Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 01-09-2025

An elite Ukrainian brigade armed with US-made tanks and infantry fighting vehicles may be using rope-a-dope tactics to trigger Russian attacks.

Russian armored columns and North Korean infantry have launched counterattacks against Ukrainian defenses at the northern tip of a salient carved out inside the Russian Federation, in the wake of a recent lurch by Kyiv’s troops a little closer to Moscow, official statement and battle reports said on Thursday.

Ukraine, in August, invaded its giant northern neighbor Russia to carve out a Luxembourg-sized chunk of Russian territory in Russia’s Kursk region.

History suggests that Putin’s regime is skating on thin ice, leading military analyst and Special Correspondent for the Kyiv Post, Chuck Pfarrer said.

Zelensky called for allies’ support to force Russia into peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said Donald Trump’s return to the White House would open “a new chapter” and reiterated a call for Western allies to send troops to help “force Russia to peace.” 

Zelensky spoke at a meeting of about 50 allies at the US air base Ramstein in Germany, the last such gathering before Trump takes office on Jan. 20, casting doubt on future American support for Kyiv.

Ukrainian forces dealt a severe blow to Russian troops near Kursk, halting a multi-wave assault and inflicting heavy losses in personnel and equipment worth millions.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully repelled a massive assault by Russian forces in the Kursk region, dealing a significant blow to Kremlin forces according to a report by the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura” on Jan. 9, in which it shared footage of the intense battle.

Kyiv Post could not independently verify the video’s time and location, which shows several Russian vehicles being struck during the engagement.

Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan stated that her husband, Tigran Keosayan, experienced clinical death and is in a coma. Rumors link it to a Ukraine intel operation.

Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the Russian propaganda media outlet Russia Today (RT), that her husband, Tigran Keosayan, suffered clinical death and is now in a coma.

“I didn’t want to say anything, but since reporters have started calling, I’ll write it myself. My husband, Tigran Keosayan, suffered clinical death and is in a coma. As many know, he has had severe heart problems for a very long time,” she wrote in a Jan. 8 Telegram post.

Open-source satellite and social media images show at least four of the Russian air defense systems standing at the port of Tartus as Moscow’s evacuation from Syria stalls.

Unofficial sources say that four Russian S-400 air defense transport erector launchers (TELs) have been moved to the Syrian port of Tartus, apparently waiting for evacuation.

The four TELs are probably from the consignment of six S-400 systems that were delivered to protect the Khmeimim Air Base in southern Syria several years ago. If so, their withdrawal indicates that rather than retaining equipment in country Russia is repositioning it within the region or elsewhere.

Austin said it’s important to consider this aspect in any potential ceasefire negotiations that could be undertaken by the incoming administration of Donald Trump.

Outgoing US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that while Russia has a certain upper hand in the war in Ukraine, it does not completely dominate the battlefield.

Speaking to Bloomberg on Jan. 8, ahead of a Ukraine contact group meeting at the US Ramstein base in Germany, Austin said Russia is still facing a growing number of challenges on the front line and beyond – and that sanctions are also making a difference.

Kallas said that it’s too early to speculate about future US support, adding that it “is not in the interest of America that Russia will be the strongest force in the world”.

The EU’s foreign policy chief on Thursday said that she hopes the United States will keep supporting Ukraine after president-elect Donald Trump takes office and that if not, the EU was ready to take the lead.

“I’m really sure that all the other members, and hopefully also the United States, are ready to continue with the support to Ukraine,” Kaja Kallas said as she headed to a meeting of countries supporting Ukraine at a US base in Germany.

On Jan. 1, Poland assumed the six-month presidency of the EU Council from Hungary. Among its goals are the consolidation of EU member states in response to risks posed by Russia.

During Hungary’s presidency, Viktor Orbán did not hide his pro-Russian policies. The extension of sanctions against the aggressor and further assistance to Ukraine were blocked, significantly undermining the cohesion of Brussels’ policy.

Among the many well-known and often controversial moves by Orbán and his administration, one can also see the formation of a new coalition, “Patriots for Europe,” in the European Parliament, as well as an attempt to implement a European version of MAGA – Make Europe Great Again. Approximately 12 years after Viktor Yanukovych reneged on Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the EU, which was to be signed in Vilnius, Poland began its presidency.

Yerevan is the latest former Soviet capital to signal a desire to move closer to the West and to loosen its ties with Moscow after a petition asking to join the EU received almost 60,000 signatures.

After a Cabinet meeting on Thursday the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that his government has approved to prepare a bill that will mark the beginning of accession to the European Union, according to reports in the local media.

Under Armenian law a petition that garners at least 50,000 signatures must become the subject of a parliamentary debate. The country’s Central Electoral Commission confirmed on Dec. 10 that a petition demanding the country should seek membership of the EU had reached the legal threshold. under which parliament must debate the proposal.

Kyiv said it would happily “fill any vacant space” in the Western-aligned blocs.

Ukrainian officials have suggested that the country is “ready to replace” Hungary in NATO and the EU if Budapest turns its back on the West.

Kyiv’s foreign ministry said—possibly with tongue in cheek—that it would happily “fill any vacant space” in the Western-aligned blocs, as Hungary keeps pursuing pro-Russian policies under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Critics worry about the criminalization of legitimate activities and freedom of speech.

The Czech Senate is set to debate a new anti-spy law aimed at combating foreign espionage, mainly from Russia, but some fear it could limit freedom of speech.

Author of the amendment, MP Martin Exner (STAN, EPP), wrote on X that the law is necessary as Russian and other hostile intelligence services are carrying out increasingly large-scale sabotage and hostile operations against people, infrastructure, and buildings.

The Ukrainian government encourages businesses to establish industrial parks to refocus the economy on the production of value-added goods.

Ukraine’s government gave the green light to set up an industrial park in Kyiv region and believes it will create 1,500 new jobs, attracting more than Hr.1 billion ($23.7 million) investments.

The new facility marks a hundredth industrial park in the country, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at the government meeting on Jan. 7. 

Cut off from decades of virtually free energy from Moscow, authorities have been forced to shut factories, close schools and encourage locals to collect firewood to heat their stoves.

Residents in the Moldovan region of Transnistria are facing a frosty start to 2025 -- with no heating, no hot water and widespread electricity shortages after Russia halted gas supplies to the separatist republic.

Cut off from decades of virtually free energy from Moscow, authorities have been forced to shut factories, close schools and encourage locals to collect firewood to heat their stoves.

The world in focus, as seen by a Canadian leading global affairs analyst, writer and speaker, in his review of international media.

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was held by Tehran police for almost three weeks for her “journalistic activities,” has been released and is headed home. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced in a post on X that Sala, who was detained on December 19, was on a plane to Italy on January 8. “Thanks to intense work on diplomatic and intelligence channels, our compatriot has been released by the Iranian authorities and is returning to Italy,” Meloni said. The 29-year-old, who has a podcast called Stories that covers life in places around the world, was held for over a week before Iranian authorities confirmed her detention. No details of the charges were made public, but they came after Sala posted a podcast from Tehran on December 17 about patriarchy in the Iranian capital. Three days before Sala’s detention, Mohammad Abedini, an Iranian-Swiss businessman who is wanted by the United States for his alleged involvement in a deadly drone attack on an American base in Jordan, was arrested in Milan, Italy. Iran called Abedini’s arrest “illegal” and subsequently summoned the Italian ambassador to Tehran over the issue. - RFE/RL

Wind-fueled wildfires continued to grow Wednesday as overtaxed fire crews battled three major out-of-control blazes that killed at least five people and ravaged some of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area. A thick smoke wafted over the city and fires continued springing up. As many as 1,500 structures, mostly homes and businesses were destroyed in the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena. More than 100,000 people were under mandatory evacuations. In Pasadena, Fire Chief Chad Augustin said between 200 and 500 structures have been damaged or lost from the Eaton Fire that started Tuesday night when hurricane-force winds whipped up flames. He said the water system was stretched and was further hampered by power outages but even without those issues, firefighters would not have been able to stop the fire as embers ignited block after block as they flew through the air.

Belarus begins territorial defense training in the Gomel region near the Ukrainian border, increasing its military presence.

On Wednesday, Jan. 8, Belarus began training territorial defense forces in the Gomel region near the Ukrainian border, according to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense.

Gomel became the first region in Belarus where territorial defense exercises will take place in 2025. This area borders the Chernihiv region of Ukraine.

Trump, who takes office on January 20, said Tuesday that he understood why Russia did not want Ukraine to join the trans-Atlantic alliance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday played down concerns over comments by US-President elect Donald Trump that he understood why Russia does not want Ukraine to join the NATO defence alliance.

Zelensky, who has pushed for an invitation to join NATO before Trump’s return to the presidency, cautioned against making assumptions on the US position and said he would discuss the issue with Trump.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to announce a new military aid package for Kyiv at the 25th such talks at Ramstein Air Base that will include representatives from 50 countries.

Ukraine’s Western allies will gather with President Volodymyr Zelensky at a US base in Germany on Thursday in their last such meeting before Donald Trump returns to the White House in less than two weeks.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to announce a substantial new military aid package for Kyiv at the 25th such talks at Ramstein Air Base that will include representatives from some 50 countries.

Europe needs to respond to Russia’s hybrid warfare with its own hybrid warfare.

President-elect Donald Trump’s looming tariffs and Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine have driven Europeans to protect themselves.

In 2024, Europeans dramatically increased their military spending, and they also elected seven “far right” governments that espouse nationalism, law and order, and anti-immigration policies.

In an intercepted call a Russian commander orders the execution of a Ukrainian prisoner of war, violating international humanitarian laws of armed conflict.

In a newly intercepted call, Russian servicemembers are heard discussing the execution of a Ukrainian prisoner of war, inadvertently documenting a war crime, reports Ukraine’s defense intelligence.

According to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), the commander of a unit within the 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Army of the Russian Armed Forces gives the criminal order to kill a Ukrainian Defense Forces captive.

The strikes disrupted fuel production, contributing to reduced gasoline and diesel output and higher prices in 2024, according to available statistics.

In 2024, Ukrainian drones carried out 81 attacks on oil refineries and fuel storage facilities across Russia, annexed Crimea, and occupied territories, according to a BBC Russian Service analysis based on government and media reports.

The strikes targeted both oil refineries and depots, with 31 attacks focused on refineries. Some facilities required extensive repairs, particularly in southern Russia, which was hit most frequently.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Ukrainian forces struck Russia’s state-owned Kombinat Kristal oil storage facility near Engels, Saratov Oblast on the night of January 7 to 8.
• Ukrainian forces struck a command post of the Russian 8th Combined Arms Army (CAA) (Southern Military District [SMD]) on January 8 in occupied Khartsyzk, Donetsk Oblast.
• Russian forces advanced in Kursk Oblast, in Toretsk, and near Kurakhove.
• Russian forces are increasingly using drones attached to fiber optic cables in Ukraine.