Russia claims to occupy 2 more villages in Ukraine's east; Kyiv hasn't confirmed
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Jan. 12 that its forces had captured the village of Yantarne in Donetsk Oblast and Kalynove in Kharkiv Oblast.
Ukraine
The question isn't if China will turn on Russia, but when
Like Czar Nicholas II, Russian President Vladimir Putin has misidentified his primary foe. Fighting a war of choice, he allows the real menace to his country to gather strength. China, not Ukraine, constitutes Russia’s existential threat. In the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05), Nicholas fought Japan over Manchuria for concessions that
Ukraine's special forces claim to repel North Korean assault in Russia's Kursk Oblast, killing 17 soldiers
A Ukrainian mopping-up group encountered one surviving North Korean fighter who had set an unsuccessful trap. The soldier attempted to mislead the Ukrainian soldiers and then detonated a grenade to avoid capture, fatally injuring himself, according to the Special Operations Forces.
Biden team preparing strong Ukraine policy foundation for Trump handover, Blinken says
According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, there is no sense in "speculating on the point" that the war may not end in Ukraine's favor under the new administration.
Lithuania to deliver 4,500 drones to Ukraine this week
Sakaliene's statement came shortly after the Lithuanian broadcaster LRT reported that thousands of drones, which were to be delivered to Ukraine several months ago, are still in Lithuanian warehouses as their delivery is delayed by bureaucratic obstacles.
Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 1, injure 17 over past day
Russian forces launched 110 drones at Ukraine overnight from the directions of Millerovo, Bryansk, Orel, and Primosk-Akhtarsk in Russia, according to Ukraine's Air Force.
General Staff: Russia has lost 809,760 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,510 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
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.
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.
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