Ukraine war latest: Khartiia Brigade raises flag over Kupiansk city council building, releases video
Hello, this is Asami Terajima reporting from Kyiv on day 1,419 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Today's top story:
Ukraine's Khartiia Brigade on Jan. 12 said it had recaptured the city council building in Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, and flown the country's flag from its roof.
A video accompanying the announcement on social media shows intense street fighting as the unit makes its way into the building.
"The Kupiansk operation proves that thanks to planning, training of commanders and headquarters, and high-quality training of units – everything that we call the Khartiia method – the enemy can be successfully stopped and destroyed," comments Colonel Igor Obolensky, commander of the 2nd Corps of Khartiia, said.
The report comes as Russia tries to push across the front by launching heavy offensive operations on multiple axes, including in the Kupiansk sector, to recapture the city it lost to a 2022 Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Russian troops are attempting to close in on Kupiansk from the north and east, aiming to solidify their presence on the western side of the Oskil River.
Soldiers of the Reconnaissance and Strike Group (R.U.G.) of the 4th Battalion of the Charter Brigade have raised the national flag of Ukraine over the city hall building in the center of Kupyansk.
Russia intensifies push on Chasiv Yar, Ukrainian military says
Russian troops are intensifying their offensive on Chasiv Yar, seeking to build up forces and deploying a range of weapons, including multiple launch rocket systems, the Ukrainian military reported on Jan. 12.
Securing a firmer grip on the hilly town in eastern Donetsk Oblast would allow Russian troops to intensify pressure on nearby Ukrainian-controlled cities and towns, such as Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk, by leveraging the higher ground.
Since capturing Bakhmut in May 2023, Russian troops have inched toward Chasiv Yar by first capturing its surrounding villages and then slowly entering the town. Russia claimed it captured Chasiv Yar in July 2025, a claim Kyiv has denied as "propaganda."
The 24th Mechanized Brigade manning the Chasiv Yar defense reported killing 62 Russian troops and wounding 24 others, as well as downing 425 drones and destroying two artillery systems, two ground drones, six vehicles, 13 communication antennas, and three electronic warfare systems over the past week.
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the 24th brigade's claim.
Russian drones attack 2 civilian ships, injuring one crew member, official says
Russian drones attacked two civilian ships, injuring one crew member, Oleksii Kuleba, deputy prime minister for the restoration of Ukraine, reported on Jan. 12.
One of the Russian drone attacks struck a Panamanian-flagged tanker that was waiting to load vegetable oil, injuring the crew member, Kuleba said. He said that maritime rescue services are working on the site, extinguishing the fire and providing medical assistance to the injured.
Kuleba said that another Russian drone attack hit a ship flying the San Marino flag. He said that the ship was departing the port with a cargo of corn. He added that no casualties had been reported and that the ship continues on its journey.
Kuleba has not specified the exact location or time of either attack.
"This is further proof that Russia is deliberately attacking civilian ships, international trade, and maritime safety," Kuleba said in a Telegram post.
"Despite constant terror from the aggressor, Ukraine continues to operate its ports and fulfill its international obligations."
Russia ramps up infiltration efforts in northern part of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian military says
Russian troops are ramping up their efforts to infiltrate the northern part of Pokrovsk, located above the city's railway, the 7th Rapid Response Corps said on Jan. 12.
The 7th Corps said its troops are halting the infiltration efforts with drones and artillery.
The report comes as Russia clinches to complete the capture of Pokrovsk, a key highway and railway hub in eastern Donetsk Oblast. In a fierce battle that has raged on for more than a year, Ukraine is trying to hold on to the last remaining grounds of Pokrovsk before withdrawing.
The cold weather is making the battle harder for both sides, but warm clothing and individual heating devices have been delivered to the front-line troops, according to the 7th Corps.
The logistics into the Ukrainian positions in the Pokrovsk sector remain complicated, with heavy drones and ground robotic systems being used to supply troops on the front, the 7th Corps said.
Ukraine to receive five German Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles soon
Ukraine is expected to receive five German Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles as early as the beginning of 2026, Germany's defense giant Rheinmetall announced on Jan. 12.
The contract for the first batch of the Lynx KF41, hailed by Rheinmetall as
the most advanced infantry fighting vehicle worldwide" for its mobility and massive firepower, was signed in December 2025, according to Rheinmetall's press release.
Rheinmetall said that the German government financed the cost of transferring the vehicles to Ukraine, which is "in the mid double-digit million euro range."
"We are grateful for the trust that Ukraine has placed in us," the press release cited Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, as saying.
The fighting vehicles would be equipped with a two-man Lance turret and built specifically for Ukraine's Armed Forces, according to Rheinmetall. It said that work is underway to procure more batches, which may include potentially producing the vehicles in Ukraine.
At least 2 killed, 6 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least two people have been killed and six others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities said on Jan. 12.
The Air Force reported on Jan. 12 that Russia attacked Ukraine with 156 drones overnight, of which about 110 were Shahed-type. Ukraine downed 135 of the drones, according to the report.
In southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian attacks killed one person and injured four others over the past day, regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported on Jan. 12.
In central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 59-year-old man was wounded by a Russian attack overnight, regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha reported on Jan. 12.
In southern Kherson Oblast, a person was killed by a Russian attack over the past day, regional governor Oleksandr Prokrudin reported on Jan. 12.
In southern Odesa Oblast, two people were injured by Russian attacks over the past day, regional governor Oleh Kiper reported on Jan. 12.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,220,000 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost around 1,220,000 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. 12.
The number includes 1,060 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,541 tanks, 23,892 armored fighting vehicles, 73,742 vehicles and fuel tanks, 35,973 artillery systems, 1,598 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,270 air defense systems, 434 airplanes, 347 helicopters, 104,421 drones, 28 ships and boats, and two submarines.
