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Stay on top of Russia-Ukraine war 01-16-2025 developments on the ground with KyivPost fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated war maps.
France has agreed to provide Ukraine with an unspecified number of Mirage 2000-5s and Norway five F-16s
France and Norway, two of the handful of countries that have pledged jet fighters to Ukraine, will meet their commitments on schedule, the two countries’ defense ministers said Thursday in Oslo.
Norway has promised Ukraine six US-made F-16s to help it fend off Russia’s invasion, with deliveries spread out across 2024 and 2025.
Created by the Council of Europe and joined by the European Union, the Register will ultimately work out a financial total with a view toward extracting reparations from Moscow.
Ukrainians who have lost close relatives during Russia’s invasion will from Thursday be able to lodge claims via a mechanism that has already received thousands of requests for compensation for damages.
The Register of Damages for Ukraine opened in The Hague in April last year and is designed to function as a record of all eligible claims seeking reparation for the damage, loss and injury following Moscow’s Feb. 24, 2022 attack on its neighbor.
Few supporters of Ukraine’s fight against Russia deny that Biden was well-intentioned. Unfortunately, he lacked the audacity to commit to the Kremlin’s unequivocal defeat.
When Joe Biden was Barack Obama’s vice president from 2009 to 2017, the Obama administration’s unofficial foreign policy motto was “lead from behind.” What that meant was fairly clear: build coalitions, avoid unilateral action at all costs, strengthen alliances, and encourage allies to be proactive rather than wait for the US to take the reins.
With respect to Russia, Obama famously advocated for a “reset.” That reset was thoroughly flouted when, in the wake of Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity, Vladimir Putin invaded Crimea, annexed it, and proceeded to foment a war in eastern Ukraine that has continued to escalate to this day.
The Atesh partisan movement reconnoitered the location of where Russian military boats are held on the Crimean Peninsula and provided exact coordinates to Ukrainian Forces.
The Ukrainian partisan movement Atesh discovered the location of Russian military boats on the Crimean Peninsula during a planned reconnaissance operation.
“An agent of our movement reconnoitered the location of the 91st Brigade of the 4th Division of riverboats of the Russian Armed Forces at Cape Tarkhankut near the village of Olenivka. There are military boats, special equipment, and personnel stationed there,” the Thursday, Jan 15 Atesh post reads.
Ukraine’s Defense Forces say the depot they attacked supplies fuel to Russian military forces involved in Russia’s “special military operation” against Ukraine.
Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) posted on Telegram that they had used drones to strike a Rosneft base near the village of Liski, in Russia’s Voronezh Region, late on Wednesday evening.
According to the report, the strike, part of a carefully planned operation, initiated a massive fire at the depot, with several tanks still burning when the post was made
The refinery, among Russia’s top 10 by production, processes 13.7 million tons of oil annually. The shutdown has cut its diesel production by half – roughly 10,000 tons per day.
A fire that broke out at the Volgograd Lukoil refinery on Wednesday, Jan. 15, forced the shutdown of its diesel hydrotreating unit, Reuters reported, citing local industry sources.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, though local reports suggest “something fell” onto the facility before an explosion occurred. Russian emergency services deny any “external impact,” and the Russian Ministry of Defense reported no drone attacks in the region.
A potential deployment could involve thousands of British troops, despite warnings from military leaders about the UK’s limited capacity for full-scale war.
France and the UK are reportedly exploring options for the deployment of military personnel to Ukraine as part of any potential peacekeeping mission, The Telegraph writes, outlining three possible scenarios for British troops in Ukraine.
The discussions, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, assume a ceasefire agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. Macron had previously raised the idea with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Today, Kyiv Post is launching a new section where we will provide a regular update of notable comments made in the media concerning the war in Ukraine.
From the Editors: Today, Kyiv Post is launching a new section where we will provide a regular selection of notable comments made in the media concerning the war in Ukraine.
Keir Starmer@Keir_Starmer
Wednesday’s major Russian kamikaze drone and missile attack aimed at Ukrainian gas and energy infrastructure included Kh-55SM nuclear-capable cruise missiles fitted with dummy warheads.
In the early hours of Jan. 15, Russia launched a complex airstrike against Ukraine using more than 70 Shahed attack drones and more than 40 missiles of at least 10 different types.
Included in the barrage was an unconfirmed number of nuclear-capable Kh-55SM cruise missiles launched from Tu-95MS strategic bombers.
Ukraine’s state institutions and businesses are constructing smaller, more manageable energy facilities that will allow for more autonomy and become smaller targets for Russia.
In 2024, 835 MW of new decentralized energy facilities were connected to the grid, Institute of Economic Research (IER) estimated in its end-of-the-year report “2024 – A Year of Challenges and Changes: The MEMU Team’s Perspective.”
Massive construction of distributed energy resources became a response to Russia’s attacks on large power generation facilities that started in autumn 2022 and have continued into 2025.
The world in focus, as seen by Canadian leading global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw in a quick review of the biggest news in international media today.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a deal that will pause fighting in Gaza after 467 days at war and lead to the phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. In all, 98 Gaza hostages are set for gradual return home after 15 months in Hamas captivity. Outgoing US President Joe Biden confirmed American citizens will be released in first phase, Israeli media reported. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are set to be released from Israeli jails at the same time. The release of the hostages would be the first phase of the deal being finalized. Negotiations to reach the second phase – which is intended to end the war – would begin on the 16th day of the implementation of the deal. An Israeli source told Haaretz that only ‘small technical details’ are delaying the deal. If confirmed, the deal would go down as a huge foreign policy win by Biden, just days before the swearing in of arch rival Donald Trump. The president elect had made it clear that he had intended to bring the conflict between the two warring sides to a quick end
The cease-fire was set to take effect on Sunday, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani of Qatar, a mediating country, told reporters. A senior U.S. official said that five female Israeli soldiers are expected to be released that same day
Loud blasts and air raid sirens rang out over Kyiv hours after Starmer’s arrival as air defence systems in central Kyiv repelled a Russian drone attack, officials and AFP journalists reported.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv on Thursday on an unannounced visit to sign a “100-year accord” and shore up support for Ukraine before Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Loud blasts and air raid sirens rang out over Kyiv hours after Starmer’s arrival as air defence systems in central Kyiv repelled a Russian drone attack, officials and AFP journalists reported.
Next week, US President Joe Biden will hand over the office of president of the United States to Donald Trump.
Next week, US President Joe Biden will hand over the office of president of the United States to Donald Trump. In his final address to the nation, he warned that “an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy.” Commentators take stock of his four years in office.
The US president was too hesitant in international affairs, says The Times (UK):
US State Secretary nominee Marco Rubio doubted whether Ukraine could push Russian troops back to the internationally recognized border due to the “size dynamic” during a foreign policy hearing.
Marco Rubio, US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee as Secretary of State, reiterated his view on Wednesday that the war in Ukraine “has to end” calling for concessions to be made by Kyiv, Washington and Moscow.
During a confirmation hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said he doubted Ukraine’s ability to push Russian troops back to the 1991 internationally recognized border because of what he claimed was a lack of manpower.
Latest from the British Defence Intelligence.
President Zelensky has met in Warsaw with Poland’s leaders. They discussed key topics, from Poland’s presidency of the EU Council, and security, to historical scars.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Warsaw on Wednesday, Jan. 15, much like the Polish prime minister’s visit to Lviv in December 2024, marks the culmination of efforts since November to improve the political climate between Ukraine and Warsaw. During the press conference, both leaders agreed that Ukraine’s path to the EU must be based on friendship and mutual understanding, including addressing difficult topics.
Donald Tusk emphasized that relations require a language of empathy, as well as concrete actions and the fulfillment of national interests. He also referenced a one-on-one conversation he had with Zelensky, describing it as direct and specific, adding that Poland should take care of Polish interests while Ukraine should focus on Ukrainian interests. During the joint press conference, Tusk sounded friendly and cooperative but also assertive. This could be interpreted as a signal to the electorate, which includes both strongly pro-Ukrainian stances and disappointment over prolonged historical disputes.
Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, welcomed the latest round of sanctions out of the White House as US President Joe Biden prepares to hand over power to Donald Trump.
The latest sanctions from outgoing US President Joe Biden include banks and institutions collaborating with Russia, affecting nearly 100 entities.
Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, welcomed the latest round of sanctions out of the White House as Biden prepares to hand over power to Donald Trump.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance is unlikely to increase interest rates. Bond Market Insight for Jan. 8
Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance (MoF) rejected yesterday a major part of the demand for military bills as it did not want to increase interest rates on them.
New 1.5-year bills received 24 bids, amounting to UAH3.3bn, with interest rates ranging from 15% to 16%. The MoF rejected the most significant bid, amounting to UAH2.0bn, with the highest rate. Therefore, the MoF set the cut-off and weighted-average rates at 15.1% or 10bp below a similar bond sold last November.
Moscow said the attack was in response to Ukraine’s alleged attempt to disrupt the TurkStream pipeline, which carries Russian gas to Europe through Turkey.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced early Thursday, Jan. 16, that its forces targeted energy and gas infrastructure in Ukraine during a missile attack on Wednesday, including a gas storage facility in Stryi, Lviv region.
Moscow said the attack was in response to Ukraine’s alleged attempt to disrupt the TurkStream pipeline, which carries Russian gas to Europe through Turkey.
The coal from Pokrovsk helped produce 65% of Ukrainian steel, but it will now be imported from Metinvest factories in the US.
The Metinvest Group has officially announced the suspension of operations at Pokrovske Coal “due to changes in the frontline situation, electricity shortages, and deteriorating security conditions,” according to a statement published on the group’s website.
The group is currently assessing “the full impact of the asset’s suspension, whose production facilities remain in Ukrainian-controlled territory.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been holding a flurry of meetings with his country’s allies ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House next week.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv on Thursday on an unannounced visit to shore up support for Ukraine after nearly three years of war, officials said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been holding a flurry of meetings with his country’s allies ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House next week.
Exercise Perseus was a secret French drill held over several weeks toward the end of 2024 to prepare for a potential intervention in the event of an incursion into Ukraine from Belarus.
French special forces conducted a classified series of exercises, codenamed Persée (Perseus), which took place over several weeks in late 2024.
According to the French security issues website Intelligence Online, the aim of the drills was to practice tactics, techniques and operational procedures should France need to respond to an attack on Ukraine by Belarus forces.
The loss of Ukraine poses an existential threat to Europe. Europe must bankroll Ukraine’s security and pitch an attractive long-term arms contract to Trump
The imminence of the Trump presidency has also fueled market speculation that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine will be agreed shortly - helped by Trump’s campaign trail rhetoric that he would end the war in a matter of days upon taking office, if not sooner. Reflecting the above, Ukrainian Eurobonds were amongst the best-performing assets across EM in recent months, notably alongside the other war, or peace, play, Lebanon.
I am not sure that reaching a peace deal, that is durable, between Ukraine and Russia, is actually that easy - a realization that has perhaps now dawned on Trump, who set back the timeframe for his imposed peace from a few days to now six months. General Kellogg, Trump’s pick as Ukraine rapporteur, has similarly become more circumspect, indicating hope of some peace breakthrough now only within the first 100 days of a Trump administration. Likely this timeframe will lapse again.
A series of drone sightings over military and industrial sites in Germany has sparked alarm in recent months but has remained unresolved.
Germany’s military may soon be allowed to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles under a plan announced Wednesday after a string of drone sightings heightened fears of Russian surveillance and sabotage missions.
The changed rules agreed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s cabinet will still require parliamentary approval before the armed forces can open fire on mystery UAVs that are deemed a threat.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin called Vietnam an “important partner of Russia in Southeast Asia” during his two-day visit to Hanoi.
Energy agencies in Vietnam and Russia signed an agreement on Tuesday to bolster cooperation in Vietnam’s atomic energy development.
The agreement was signed by Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company, and EVN, Vietnam’s state-owned power utility company during Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s two-day visit to Hanoi, AP News reported.
Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.
Key Takeaways from the ISW:
Energy wars continue as Kyiv’s drones hit oil depot in Voronezh; Zelensky welcomes return of 25 POWs as Ukraine captures 23 more; Biden adds another layer of Russian sanctions before he steps down.
The governor of Russia’s Voronzezh region, Alexander Gusev, reported on social media that a drone attack struck an oil depot there on Wednesday evening. Gusev claimed that Russian air defense units and electronic warfare systems had downed incoming UAVs, igniting a fire on the premises.
Ukraine and Russia have been trading attacks on energy sources this week, during a season where the Kremlin’s forces have traditionally bombarded Ukrainian power grids in an effort to freeze out inhabitants. After just such an assault on Wednesday in Western Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media, “It is the middle of winter, and the target for the Russians remains the same: our energy sector.”
