Scholz blocks proposal for $3 billion arms package for Ukraine, Spiegel reports
The initiative reportedly included the provision weapons including three additional Iris-T air defense batteries, 10 howitzers, and more artillery ammunition.
Ukraine
Ukrainian Neptune missile hits Russian drone warehouse in Rostov Oblast, SBU source claims
Ukrainian drones "overloaded" Russian air defenses, with a Neptune missile hitting the site shortly after, an SBU source told the Kyiv Independent.
EU provides Ukraine with $3 billion, first tranche of loans from bloc backed by Russian frozen assets
"This is the first tranche of funds from the European Union, secured through income from frozen Russian assets," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
Russian elite 'disappointed' about Putin's handling of war in Ukraine, Meduza reports
Citing ten Russian officials, Meduza said the state of the country's economy was a particular "point of tension."
Citing Russia's war in Ukraine, Norway plans to resume construction of civilian bomb shelters
No bomb shelters have been built in Norway since 1998.
Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 3, injure 19 over past day
Russian forces launched 72 drones at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.
Ukrainian drones reportedly hit industrial site near St. Petersburg in attack on multiple Russian oblasts
Russian air defense forces reportedly intercepted 40 Ukrainian drones throughout the night, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed.
General Staff: Russia has lost 804,930 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,830 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Kyiv calls Polish presidential candidate 'manipulative' for comments on Ukraine's EU, NATO accession
"Such statements indicate that the Polish politician prioritizes short-term political considerations over the strategic security interests of his own country," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.
Norway allocates over $2 billion in military aid for Ukraine in 2025, Umerov says
The defense minister met with his Norwegian counterpart on the sidelines of the Ramstein summit on Jan. 9. According to Umerov, the 2025 assistance to Ukraine will mark the largest military aid package in Norway's history.
Russia's deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine signals Putin's desperation, Austin says
Russia has endured over 700,000 casualties since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022—more than in all of Moscow’s conflicts since World War II combined, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Jan. 9.
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.
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 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."
(Updated: )
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