings back 25 people from Russian captivity, including Azovstal defenders * Lithuania would
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.
Will Europe put ‘boots on the ground’ for peace in Ukraine? We asked top Nordic, Baltic officials
Just days out from the return of Donald Trump to the White House, the future of Russia’s war against Ukraine is dominated by a great unknown: whether the incoming president will manage to push Moscow to stop its advance on the battlefield, or whether he will disengage and perhaps
Ukraine’s military now totals 880,000 soldiers, facing 600,000 Russian troops, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 15 that Ukraine's military now comprises 880,000 soldiers, tasked with defending the entire country against 600,000 Russian troops concentrated in specific areas.
Why Ukraine’s long-delayed missile production ambitions have yet to get off the ground
The Ukrainian government in recent months has been aggressively touting fresh developments in its missile-making. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the country had built 100 of its own missiles in 2024 as of November. He called for 3,000 “cruise missiles or missile-drones” to be manufactured in 2025. Traditional missiles
NATO defense budget could surpass Russia’s tenfold if Europe matches Poland’s spending, Tusk says
"No one but Europe will solve its defense problems," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Jan. 15.
‘Absolutely unacceptable’ — Appointment of Ukrainian judge who visited occupied Crimea, Russia triggers criticism
The decision highlights the continued presence of officials with ties to Russia in the Ukrainian government.
Polish PM accuses Russia of planning 'air terror,' condemns sabotage efforts
"These acts of sabotage are versions of the war that Russia has declared to the whole world, not just Ukraine," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
Ukraine brings back 25 people from Russian captivity, including Azovstal defenders
President Volodymyr Zelensky said some of those brought back have serious injuries and illnesses.
'Strongest action possible' — Albanese vows to act if Australian fighting for Ukraine was executed by Russia
Oscar Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher from Melbourne, was reported captured by Russian forces in December.
Lithuania would consider troop deployment to Ukraine upon Kyiv’s request, FM Budrys says
"We’d talk with our allies and partners about what it looks like, and we’d talk with Ukraine about what it looks like," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said.
Russian attacks against Ukraine wound at least 16, kill 1 over past day
Russian missiles hit critical infrastructure in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblasts, with no reports of casualties.
Ukrainians divided over what peace with Russia should look like, new poll reveals
There is no clear consensus among Ukrainians about what a potential peace agreement with Russia should look like, a new global poll published on Jan. 15 has found. The poll, conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), presented respondents with four options relating to NATO/EU membership, security
‘We know who the good guy is’ — Trump’s defense nominee grilled over war in Ukraine
Pete Hegseth’s nomination in November sent shockwaves through Pentagon corridors.
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 9
Editor’s note: This is issue 9 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from Jan. 6–12, 2025. This newsletter was until recently titled “Ukrainian Economy in Brief." The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial
Zelensky to visit Poland after ‘breakthrough’ agreement on Volyn tragedy exhumations
The Volyn massacre involved widespread violence that claimed tens of thousands of Polish and Ukrainian lives.
General Staff: Russia has lost 812,670 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,580 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Russia launches mass missile attack against Ukraine
Explosions were reported in Kharkiv, Khmelnytsky Oblast, and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine targets Russian industrial plants, ammunition depots in overnight strike
Key developments on Jan. 14: * Ukraine targets Russia's industrial plants, ammunition depots in 'massive' strike overnight * Equipping troops takes priority over lowering draft age, Zelensky says * Ukraine denies transferring Air Force personnel to infantry amid troop shortages * Germany to deploy Patriot at Poland's key hub for Ukraine aid by end
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.
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 has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration for providing Ukraine with military assistance, including through military shipments using the PDA. Countering Trump's
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ukraine targets Russia's industrial plants, ammunition depots in 'massive' strike overnight
Chemical plants, refineries, the Engels airbase, and other facilities in Russia were successfully targeted, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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