Canada to allocate $305 million in military assistance to Ukraine
The announcement includes $138 million (CAD $200 million) allocated to Czechia’s initiative for procuring and delivering large-calibre ammunition to Ukraine.
Ukraine
Trump revises Ukraine peace timeline, FT reports
"The whole [Trump] team is obsessed with strength and looking strong, so they’re recalibrating the Ukraine approach," one European official told the Financial Times.
‘He’s mine’ – How Ukraine's ace drone unit hunts Russian soldiers near Kupiansk
Editor’s note: This story contains scenes and images that some readers might find disturbing. In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. KUPIANSK AREA, Kharkiv Oblast – Snow, sleet, fog, the lot; when the weather
Russia’s gas sector is running out of options after end of transit deal
Ukraine’s decision to end the gas transit deal with Russian energy giant Gazprom has been hailed by President Volodymyr Zelensky as one of Moscow’s biggest defeats. "When (Russian President) Vladimir Putin was handed power in Russia over 25 years ago, the annual gas pumping through Ukraine to Europe
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.
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 8
Editor’s note: This is issue 8 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from Jan. 1–5, 2025. This newsletter was until recently titled “Ukrainian Economy in Brief." The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
North Korea gains combat experience fighting in Ukraine, boosting regional threat, US warns
North Korea "is significantly benefiting from receiving Russian military equipment, technology, and experience, rendering it more capable of waging war against its neighbors," the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said on Jan. 8.
NATO membership is Ukraine’s best security guarantee, Finland's FM tells Reuters
"We are supporting Ukraine's NATO membership further down the line and hopefully not in (the) too-distant future," Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on Jan. 8.
Russia doesn't have as many advantages as it seems, US defense secretary says
"There's a thought that Russia has the ultimate hand here and it has every advantage," outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Bloomberg News. "It has some advantages, but it doesn't completely dominate this equation here."
Ukraine to help Moldova amid worsening energy crisis
"An important task now is to help Moldova overcome its energy challenges and prevent Moscow from stirring up social tensions. ... We are ready to help," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 8.
Trump wants to end war in 100 days, incoming peace envoy tells Fox News
"People need to understand, he's not trying to give something to Putin or to the Russians, he's actually trying to save Ukraine and save their sovereignty," Trump's peace envoy Keith Kellogg said on Jan. 8.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian oil depot, command post; Moscow bombs civilians in Zaporizhzhia
Key developments on Jan. 8: * Ukraine strikes Russian oil depot supplying fuel to Engels-2 airbase, military confirms * Ukraine strikes Russian command post in Donetsk Oblast, military reports * Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia industrial site kills 13, injures at least 63 * French-trained brigade had 'systematic shortcomings,' Ukraine's top general reports to
Why did Russia invade Ukraine? Despite Trump's claims, it wasn't because of NATO
President-elect Donald Trump blamed outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden on Jan. 7 for Russia's all-out war against Ukraine. Trump said Biden's support of Ukraine's NATO membership had led to Russia's war against the country. "I could understand their feelings," he said, referring to the country that launched the deadliest
Biden’s final $500 million Ukraine military aid to be announced on Jan. 9, VOA reports
Despite previous commitments to exhaust the remaining PDA funds, approximately $3.8 billion will remain unused, according to the Pentagon, leaving the funds at the disposal of the incoming administration.
Hungary's FM condemns Ukraine’s bill to suspend Russian energy transit, says his country will block Kyiv's EU accession
Ukraine had already decided not to renew its gas transit deal with Russia beyond Dec. 31, 2024, but continues to allow Russian oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline under a contract valid until the end of 2029.
Garry Kasparov: 'You never hear Russian opposition actually say Ukraine must win'
The Russian opposition is an odd bunch. While not supporting Russia's brutal all-out war against Ukraine and its people, the leaders of the so-called opposition don't want their country to lose. A number of those who oppose Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime have petitioned for the West to
Zelensky addresses Trump’s comments on NATO, stresses security guarantees
The Ukrainian president argued that the absence of NATO membership and concrete security guarantees contributed to Russia’s decision to launch the full-scale invasion.
As Russian losses in Ukraine mount, Putin faces ‘devastating’ demographic timebomb
Russian losses in Ukraine are helping fuel a demographic timebomb that could see the country’s population reduced by half by the end of the century, experts have told the Kyiv Independent. “The impact on Russian society is devastating,” said Harley Balzer, emeritus professor of government and international affairs at
UPDATE: Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia industrial site kills 13, injures 122
The attack killed 13 people and injured 122, including a child, according to State Emergency Service. Search and rescue operations have now been completed.
(Updated: )
