This is Chris York reporting from Kyiv on day 1,422 of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story so far: A large group of Russian soldiers crossing snowy ground north of Kharkiv was obliterated by drones, artillery and infantry, Ukraine's Khartiia Brigade said on Jan. 15, killing around 70 of them. The Khartiia Brigade repelled an attempted assault by the Russian Federation and destroyed about 70 Russian occupiers," the unit said in a post on YouTube. "For a week, Russian oc

Ukraine's wartime banking sector will get a new player after an obscure fintech's bid to enter the country's market was finalized on Jan. 15. Iute Group, headquartered in Estonia, signed the final stage of acquiring a Ukrainian banking license during an upbeat press conference held in Kyiv on Jan. 15. It's reportedly the first foreign bank to enter Ukraine since 2021. "Since 2008, it's pretty much been only one direction — foreign banks leaving the country," Mykhaylo Demkiv, financial analyst

A meeting between U.S., Danish, and Greenlandic officials on Jan. 14 failed to defuse tensions.

At the cemetery historically known as the Field of Mars, a sea of flags snap and ripple in the wind, and names appear faster than the city can make space for them. Photographer Anastasiia Smolienko, who returns here several times a month, says, “This is a place where you immediately see the price of this war, of Ukraine’s resistance.” Despite the heavy weight of the loss it represents, the cemetery is also a measure of dignity for many of Lviv’s local residents. Smolienko describes how farewel

During her visit, Georgieva was expected to review Ukraine’s progress in passing the 2026 budget, as well as discuss measures to further prevent tax evasion and boost revenue by broadening the tax base.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Jan. 14 declared a state of emergency in the energy sector.

Oleksandr Borniakov assumed the new position after Mykhailo Fedorov, who had led the Digital Transformation Ministry since 2019, was appointed defense minister on Jan. 14.

Pechersk is a leafy, affluent neighborhood in central Kyiv. Its prerevolutionary buildings are tucked away from the main roads, surrounded by quiet courtyards and trees. In peacetime, it's where many Ukrainians dreamed of living. Now, in the fourth winter of the war, it's 3 degrees celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit) inside some apartments without additional heating, and the temperature continues to drop. Thick brick walls once insulated the well-off residents from the city's noise — now they make

Russia struck a playground in the city center of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, Governor Maksym Kozytskyi reported on Jan. 15.

"I think (Russian President Vladimir Putin is) ready to make a deal. I think Ukraine is less ready to make a ‍deal," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

A U.S. invasion of Greenland would be "one of the worst things" any American president has done in recent years, Republican Representative Don Bacon told the Kyiv Independent on Jan. 14, as White House escalates rhetoric toward Denmark's autonomous territory. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security, saying Washington will acquire the island "one way or the other" and that all options, including military force, remain on the table. Gre

Fears that the new Czech populist government would add another brick to the anti-Ukraine camp appear to be premature — at least, for now. Petr Macinka, Czechia's new foreign minister, who visited Ukraine on Jan. 9 mere hours after a Russian Oreshnik strike, affirmed that the two countries remain allies and that the Czech ammunition initiative will continue. Yet, the conciliatory messaging is being muddled by more radical members of the new ruling coalition. The anti-Ukrainian rhetoric of Tomi

Editor's note: You can find the Jan. 15 edition of Ukraine war latest here. This is Chris York reporting from a very chilly Kyiv on day 1,421 of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story so far: Ukrainian forces have shot down what they describe as a new version of a rocket-powered Russian Shahed-type drone equipped with a Soviet-era R-60 air-to-air missile, the 413th Regiment "Reid" of the Unmanned Systems Forces said on Jan. 14 Throughout the full-scale war, Russia steadil

"The consequences of Russian strikes and worsening weather conditions are severe," Zelensky wrote.

The suspension is set to take effect on Jan. 21 and will remain in place indefinitely while the State Department conducts a review of visa processing procedures, Fox News reported.

Local authorities reported on Jan. 14 that air defenses were active in the capital due to yet another Russian drone attack.

Sixty billion euros ($70 billion) will be earmarked for defense, with the remaining 30 billion euros ($35 billion) allocated to support Ukraine's budget, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said during a press conference in Brussels on Jan 14.

The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Kurt Volker, former U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations and former U.S. ambassador to NATO, about U.S. foreign policy, NATO’s future, and the war in Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump demonstrates he is "increasingly comfortable with the use of force" on the global stage, Kurt Volker said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent.

The rare report on numbers comes as Ukraine faces a critical manpower shortage.

This January, Ukraine's long-awaited Defense City regime has finally come into operation. The first company to obtain resident status was SkyFall, a manufacturer of drones and Shahed interceptors. This special program, similar to the IT-focused Diia City, is designed to entice defense companies with a package of tax breaks and regulatory relief. It has already started drawing attention from major international arms manufacturers, especially as Ukraine has become a testing ground for advanced

After the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) charged several lawmakers from President Volodymyr Zelensky's party in December, Tymoshenko initiated discussions on regularly offering bribes to some members of parliament in exchange for votes, the NABU alleged.

The Ukrainian parliament on Jan. 14 appointed Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister and Denys Shmyhal as energy minister and first deputy prime minister.

The circumstances around the reportedly self-imposed strike were not immediately clear.

Russian Shahed drones carried out the attack leaving 700 buildings without heat across the city, Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council, said.

Ukraine's missile interception rate slid lower in the first two weeks of 2026, as Russia continued its months-long bombing campaign against the country's energy infrastructure. Ukraine's Air Force reported downing 26 of the 73 missiles launched by Russia in the first two weeks of January, according to data compiled by Dragon Capital — an interception rate of 36%. The average monthly rate since October 2022 is 60%. In an overnight attack targeting several cities across Ukraine on Jan 12–13, Ukr

In recent weeks, President Volodymyr Zelensky began actively promoting the idea of holding a referendum and potentially presidential elections immediately after a ceasefire is reached. The goal of these preparations is to convince U.S. President Donald Trump that Ukraine is serious about a potential peace deal. However, there are many obstacles to holding an election and a referendum before the official end of the war. First and foremost, Russia has shown no indication of agreeing to any ceas

The total number of Ukrainian civilians killed or injured in 2025 was 31% higher than in 2024 and 70% higher than in 2023, according to the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

This is Jared Goyette, blogging from a cold, blacked-out apartment in Kyiv on day 1,420 of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Our top stories today: * 'Russia is trying to disconnect Kyiv' — Supermarkets, public transport struggle after yet more strikes on energy infrastructure * Project Nightfall — Everything we know about the UK's ballistic missile program for Ukraine * ‘The situation now is the worst’ — Kyiv’s energy crisis deepens after Russia pounds power grid What we're coverin

Parliament failed to appoint former Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal as the country's next energy minister. The nomination failed to gather enough support, stopping 16 votes short. The energy ministry remains without a head for nearly two months, as Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions are facing a dire energy situation, with Russia targeting the country's critical infrastructure. The parliament convenes on Jan. 13 to vote on a proposed government reshuffle initiated by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine’s prime lithium deposit has been officially awarded to a U.S.-linked group of investors as the country courts U.S. President Donald Trump with business deals amid ongoing peace proposal talks.

A 19th-century novel for a 21st-century war — Why Panteleimon Kulish’s ‘Black Council’ still matters