Large fire reported at oil depot in Russia's Saratov Oblast following 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.
Ukraine
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.
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.
Russian troops overrun Kurakhove, approach Pokrovsk east, south, and southwest
Russia keeps on advancing in eastern Donetsk Oblast, taking hold of Kurakhove, which would become the first major town to fall into Russian hands in 2025. Russian troops are continuing to push on the Lyman, Siversk, Kramatorsk, Toretsk, Pokrovsk and Kurakhove axes, Ukraine's General Staff said in its latest update.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine hits Russia's infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims
Key developments on Jan. 7: * Ukraine hits Russia's infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims * In historic record, Ukrainian F-16 pilot downs 6 cruise missiles in single mission, Air Force claims * Trump blames Biden for provoking Russia's war by supporting Ukraine's NATO aspirations * Ukraine says it holds Kurakhove's
'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.
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.
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.
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.
Russia ‘delusional’ about its ability to sustain Ukraine war, says Latvian foreign minister
As Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine nears its fourth year, a worsening battlefield situation and the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency signal that the war could soon be entering a volatile and unpredictable endgame. In anticipation of a potential Trump-negotiated ceasefire, Kyiv is looking to
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.
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.
Ukraine's military refutes claims of Russia taking Kharkiv Oblast village
A military spokesperson on Jan. 7 denied reports of Russia taking the village of Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast, saying there are even no "serious clashes" in the area.
Ukraine says it holds Kurakhove's western outskirts despite Russia's claim of capture
"The situation in Kurakhove is really quite difficult right now, because a significant part of the city has been destroyed," Khortytsia group of forces spokesperson Viktor Trehubov said on national television Jan. 7, only a day after Russia announced full control over the town.
Ukrainians' trust in Zelensky drops to 52% during 2024, poll shows
Some 52% of Ukrainians trust President Volodymyr Zelensky, a drop by seven percentage points from October 2024, according to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) published on Jan. 7.
In historic record, Ukrainian F-16 pilot downs 6 cruise missiles in single mission, Air Force claims
For the first time in the history of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a Ukrainian-operated jet shot down six Russian cruise missiles during a single mission in December, the Air Force claimed on Jan. 7.
Ukrainian naval drone-launched FPV drones hit Russian air defenses in world first, Ukraine says
As a result of the attack on Jan. 6, two Russian anti-missile Pantsir-S1 systems and one OSA anti-aircraft vehicle were reportedly damaged or destroyed in the occupied part of Ukraine's southern Kherson Oblast.
Europe might soon feel ‘intense pressure’ to strike a deal with Moscow, Polish FM warns
"But what kind of deal would a sensible Europe accept? Certainly not an ordinary deal that would allow Moscow to regain its strength," Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said.
Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast fend off almost 100 Russian assaults in a day, military says
This represents nearly half of the skirmishes over the past day, as the military reported 218 clashes across the front.
Umerov appoints ex-Infrastructure Minister Kubrakov as his advisor to tackle logistics
Oleksandr Kubrakov's "experience as the deputy prime minister, the infrastructure minister, and head of Ukravtodor is important and will help improve the supply and logistics in the Armed Forces," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on his Telegram channel.
Putin sends trusted general to fend off Ukraine’s offensive in Kursk
Russia sent one of its top generals, General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, to organize Russia’s defense in Kursk Oblast against a renewed Ukrainian attack, The Telegraph reported on Jan. 5.
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 3, injure 23 over past day
Russia launched 38 Shahed-type attack drones and unidentified dummy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported. Twenty-eight drones were shot down, and 10 were lost in the airspace, according to the statement.
Russian forces attempt to 'infiltrate' settlements around Pokrovsk, Ukraine's military says
Small Russian units are attempting to advance around Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, but the town itself is not threatened at the moment, a Ukrainian military spokesperson said on Jan. 6.
General Staff: Russia has lost 800,010 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,970 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
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.
Kyiv, Moscow reach preliminary agreement to prioritize wounded POWs in future exchanges
"We will see if the Russian side keeps its word. If they do, Ukrainian society will notice the systematic nature in terms of quantity, timing, and categories [of prisoners returning home]," Ukraine's ombudsman said.
Updated: Zelensky says nearly 15,000 Russians have been killed in Kursk region
President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his evening address that Ukraine "continues to maintain a buffer zone on Russian territory, actively destroying Russian military potential there."
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes 3 Russian air defense systems in single day; 3,800 North Korean troops killed, injured in Kursk Oblast
Key developments on Jan. 6: * Ukraine strikes 3 Russian air defense systems in single day, Navy claims * 3,800 North Korean troops killed or injured in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Zelensky says * Ukraine's position in Kursk Oblast important for possible negotiations, Blinken says * Zelensky offered to buy weapons from incoming Trump
'Negative lesson' — Ground Forces chief acknowledges desertions, mismanagement in French-trained brigade
Mykhailo Drapatyi, commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, acknowledged significant challenges within the French-trained 155th "Anne of Kyiv" Mechanized Brigade, including high desertion rates and poor organization, during a Jan. 6 press conference.
Zelensky takes on Putin apologists, US skeptics on 3-hour Lex Fridman podcast
In a newly released three-hour interview, Moscow-born U.S. podcaster Lex Fridman tried to persuade President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “a serious person who loves his country." “He loves his inner circle. It’s only a small part of the people. He doesn't love (the Russian
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