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.
Ukraine
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.
'Ukrainians can help Americans protect lives' — Zelensky says Kyiv ready to send firefighters to California
"The situation there is extremely challenging, and Ukrainians can help Americans protect lives. This matter is being worked out... We already have 150 firefighters prepared."
Serbian president offers to host Trump-Putin meeting in Belgrade
"There is no country that can compare to Serbia in terms of the level of support for President Trump. ... And on the other hand, it is a country where President Putin is still very, very popular."
The Week Ahead: Key Developments Impacting Global Politics & Markets
Editor's note: This article is an on-site version of KI Insights' The Week Ahead newsletter covering events from Jan. 13 to Jan. 20. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events, delivered directly to your inbox every Sunday. With 8 eight days left until the
Ukraine ready to return North Korean POWs to Kim Jong Un or find 'other ways,' Zelensky says
"Ukraine is ready to hand over his people to Kim Jong Un if he can organize their exchange for our soldiers who are held captive in Russia. For those North Korean soldiers who do not want to return, there may be some other ways."
Fico refused Kyiv's offers to help with gas supplies, Zelensky says
"We offered our assistance to the people of Slovakia during their adaptation to the absence of Russian gas transit, but Fico arrogantly refused," Zelensky said on Jan. 12.
Far-right Slovak delegation flies to Moscow for talks on Russian gas supplies
Andrej Danko, co-leader of the delegation, claimed that Warsaw refused to allow their flight to enter Polish airspace and the plane had to be rerouted via Czechia and Germany.
Ukraine war latest: 'Irrefutable evidence of North Korea's involvement' — Ukraine says it captured 2 North Korean POWs in Kursk Oblast
Key developments on Jan. 12: * 'Irrefutable evidence of North Korea's involvement' — Ukraine says it captured 2 North Korean POWs in Kursk Oblast * Ukrainian drone hits large oil refinery in Russia’s Tatarstan, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation confirms * Russia launches double airstrike on nursing home in Kursk
Trump, Putin call expected in near future, incoming national security adviser says
"I do expect a call, at least in the coming days and weeks, so that would be a step, and we'll take it from there," incoming U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said on Jan. 12 regarding upcoming talks between Trump and Putin.
Military: Russian troops dress as civilians in Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast
Aerial reconnaissance footage posted by the brigade on Facebook shows a couple of alleged Russian soldiers dressed in civilian clothes. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the images.
Russia launches double airstrike on nursing home in Kursk Oblast, military claims
According to the military, around 2,000 people remain in areas under Ukrainian control. Over 70 people are currently staying in the nursing home that came under attack.
Switzerland ready to host Trump-Putin meeting
Switzerland has expressed its readiness to host a high-level meeting between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Nicolas Bideau, head of communications at the Swiss Foreign Ministry, told Swiss newspaper Le Temps.
Over 130 people, including 12 children, evacuated from Donetsk Oblast on Jan. 11
According to Filashkin, Russian troops shelled the settlements of Donetsk Oblast 20 times over the past day, killing one person in the village of Hryshyne, not far from Pokrovsk.
Ukraine downs 60 Russian drones overnight, Air Force reports
Russia launched a total of 94 Shahed-type and decoy drones from bases in Millerovo, Oryol, Bryansk, and Kursk, according to the report.
General Staff: Russia has lost 808,250 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,750 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Russia condemns new US sanctions on energy sector, says it will continue oil and gas projects
Russia's Foreign Ministry argued the U.S. sanctions represented "an attempt to inflict at least some damage to the Russian economy, even at the cost of the risk of destabilising world markets."
EU to start drafting new sanctions against Russia next week, media reports
The European Commission plans to begin drafting new sanctions against Russia next week, with the goal of approving the package on Feb. 24 — the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
41-year-old Latvian volunteer soldier killed in Luhansk Oblast on Christmas
Platonov was fighting in the areas near the village of Novoiehorivka in the largely Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast as part of the Ukrainian military's International Legion, composed of mostly foreign volunteers who came to fight, according to the Latvian Armed Forces.
Ukraine mulls buying Italian air defenses with frozen Russian assets' proceeds
Kyiv and Rome are discussing the possibility of purchasing Italian-made air defense systems and ammunition using profits from immobilized Russian assets, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Jan. 11.
'Irrefutable evidence of North Korea's involvement' — Ukraine says it captured 2 North Korean POWs in Kursk Oblast
The two wounded soldiers received necessary medical care and are in custody in Kyiv, according to Zelensky.
Police dismantle almost 50 illegal border crossing schemes in massive crackdown
Sixty suspects were charged in schemes that included crossing the borders outside of checkpoints, forging health documents, and entering falsified entries into an electronic information system, the police said.
Ukraine's Legion in Poland has received 1,300 applications; first women join the unit
The ministry announced on Jan. 10 that the second group of volunteers had already signed contracts in Lublin to join the unit. For the first time, the recruits included women who applied for medical and communications roles.
Russia claims it downed 85 Ukrainian drones; 2 apartment buildings reportedly damaged
In one of the regions that Moscow claimed it successfully countered a Ukrainian drone attack, the local authorities said that a drone crashed into two five-floor apartment buildings in the town of Kotovsk in western Russia.
US Congress should ensure that Ukraine aid continues even under Trump, Biden says
Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden said on Jan. 10 he did all he could to help Ukraine and voiced hope that U.S. support will continue even after he leaves office.
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure 12 over past day
Russia launched 74 Shahed-type attack drones and dummy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported. Forty-seven drones were shot down over 11 oblasts, while 27 dummy drones were lost in the airspace, according to the statement.
General Staff: Russia has lost 806,500 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,570 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Ukraine's inflation accelerated to 12% in 2024, exceeding government forecasts
The accelerated rate surpassed forecasts made by Ukraine's National Bank in November, which estimated that Ukraine would end 2024 at an annualized 9.7% inflation rate.
Ukraine 'will do everything' it can to obtain security guarantees, end war in 2025, Zelensky says
"It is our dream to obtain these (security) guarantees this year and to end the war this year. We will do everything to achieve this," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Italian broadcaster RaiNews24 on Jan. 10.
Pro-Russian Bulgarian politician demands return of 'historically Bulgarian' Southern Bessarabia region of Ukraine
Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of Bulgaria’s pro-Russian Revival party, has fueled Kremlin narratives by claiming that Southern Bessarabia, part of Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast, should be returned to Bulgaria.
Ukraine and Russia not prepared for peace talks, White House says
U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that neither Russia nor Ukraine is currently prepared for negotiations to end the war, according to his comments at a briefing on Jan. 10.
Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian Neptune missile hits Russian drone warehouse in Rostov Oblast, SBU source claims
Key developments on Jan. 10: * Ukrainian Neptune missile hits Russian drone warehouse in Rostov Oblast, SBU source claims * Ukraine conducts 'precision strike' on Russian army command post in Donetsk Oblast, General Staff claims * Ukrainian forces defending Kurakhove thermal power plant amid intense fighting in Donetsk Oblast, military says * Scholz blocks
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