Exclusives
 |
Hellfire missiles rain death from above — in Ukraine, they defend skies from Shaheds. Missiles mounted on an off-the-shelf vehicle that can shoot and scoot |
 |
Kyivstar starts 5G pilot as Ukraine hardens networks for war and recovery. Borodyanka, flattened by Russia in 2022, is next in line. |
 |
Kyiv misses its deadline as Zhytomyr shows how to outlast Russian strikes. The capital missed its December deadline for cogeneration units, while a smaller city built the grid that Russia can't destroy. |
 |
Slovakia's pro-Russian leadership halts all military aid to Ukraine, including weapons and EU loans. President, Prime Minister, and Parliament Speaker confirmed that Slovakia has closed the door on military assistance to Ukraine—including weapons, personnel, and financial guarantees—two years after Bratislava transferred its sole S-300 air defense division to Kyiv |
Military
Russia isn't stopping plans for buffer zone: Moscow troops push toward Sumy city through Khotin. "Buffer zone" means ruins. No electricity. No gas. Destroyed life.
Russia's war equals Nazi-Soviet war length — 1,418 days. But this time Ukraine has no anti-Hitler coalition on ground. History repeating in the same places: Zelenskyy on fighting in Donbas and Zaporizhzhia after 1,418 days of war.
Intelligence and technology
"Cheaper and more effective": Norway plans to integrate Ukrainian-made components into its air defense weapons. Norway also announces $400 million support package.
Downed drone = safe? Not anymore. Russia booby-traps Starlink terminals for its drones with backup explosives. Russia has established a supply chain for Starlink terminals through documentation fraud, parallel imports.
Ukraine to receive German Lynx KF41 combat vehicles in multi-million euro deal. Rheinmetall signed a double-digit million euro contract with Ukraine in December 2025 to deliver Lynx KF41 combat vehicles equipped with Lance turrets, marking what CEO Armin Papperger called "a fundamental success" in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities.
UK launches $33.2 mn competition to build 500km-range missiles for Ukraine by March 2027. Three firms will get $11M each to deliver prototypes within 12 months. Target: 10 missiles/month at ~$1M per unit. Contracts awarded March 2026.
Poland to transfer MiG-29s to Ukraine in February after drone tech talks conclude. Ukraine and Poland are negotiating a military technology exchange that pairs Polish MiG-29 fighters with Ukrainian drone and missile production expertise, according to former Polish Defense Minister Janusz Onyszkiewicz
UK has 140 Challenger 2 tanks with no clear future as Ukraine needs armor. While some are being upgraded, many remain in limbo with options like scrapping, storage, or possible donation.
Ukrainian soldiers: "What if we use fishing rod?" Two Russian drones later: It worked. Fishing rod method avoids "pulled down with target" problem of earlier tactics.
International
Rutte: Russia launched Oreshnik to force NATO into abandoning Ukraine, but it won't happen. Security of Ukraine is security of the Alliance, he said.
Trump admits US "makes money" from Ukraine war, won't promise to defend Kyiv if Russia attacks again. "Zelensky has only one thing. Donald Trump."
Norway gives Ukraine $400M for energy and teacher, doctor salaries.
"Zelenskyy's only card is me" — Trump claims Ukraine has no leverage without US president. "If he doesn't have Donald Trump, that thing would have been a total disaster, and he knows it," US President Donald Trump said about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with The New York Times.
Graham urges Trump to "kill the leadership" as Iran protests claim 500 lives. President weighs military options, says Iran's leaders called to negotiate
Pope Leo calls for end to violence as Ukraine faces attacks on power infrastructure during harsh weather. Pope Francis called for an end to violence in Ukraine during his January 11 Angelus address, citing severe attacks on energy infrastructure that are harming civilians as temperatures drop, though he did not identify Russia as responsible for the strikes.
Humanitarian and social impact
Kyiv's apartment pipes burst after Russian strike, hundreds of civilians to be left without heating entire winter. Zelenskyy: Russia preparing another massive strike to "exploit the cold" in coming days.
Ukrainian tennis star Kostyuk uses trophy speech to describe conditions at home: -20°C, no power, no heat. Brisbane finalist speaks while millions in Kyiv shiver through Russia's energy terror campaign
Russia launches 156-drone attack: Kyiv fire, Odesa blackouts, Zhytomyr trains halted. The attack set a building ablaze in Kyiv, knocked out power in Odesa where two people were injured, and damaged railway infrastructure in Zhytomyr Oblast.
President calls for European missile deliveries as Russia launches over 2,000 strikes in one week. Ukraine has scheduled a meeting to address air defense requirements after Russia deployed nearly 1,100 attack drones and more than 890 guided aerial bombs against the country this week
Political and legal developments
Ukrainian Spiderweb operation architect's removal heads to parliament without support, but 226 votes are also unlikely. Maliuk's removal will likely face uphill battle in parliament.
Kyiv teen stabbed teacher after "messaging foreign intelligence" and wearing "Hitler Kaput" T-shirt, echoing Kremlin narratives on Nazism in Ukraine. Prosecutors reveal what was on teenager's phone.
Gas station in Sumy caught stealing gas worth $1.2 mn across two oblasts. A gas filling compressor station in Sumy has been caught stealing natural gas across two Ukrainian regions, with authorities imposing $1.2 mn in fines after discovering unauthorized meter tampering and illegal network connections
Read our earlier daily review here.
