Ukraine war latest: Russia tops global ranking for internet shutdowns in 2025, Top10VPN reported
Hello, this is Tania Myronyshena reporting on day 1,416 of Russia's full-scale invasion from Kyiv — a city shaken by a massive overnight Russian attack and now struggling without heat and power.
Today's top story so far:
Russia ranked first worldwide for internet censorship and shutdowns in 2025, according to Top10VPN’s report by Top10VPN, an independent digital privacy and VPN comparison platform tracking global internet disruptions.
Russia began mass internet shutdowns in May 2025 under the pretext of protection from Ukrainian attacks, but experts cited in the report say the real aim is to systematically restrict access to independent information.
The country recorded a total of 37,166 hours of internet disruptions over the year, making it the largest contributor to global connectivity blackouts, according to the report.
Top10VPN documented 212 major government-imposed internet outages across 28 countries in 2025 — the highest number ever recorded in a single year. These disruptions caused an estimated $19.7 billion in global economic losses, a 156% increase compared to 2024.
Russia accounted for more than half of the total global economic impact, with losses estimated at $11.9 billion. The report attributed this to 57 separate shutdowns, driven by a sustained wave of disruptions that began in May.
Unlike shorter, event-driven outages seen in other countries, Russia's shutdowns were described as systemic and technically sophisticated.
The report cites Russia's handling of WhatsApp as a key example of this approach. Instead of an immediate nationwide ban, authorities gradually degraded the platform's functionality throughout 2025 — selectively restricting calls and video features before rendering the service largely unusable for many users by the end of the year.
Researchers cited in the report say this phased strategy allowed officials to mask censorship as technical regulation while quietly driving users off the platform.
Top10VPN said it tracks internet shutdowns to highlight their economic and human costs, as well as the risks posed when users turn to unsafe VPN services to bypass restrictions.
Key Ukrainian lithium project awarded to investment group tied to Trump, NYT reports
Last updated 7:20 p.m. Kyiv time.
Ukraine’s government has awarded the bid to a group of investors to mine one of the country's most promising lithium deposits following a tender for a production-sharing agreement launched in the summer, The New York Times reported Jan. 8, citing two Ukrainian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Ukraine’s government still needs to sign the agreement, but the two officials told the NYT that the decision has essentially been made by a government commission.
The consortium of investors awarded the bid includes TechMet, a mining company backed by the U.S. government, and billionaire Ronald S. Lauder, a close associate of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Since Trump took office, Kyiv has positioned its natural resources as enticing investment opportunities to American businesses, in a bid to maintain Trump's support. This includes the minerals deal, a 2025 agreement that gave preferential access to U.S. investors through a U.S.-Ukraine reconstruction fund, which was jointly developed with the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. (DFC).
Russia hits 2 civilian vessels near Odesa, 1 crew member killed, officials say
Last updated 7:18 p.m. Kyiv time.
Russia carried out another attack on civilian shipping, striking two foreign-flagged vessels near Ukrainian ports, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said on Jan. 9.
According to Kuleba, a Russian attack drone hit a civilian vessel sailing under the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis while it was on its way to the port of Chornomorsk to load grain via Ukraine's maritime corridor. Preliminary reports indicate crew members were injured.
"The vessel's seaworthiness was not compromised, and it remains operational, heading toward the nearest port," Kuleba said on Facebook.
Another civilian ship, sailing under the Comoros flag and carrying soybeans, was also struck near Odesa. One crew member, a Syrian citizen, was killed in the attack.
"This is another act of terror against civilian shipping," Kuleba said, adding that Russia is deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, international maritime traffic, and food logistics.
Nearly 6,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv without heat following massive Russian strike
Last updated 5:11 p.m. Kyiv time.
Around 6,000 apartment buildings are currently without heat after a massive Russian missile and drone strike severely damaged the capital's critical infrastructure overnight, local authorities reported on Jan. 9.
The blackout comes amid subzero temperatures, with freezing weather expected to persist in the coming days, complicating emergency repair efforts.
"We're doing everything we can to restore services as fast as possible. But last night's combined attack on Kyiv caused the most serious damage to the capital's critical infrastructure to date," Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.
The city is also facing interruptions to its water supply.
Utility workers and energy specialists have restored heat to key social facilities, including hospitals and maternity wards, using mobile boiler stations. Repairs are ongoing to bring back electricity and central heating to residential neighborhoods.
Klitschko called on residents, if possible, to leave the city.
"If you have the possibility to temporarily leave the city for a place with alternative heating and power sources, please do so," Klitchko said.
Russia hits hospital in Kherson, three medics injured
Last updated 4:13 p.m. Kyiv time.
Russian forces struck the grounds of a hospital in the Dniprovskyi District of Kherson on Jan. 9, injuring three medical workers, local authorities reported.
A video shared by Shanko shows damage after the strike pierced the wall of one of the hospital's departments.
The injured women, aged 52, 49, and 21, sustained concussions and blast injuries. All are receiving necessary medical assistance, officials said.
Oreshnik IRBM missile used in strike on Ukraine's Lviv, Russia says
Last updated 2:51 p.m. Kyiv time.
Russia fired its new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile at the western Ukrainian city of Lviv overnight on Jan. 9, the Russian Defense Ministry said, calling the attack "retaliation" for an attempted Ukrainian drone strike on one of President Vladimir Putin's residences, a claim Kyiv has denied.
The Oreshnik is a Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile touted as a new, hard-to-intercept system designed to carry nuclear weapons. The missile used in the attack on Lviv, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Polish border, was not equipped with nuclear warheads.
At around midnight in Lviv, Kyiv Independent reporters on the ground reported hearing a quick sequence of about four to five explosions. The air raid alert was on, but there was no warning of an incoming drone or missile in the region.
Ukraine’s Air Force did not name the weapon as Oreshnik but reported that Russia launched one "medium-range ballistic missile" from the Kapustin Yar test site in Russia’s Astrakhan region as part of the attack.
In response to the strike, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced that Ukraine would initiate an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, as well as a session of the Ukraine–NATO Council. Additional consultations are also planned within the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE.
At least 9 killed, 57 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least eight people have been killed and 57 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on Jan. 9.
Russia launched 36 missiles and 242 drones at Ukraine overnight in its mass combined attack on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, the Air Force reported. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 244 air targets. Eighteen missiles and sixteen drones made it through, striking 19 locations.
The main axis of the attack was Kyiv Oblast, according to officials. One of the missiles used in the assault was a medium-range ballistic missile that struck Lviv Oblast. Russia later claimed it was the "Oreshnik," first used in Ukraine in late 2024.
Ukraine's Energy Ministry reported significant damage to power transmission infrastructure, including substations, power lines, and generation facilities, following the overnight Russian attacks. Over 500,000 consumers in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast were left without power.
In Kyiv Oblast, Kyiv was hit hardest in the mass attack, with 5 people killed and 22 injured, local authorities reported. Among the dead is a 56-year-old emergency medic Serhii Smoliyk. The attack also injured first responders, medics, and a police officer.
Damage was reported at 29 locations, including around 50 residential buildings, four educational institutions, 18 vehicles, and more than 1,000 shattered windows. There are ongoing issues with heating, electricity, and water supply in affected areas.
In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks killed three people and injured 10 others, including two children, in the last day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Critical infrastructure and residential areas were damaged, including three apartment buildings and nine private homes.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the city of Kryvyi Rih was hit hardest, with one person killed and 23 others injured as a result of the attacks overnight, local authorities reported.
In Donetsk Oblast, one person was injured as a result of Russian attacks over the past day, local authorities reported.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 62-year-old man was injured due to Russian attacks overnight, local authorities reported.
General Staff: Russia has lost around 1,216,930 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost about 1,216,930 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Jan. 9
The number includes 1,030 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,526 tanks, 23,882 armored combat vehicles, 73,426 vehicles and fuel tanks, 35,892 artillery systems, 1,596 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,269 air defense systems, 434 airplanes, 347 helicopters, 102,761 drones, 28 ships and boats, and two submarines.
