Pope urges to spend less on Christmas, send difference to Ukrainians

7:55 AM

Merkel highlights NATO's role in supporting Ukraine, urges transatlantic unity, media reports.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that a united NATO, bolstered by strong U.S. leadership, is essential to counter Putin's ambitions and safeguard Ukraine's sovereignty, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

6:42 AM

Russia condemns 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and UK.

Russia criticized a newly announced 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and the U.K., rejecting any cooperation between the two nations in the Azov Sea.

4:39 AM

Trump eyes China visit amid strained ties, WSJ reports.

President-elect Donald Trump has expressed interest in visiting China shortly after assuming office, potentially within his first 100 days, sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

1:45 AM

Russia's Jan. 18 attack damages Ukraine's oldest McDonald’s in Kyiv.

A Russian missile strike on Kyiv early on Jan. 18 damaged Ukraine's oldest McDonald’s, located near the Lukianivska metro station in the city's Shevchenkivskyi district. Open since 1997, this is the first McDonald's restaurant in the country.

11:51 PM

Germany may consider sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, defense minister says.

"We're the largest NATO partner in Europe. We'll obviously have a role to play," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Jan. 18 when asked about the possibility of sending troops to monitor a ceasefire in Ukraine.

11:05 PM

Students who fail military exam or refuse oath cannot continue higher ed, official says.

"If students cannot pass the exam ... if they refuse to take the military oath, they will not be able to study in higher education institutions in the future," Deputy Defense Minister Serhii Melnyk said.

10:15 PM

Ukrainian troops withdraw from, launch attack on Chasiv Yar refractory plant.

Ukrainian forces launched an aerial attack against a Russian-occupied refractory plant in the embattled city of Chasiv Yar, confirming earlier reports that Ukraine had withdrawn from the site.

9:10 PM

Dnipropetrovsk firm helped Russia build nuclear weapons labs, SBU says.

The company allegedly shipped a large-scale batch of stainless steel profiles to Russia after the full-scale invasion. These products were used to outfit the Russian Institute for Nuclear Research, the SBU said.

8:11 PM

SBU detains metro engineer who allegedly directed Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, Kharkiv.

The engineer allegedly led a network of agents who tracked the movement and positions of Ukrainian troops in order to coordinate Russian aerial attacks, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said.

7:20 PM

Russia used chemical weapons 434 times in December, Ukraine's General Staff says.

These included K-51 and RG-VO munitions, anti-riot weapons that are prohibited for use in warfare, and ammunition loaded with chemicals of "unspecified type."

6:16 PM

'Direct threat' — Ukraine's 48th Separate Assault Battalion denounces commander replacement.

"Changing the commander at a critical moment is a direct threat to the unit's combat capability and undermines the trust of the fighters," the statement read.

4:55 PM

Lukashenko frees 23 more Belarusian political prisoners.

Nearly 1,300 prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

3:47 PM

Ex-MP, leader of Russia-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church charged with treason.

Ukrainian law enforcement officers charged former lawmaker and businessman Vadym Novynskyi with high treason and incitement to religious hatred in absentia, the State Bureau of Investigation said.

2:34 PM

Former pro-Russian lawmaker charged with treason resurfaces in China.

Former Ukrainian pro-Russian lawmaker Yevheniy Murayev published a two-hour propaganda interview on Jan. 17, marking his first public appearance after almost three years of Russia's full-scale war.

10:47 AM  (Updated:  January 18, 2025 1:19 pm)

Ukraine hits 2 oil depots in Russia overnight.

Ukrainian forces attacked oil depots in Russia's Tula and Kaluga oblasts overnight on Jan. 18, according to the General Staff and a Kyiv Independent's source in Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR).

12:39 PM

24-year-old Belarusian volunteer soldier killed in action near Bakhmut.

Maria Zaitseva joined the Ukrainian army after the start of Russia's full-scale war and fought with the 2nd International Legion Battalion.

6:20 AM  (Updated:  January 18, 2025 12:07 pm)

3 killed, 3 injured following Russia's attack on Kyiv.

Russia launched an attack on Kyiv early in the morning on Jan. 18, killing three people and injuring three others, Kyiv city military administration head Tymur Tkachenko reported.

10:30 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 8, injure 38 over past day.

Russia launched 39 drones, including Shahed-type, and four ballistic missiles of either the Iskander-M or the North Korean KN-23 model overnight, the Air Force reported.

9:09 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 817,160 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,340 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:33 AM

Hungary's Orban defends ally Antal Rogan sanctioned by US, media reports.

Sanctions imposed by the outgoing U.S. administration against Antal Rogan, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet chief and overseer of the secret service, have only strengthened Rogan's position, Orban said during a state radio interview on Jan. 17.

3:15 AM

Fire reported at oil depot in Russia's Tula Oblast following drone attack.

A fire erupted at an oil depot in the town of Uzlovaya in Russia's Tula Oblast following a Ukrainian drone attack on the facility overnight on Jan. 18, regional Governor Dmitry Milyaev said.

2:54 AM

Media identifies nearly 89,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine.

Journalists have identified the names of 88,726 Russian soldiers who died during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a joint investigation by BBC Russia and Mediazona.

12:55 AM

Debris from Russian drones found in Romanian border town, defense ministry confirms.

Romania's Defense Ministry confirmed on Jan. 17 that it had found Russian drone fragments in two communities situated on the Romania-Ukraine border.

11:44 PM

French patrol aircraft was 'target of Russian intimidation' over Baltic Sea, French defense minister says.

A French maritime patrol aircraft was the target of intimidation tactics over the Baltic Sea overnight on Jan. 17, after the aircraft was locked onto by the radar of a Russian ground-to-air defense system, France's Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on social media.

10:56 PM

Fire erupts at oil depot in Russia's Kaluga Oblast following drone attack.

A fire erupted at an oil depot in the city of Lyudinovo in Russia's Kaluga Oblast following a Ukrainian drone attack on the facility on Jan. 17, regional Governor Vladislav Shapsha said.