3:36 AM  (Updated:  January 30, 2025 7:37 am)

Russian drone attack on residential building in Sumy kills 2, injures 9.

A Russian drone struck a residential building in the northeastern city of Sumy overnight on Jan. 30, killing two people and injuring at least nine others, local authorities reported.

6:35 AM

Syrian rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa named transitional president.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the main rebel group who led the overthrow of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, has been named Syria's transitional president, the country's military command announced on Jan. 29.

4:54 AM

EU not considering banning Russian LNG until it secures alternatives, Reuters reports.

The European Commission will not propose implementing a ban on Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) imports in its upcoming sanctions package amid concern among member states about first securing an alternative from other countries, including the United States, EU diplomats told Reuters on Jan. 29.

1:47 AM

Georgia withdraws from PACE, calls demands for new elections 'blackmail.'

Georgia withdrew its delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Jan. 29 after the Assembly passed a resolution calling for Tbilisi to hold new parliamentary elections.

12:35 AM

NATO on track to send Kyiv over $40 billion in 2025.

"Allies are on track to deliver on the pledge made at the Washington summit," a NATO press statement said following a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on Jan. 29.

11:20 AM  (Updated:  January 29, 2025 11:52 pm)

Rubio issues humanitarian waiver for Trump's foreign aid freeze.

Those programs not covered by the waiver include "abortions, family planning conferences… transgender surgeries, or other non-life saving assistance."

11:16 PM

Zelensky looks to domestic, EU funders for key projects amid US aid freeze.

Following an initial report into U.S.-funded projects affected by the freeze, Zelensky said the government was prioritizing the energy sector, military veterans, and border crossings.

9:47 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones hit Lukoil oil refinery, missile arsenal in Russia, sources claim

9:15 PM

Slovakia summons Ukrainian ambassador over Zelensky's criticism of Russian gas purchases.

According to the statement, the Slovak ministry delivered the Ukrainian ambassador "a strong protest" against statements by the Ukrainian side.

8:26 PM

Video

Polish envoy on moving past painful history with Ukraine.

The Kyiv Independent's Martin Fornusek sat down with Poland's charge d'affairs in Kyiv, Piotr Lukasiewicz, to discuss why Poland stands out among Ukraine's allies and how to approach the most painful chapters of the shared Polish-Ukrainian history.

7:50 PM

Nearly 100 companies in Ukraine quietly change Russian ownership in 6 months, monitoring service reports.

Within the last six months, 93 companies in Ukraine have removed signs of Russian ownership and continue to do business in the country, despite a moratorium on altering the registration of companies with Russian owners, the monitoring service Opendatabot reported.

7:24 PM

Ukrainian lawmakers seek to temporarily replace USAID with European funding.

The pause in U.S. funding could last for three to six months, according to the Ukrainian parliament's humanitarian and information policy committee.

6:29 PM

Finland, Ukraine develop warfare drone, media reports.

The Finnish company Insta describes the system as a combination of an "explosive charge and a drone." The drone can be used to transport an explosive charge that can detonate above a target.

6:26 PM

Ukrainian drones hit Russian missile arsenal, oil pumping station in Tver Oblast, SBU source claims.

Drones operated by the SBU and the Special Operations Forces attacked the oil pumping station, which is part of the Baltic Pipeline System-2 operated by Russian state-owned oil pipeline company Transneft.

6:07 PM

Syria calls on Russia to hand over Assad, key aides in first post-ouster talks, media reports.

The demand was allegedly raised during the first negotiations between Syrian officials and a Kremlin delegation following Assad's ouster in December. After his overthrow by rebels, Assad fled to Moscow, where he now resides.

4:11 PM

Russia's 25% military budget hike demands stronger sanctions, more Ukraine aid, PM Shmyhal says.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said "peace through strength" must guide the response to Russian aggression.

4:02 PM

Russian assault intensity declines, focus on Pokrovsk sector, monitoring group reports.

Despite suffering heavy losses, Russian forces have reportedly been able to replenish their combat strength.

3:47 PM

Russian army recruitment centers in Moscow see five-fold drop in applicants, media reports.

Russia is currently suffering around 1500-1750 casualties daily on the battlefield.

2:20 PM

Syria demands Russian compensation for 'past mistakes' in first talks since Assad's fall.

Russia deployed troops to Syria in 2015 to support Assad regime's brutal crackdown against anti-government forces.

1:39 PM

Interview

Slavoj Zizek: Leftists falsify the choice that Ukrainians face during wartime

1:22 PM

Opinion

Trump must call Putin’s bluff on Ukraine talks

1:17 PM

EU to propose phased ban on Russian aluminum in new sanctions package, Bloomberg reports.

The sanctions will also cut off more Russian banks from the SWIFT banking system, and target an additional 70 vessels suspected to be part of Russia’s "shadow-fleet."

12:22 PM

Australian POW feared executed by Russia is alive, Penny Wong says.

Oscar Jenkins went missing on Dec. 16 in 2024 while on a combat mission near the village of Mykolaivka in Luhansk Oblast.

10:50 AM

Zelensky orders report on Ukrainian programs affected by Trump's foreign aid freeze.

U.S. President Donald Trump suspended all foreign aid programs for 90 days in an executive order signed on his day of inauguration.

9:38 AM

Russian state delegation arrives in Syria, first since fall of Assad.

The delegation includes Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov, and the Russian president’s special envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev.