Friday, January 10

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A man stands in the rubble of a private home after a Russian bomb attack on Jan. 9 in Kherson, Ukraine. According to Roman Mrochko, head of the Kherson City Military Administration, the Russian army released three guided aerial bombs. (Hryhorii Shmatko / Suspilne Ukraine / JSC “UA:PBC” / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

‘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.

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.

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.

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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.

Zelensky, NATO chief discuss air defense, arms production at Ramstein meeting. Zelensky emphasized involving NATO members in purchasing Ukrainian weapons under a model pioneered by Denmark. The Danish government became the first country to offer to donate arms to Ukraine via direct purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry, as Kyiv’s defense budget does not match the capacities of domestic weapons production.

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.

Read our exclusives

How Ukraine’s ace drone unit hunts Russian soldiers near Kupiansk

According to the brigade, Russian troops initially tried to demine the approaches to Ukrainian positions and attacked in six waves. Russia deployed “a huge number of soldiers,” with Ukrainian forces killing 45 troops and injuring 53.

Photo: Aria Shahrokhshahi / The Kyiv Independent

Russia’s gas sector is running out of options after end of transit deal

Moscow and Kyiv signed the agreement in 2019 to transit 40 billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually through Ukraine to buyers in the EU. Gazprom raked in an estimated $5–$6.5 billion annually from the deal with Ukraine.

Photo: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine’s 47th Brigade releases video of Russian attack repelled in Kursk Oblast

Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade said on Jan. 9 that it had, together with other units, repelled a “massive” Russian assault in the embattled Kursk Oblast, releasing footage of the engagement.

Photo: Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade / Telegram

Human cost of war

4,000 North Korean troops killed or wounded fighting against Ukraine, Zelensky claims. “Putin is not just maintaining his investment in aggression. He’s doubling down. He’s even started hiring soldiers from North Korea to keep this war going,” Zelensky said.

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.

International response

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.

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.

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.

EU ready to lead in Ukraine support if US steps back, chief diplomat says. “If the United States is not ready for it, the European Union is ready to take the lead,” Kallas said.

Slovak PM threatens Ukraine with aid cuts over halted Russian gas transit. Fico said that Slovakia could halt its humanitarian aid to Ukraine, cut or cancel social benefits for Ukrainian refugees, and cease emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. He also suggested using veto power over EU decisions as leverage against Kyiv.

In other news

Ukraine offers defense industry jobs, draft exemptions for citizens abroad, minister says. “We have a shortage of professionals, and Ukraine is ready to exempt most of them from military service,” National Unity Minister Oleksii Chernyshov said.

Russia paid Taliban $200,000 per killed US, coalition soldier, media investigation says. The joint media investigation sheds fresh details on reports of Russia-sponsored killings of U.S. soldiers that first surfaced in 2020, including names of Russian intelligence officers and their local collaborators involved.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Kateryna Hodunova,  Kateryna Denisova, Oleg Sukhov, Tymur Zadorozhnyy, Abbey Fenbert, and Olena Goncharova.

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