Monday, January 20
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Ukrainian doctors from the 33rd Brigade care for injured soldiers at a stabilization point near the frontline in the direction of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast Jan. 19, 2025. (Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ukraine producing its own air defense systems, Syrskyi says. “We have the capacities and capabilities to create, and we are working on creating, our own domestic air defense complex,” Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky said on Jan. 19.
Fire, explosions reported near aviation plant, airfield in Russia’s Tatarstan amid drone attack. A fire erupted in the city of Kazan in Russia’s Tatarstan republic overnight on Jan. 20 amid a Ukrainian drone attack on the city, Russian Telegram channels reported.
Ammunition used by Russians halved following Ukrainian strikes, Syrskyi says. “For several months now, the artillery ammunition expenditure rates in the Russian army have practically halved. If previously the figure reached up to 40,000 rounds per day, it is now significantly lower,” Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi said on Jan. 19.
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Lack of medical treatment, problems with unit transfers are most common causes of appeals, new military ombudsman says. Twenty days into her new post as Ukraine’s military rights commissioner, Olha Reshetylova said that she had already received 3,876 appeals.
Slovenia provides Ukraine’s State Emergency Service with specialized demining, transport vehicles. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service announced Jan. 18 that it received three specialized demining vehicles from Slovenia.
Zelensky slaps sanctions on Ukraine’s top pro-Russian politicians. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree imposing new sanctions on Ukraine’s top pro-Russian politicians, he announced on Jan. 19.
Ukraine’s General Staff launches investigation into 156th Brigade. Recent inspections of the 156th Brigade revealed “a number of significant shortcomings,” the military said. Solutions include replacing the brigade’s leadership, appointing a commander with practical combat and command experience, and transferring combat-tested officers and sergeants into the unit.
Human cost of war
Zelensky, first lady visit wounded soldiers, pledge to address accessibility issues. “Every front is important, and you served on the most challenging ones. You are our heroes, and we are deeply grateful to each of you,” the president said.
150,000 Russian soldiers killed fighting Ukraine in 2024, Syrskyi says. Russian forces suffered their heaviest losses last year since the start of the full-scale war, with total military losses reaching 434,000 soldiers, including approximately 150,000 killed in combat during 2024, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a Jan. 19 interview with the Ukrainian news outlet TSN.
Opinions and insights
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine hits 2 oil depots in Russia overnight; Zelensky sanctions top pro-Russian politicians
Ukrainian forces attacked oil depots in Russia’s Tula and Kaluga oblasts overnight on Jan. 18, according to the General Staff and the Kyiv Independent’s source in Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR).
Photo: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images
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As Trump about to take office, Ukraine awaits America’s next moves
As U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office on Jan. 20, Ukraine’s fate hangs in the balance.
Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
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International response
Officials believe Baltic Sea cable damage caused by accidents, not Russian sabotage, WP reports. Amid a series of incidents that have damaged critical cables in the Baltic Sea, intelligence services in the U.S. and Europe are increasingly convinced that accidents led to the incidents, according to a new report by the Washington Post on Jan. 19.
Syria bans goods from Russia, Iran, Israel. Syria’s new administration has banned all Russian, Iranian, and Israeli goods from entering the country in a new decree issued by the country’s Minister of Finance on Jan. 17.
Fico accuses Slovak opposition leader of ‘kissing Zelensky’s ring.’ Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused opposition leader Michal Simecka of “kissing Zelensky’s ring” during his recent visit to Kyiv and said the pro-Western MP wanted to stage a coup d’etat in Bratislava.
Trump’s return and North Korean POWs | Ukraine This Week
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