Ukraine’s military destroys Russian command post in southern Ukraine

8:42 PM

Zelensky, NATO chief discuss air defense, arms production at Ramstein meeting.

Zelensky emphasized involving NATO members in purchasing Ukrainian weapons under a model pioneered by Denmark. The Danish government became the first country to offer to donate arms to Ukraine via direct purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry, as Kyiv's defense budget does not match the capacities of domestic weapons production.

7:49 PM

Business

Russia’s gas sector is running out of options after end of transit deal

7:20 PM

Slovak PM threatens Ukraine with aid cuts over halted Russian gas transit.

Fico said that Slovakia could halt its humanitarian aid to Ukraine, cut or cancel social benefits for Ukrainian refugees, and cease emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. He also suggested using veto power over EU decisions as leverage against Kyiv.

6:18 PM

4,000 North Korean troops killed or wounded fighting against Ukraine, Zelensky claims.

"Putin is not just maintaining his investment in aggression. He's doubling down. He's even started hiring soldiers from North Korea to keep this war going," Zelensky said.

5:17 PM

Ukraine offers defense industry jobs, draft exemptions for citizens abroad, minister says.

"We have a shortage of professionals, and Ukraine is ready to exempt most of them from military service," Chernyshov said.

4:08 PM

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 8

4:02 PM

Kyiv, Washington in talks on licensing air defense production in Ukraine, Zelensky says.

Zelensky made this statement at the opening of the 25th Ramstein summit, which was dedicated to strengthening Ukraine's defenses, particularly its air defense.

3:48 PM

Russia paid Taliban $200,000 per killed US, coalition soldier, media investigation says.

The joint media investigation sheds fresh details on reports of Russia-sponsored killings of U.S. soldiers that first surfaced in 2020, including names of Russian intelligence officers and their local collaborators involved.

3:35 PM

Denmark, Norway to buy $183 million in arms for Kyiv from Ukrainian manufacturers in 2025.

Denmark has reserved 135 million euros ($139 million) for further purchases under the "Danish model," buying arms for Ukraine directly from Ukrainian arms manufacturers. Norway is expected to contribute another 43 million euros ($44 million) to this initiative.

2:48 PM

Ukraine's 47th Brigade releases video of 'massive' Russian attack repelled in Kursk Oblast.

Russia deployed "a huge number of soldiers," with Ukrainian forces killing 45 troops and injuring 53, Ukraine's 47th Mechanized Brigade claimed.

2:33 PM

Zelensky to meet with Italian PM, president in Italy after Ramstein summit, media reports.

Ukraine's president will travel to Italy on Jan. 9 following the Ramstein summit in Germany.

1:55 PM

Russian forces 2 km from Kupiansk's outskirts, official says.

The situation in the town is "very difficult," Andrii Besedin, head of the Kupiansk town military administration, said.

1:41 PM

Biden administration unveils its last $500 million aid package for Ukraine before Trump takes office.

The package is expected to be the final U.S. defense tranche provided by the Biden administration before Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

1:03 PM

'It would be crazy to drop the ball now' — Zelensky urges continued unity, support for Ukraine at Ramstein.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings during the summit, which could be the group's last meeting in the current format.

12:54 PM

Russian airstrike against Kherson injures 6, damages kindergarten.

Russian forces dropped guided aerial bombs on the city of Kherson on Jan. 9, injuring at least six people, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

12:35 PM

Military deserter, his wife detained in Dnipro terror attack case.

The newly detained suspects, a 33-year-old soldier who went AWOL (absent without leave) and his 25-year-old wife, were looking for "easy money" and were recruited via the Telegram messenger by Russian intelligence services, the SBU said.

12:18 PM

Russian propagandist, Crimean Bridge film director Keosayan in coma after suffering clinical death.

Tigran Keosayan hosted the International Pilorama program on the Russian state-controlled NTV channel. His directorial career began in 1992. Since then, he has directed about 20 films, including the propaganda film "The Crimean Bridge. Made with Love!"

11:44 AM

Armenia's government backs bill on launching EU accession process.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed that even if the bill is passed, the accession process can start only if the Armenian people support it in a referendum

10:58 AM

Ex-FBI informant accused of lying about Biden family's ties to Ukrainian business jailed for 6 years.

A Californian court sentenced former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, who falsely accused the Biden family of taking a bribe from a Ukrainian business, to six years in prison, CNN reported on Jan. 8.

10:41 AM

Russian tanker fuel spill could reach Ukraine's coast, Navy warns.

The oil spilled into the Black Sea by two Russian tankers last month could soon reach Ukraine's southern coast in the Mykolaiv and Odesa oblasts, Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said on air on Jan. 9.

9:27 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 19, injure 132 over past day.

Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least 19 civilians and injured at least 132 over the past day, regional authorities said on Jan. 9, with most of the casualties reported following an airstrike on Zaporizhzhia.

9:17 AM

End of Russian gas transit via Ukraine one of Moscow's 'most costly defeats,' White House says.

Ukraine's move will deprive Russia of about $6.5 billion in annual revenue from gas sales to Europe, according to U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

8:49 AM

Transnistria has less than month of gas left, local authorities say.

Gas storage in Moldova's Russian-occupied region of Transnistria will last another 24 days after the halt of Russian supplies, local authorities said on Jan. 8.

8:15 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 803,100 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,430 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:55 AM

Lithuania tightens security ahead of decoupling from Russian energy grid, Euronews reports.

Lithuania has announced plans to enhance security measures around its power grids with Poland in preparation for next month's decoupling from the Russian energy system.