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Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 01-31-2025

Stay on top of Russia-Ukraine war 01-31-2025 developments on the ground with KyivPost fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated war maps.

Key updates
Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 01-31-2025

Ukrainian Missile Forces Hit Key Russian Command Center in Kursk

Ukrainian Missile Forces Hit Key Russian Command Center in Kursk

AFU’s General Staff says that operations targeting Russian command posts will continue until Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is completely ended.

Ukraine’s Missile and Artillery Forces struck a command post of the Russian Armed Forces’ Kursk group in the city of Rylsk, located in Russia’s Kursk region, according to a report from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU).

“As a result of a coordinated and precise strike, the enemy’s command and control post was destroyed,” the report read.

Norway Seizes Russian-Crewed Ship over Suspected Cable Damage

Norway Seizes Russian-Crewed Ship over Suspected Cable Damage

Nations around the Baltic Sea have scrambled to bolster their defences since the suspected sabotage of undersea cables in recent months, with some observers blaming Russia.

Norwegian police said on Friday they had seized a Norwegian-owned ship at Latvia’s request over its suspected involvement in damage done to a Baltic Sea cable.

The vessel’s owner has rejected any wrongdoing.

‘Propaganda Move to Spread Fear’ – Ukraine Dismisses Russia’s New ‘Iskander-1000’

‘Propaganda Move to Spread Fear’ – Ukraine Dismisses Russia’s New ‘Iskander-1000’

Several outlets reported that Russia is preparing to mass-produce a new version of its Iskander-M ballistic missile, which could have a range of up to 1,000 kilometers.

Several military-specialized outlets, including Military Watch Magazine and Bulgarian Military, recently reported that Russia is preparing to mass-produce a new version of its Iskander-M ballistic missile system, which could have a range of up to 1,000 kilometers – twice the reach of the current version.

The publications, citing unnamed sources, stated that the missile had been informally called the Iskander-1000 and that its development was first mentioned in May 2024, when Russia celebrated the 78th anniversary of the Kapustin Yar missile test range.

Kyiv Drones Target More Kremlin Energy: Oil Export From Major Russian Port ‘Drops to Zero’

Kyiv Drones Target More Kremlin Energy: Oil Export From Major Russian Port ‘Drops to Zero’

Ukraine’s bombardment of energy infrastructure in western Russia is now a month old. Kyiv says its kamikaze aircraft are getting results. Moscow says its air defenses shoot everything down.

A Ukrainian follow-up strike on a key Russian oil export terminal shut it down and halted about 20 percent of Russian crude exports by sea, according to reports on Friday.

Russia’s Ust-Luga port, on the Baltic Sea, west of the major Russian city St. Petersburg, had stopped loading tankers because damage to pumping infrastructure on oil transportation pipelines upstream had left the facility without product to load.

World Briefing: January 31, 2025

World Briefing: January 31, 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.

The air traffic control tower at Reagan National Airport was understaffed on Wednesday evening when a passenger plane and a military helicopter collided in midair, according to a government report about the circumstances surrounding the disaster that killed 67 people and sparked renewed debate around the airport’s crowded airspace. According to the report, described to The Washington Post, two people were handling the jobs of four among other colleagues inside National’s control tower at the time of the collision. The control tower staffing levels, the report concludes, were “not normal” for the time of day or the amount of air traffic over D.C., where an average of more than 100 helicopters a day zip around and underneath arriving and departing airline flights. The crash occurred around 8:50 p.m., and its cause remained unclear Thursday evening.

  • The plane that departed from Wichita on Wednesday evening carried 60 passengers and four crew members, according to a statement by American Airlines. The U.S. Army helicopter had a crew of three soldiers. Bodies were taken to National and near the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, where authorities had pitched red morgue tents on the banks of the Anacostia River.

Russian Soldier Suspected of Holding Ukrainian Woman in Sexual Slavery

Russian Soldier Suspected of Holding Ukrainian Woman in Sexual Slavery

According to Ukrainian National Police, the woman was reportedly locked in an apartment in Belgorod, where a Russian serviceman held her captive for over a year.

The National Police of Ukraine suspects Vyacheslav Dubenko, a Russian soldier from the 1st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Western Military District, of rape, deportation, and forcing a young Ukrainian woman into sexual slavery during Russia’s occupation of the Kharkiv region.

According to Ukrainian authorities, in March 2022, Dubenko and his fellow soldiers entered a private home in a village in the Izyumsky district, where the 21-year-old victim lived with her family.

Finnish ‘Jump Buddy’ and Ukrainian Know-How Produces Lethal Extended Range Drone

Finnish ‘Jump Buddy’ and Ukrainian Know-How Produces Lethal Extended Range Drone

Finland’s Insta combined with Ukrainian specialists to develop a new version of its Steel Eagle explosive fragmenting ball charge system, creating an extended range attack drone.

The Finnish company “Insta Group Oy” has unveiled a new version of its Steel Eagle strike drone, which was first introduced two years ago. Tuure Lehtoranta, Insta’s Vice President for Defense Sales, said the updated weapon system had been developed in cooperation with an unnamed Ukrainian drone manufacturer.

The drone is now called the Insta Steel Eagle ER (Extended Range). It is a quadcopter drone fitted with Insta’s patented conical explosive payload that functions like a “claymore” directional mine, which the company refers to as its “jump buddy.”

Grab – Switch On – Throw! New US Hand-Launched Kamikaze Drone

Grab – Switch On – Throw! New US Hand-Launched Kamikaze Drone

A US defense startup has unveiled its lightweight, throwable, autonomous UAS that serves as both a rapidly deployable kamikaze attack drone and counter-UAV system.

More than 50 years ago the US Army experimented with the idea of fitting anti-tank grenades inside grid-iron footballs, arguing that many of its soldiers were used to throwing the pigskins accurately and over effective distances.

The California-based US defense startup, XDOWN Incorporated, has brought the concept up to date with its “throw-and-forget” P.S. Killer (PSK) multi-role tactical unmanned aerial system (UAS). The concept is captured in the company’s tagline for the product: “Grab it – Switch it ON – Throw it.”

Ukraine’s Oldest Cryptocurrency Exchange KUNA Shuts Down After Court Ban

Ukraine’s Oldest Cryptocurrency Exchange KUNA Shuts Down After Court Ban

Ukrainian law enforcement officials suspect Kuna of tax evasion. Although the platform’s founder said cryptoexchange lawyers were not invited to the court, he is still not willing to fight further.

Ukraine’s cryptocurrency exchange, Kuna, ceased its operations in all countries. This was announced by the company’s founder, Mykhailo Chobanian, on Jan. 30.

The ceasing of operations was followed by a decision to block access to Kuna in Ukraine, issued by Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv upon the request of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BEB). 

Fact Check: Russian Troops, Not Ukrainians, Caught in Viral ‘Handcuffed for Battle’ Hoax

Fact Check: Russian Troops, Not Ukrainians, Caught in Viral ‘Handcuffed for Battle’ Hoax

A video originally posted by a Russian Telegram channel about issues within Russia’s military was hijacked by propagandists, who falsely claimed it showed Ukrainian soldiers.

Russian propagandists are spreading a fake narrative on social media, claiming that Ukrainian soldiers are being taken to combat missions in handcuffs, according to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security Council.

“The enemy is circulating a video allegedly showing Ukrainian soldiers being taken to battle in handcuffs,” the report on Telegram said.

For the Record: Who Welcomed Belarusian Dictator’s Latest Sham “Victory”

For the Record: Who Welcomed Belarusian Dictator’s Latest Sham “Victory”

Putin’s Belarusian vassal Aleksandr Lukashenko had himself ‘elected’ president for the seventh time on Jan. 26 in a so-called election managed by his security forces.

On X (formerly Twitter) on Jan. 28 Franak Viačorka, a senior aide to exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, listed the countries that congratulated the Belarusian dictator on his “reelection” in the fake presidential election held on Jan. 26.  

No real surprises that most of the former Soviet republics that have remained in Moscow’s orbit did so. They are: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. 

Romanian Mercs Surrendered After Fighting for DR Congo

Romanian Mercs Surrendered After Fighting for DR Congo

Close to 300 foreign mercenaries surrendered to UN peacekeeping forces after being contracted by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to fight against the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels.

Close to 300 foreign mercenaries – at least some identifying themselves as Romanians – have surrendered to local UN peacekeeping forces after being contracted to fight for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in central Africa.

Reuters reported Wednesday that the mercenaries were contracted to counter an offensive by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels who captured the city of Goma in eastern DRC, near Rwanda. The rebels then cornered the mercenaries, who subsequently surrendering to local UN peacekeeping forces.

European Business Association Needs Tailored Air Alerts

European Business Association Needs Tailored Air Alerts

EBA proposed narrowing the geographic scope of warnings for Russian aerial strikes, when and where possible – saying the current generalized approach leads to unnecessary losses and production halts.

The European Business Association (EBA), an organization representing almost 1,000 Ukrainian and foreign companies, asked Ukraine’s authorities to establish a “targeted air raid alert system” that limits work-stoppage to specific city sectors rather than region-wide halts that hamper productivity. 

The current air raid alert system covers entire Ukrainian regions, especially if the air raid alert is announced due to a possible ballistic missile strike or when Russian fighter-bombers take off. In this case, the air raid alert is announced around the country and could last for hours, while companies must halt operations and send the staff to the shelter to keep them safe. 

Ukrainian Drones Slam Massive Lukoil Refinery Deep in Russia – Again

Ukrainian Drones Slam Massive Lukoil Refinery Deep in Russia – Again

Lukoil facilities have become frequent targets of Ukrainian drone and cyberattacks recently. The refinery in Volgograd is one of Russia’s largest.

Ukrainian drones targeted Russia’s Volgograd region early on Friday, Jan. 31, with one of the drones striking the Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka oil refinery, local Telegram channels reported.

The attack sparked a fire at the facility after drone debris fell on the site, according to regional governor Andrey Bocharov. The fire was quickly extinguished, but one refinery worker was injured and hospitalized.

Polish Deputy PM Accuses Russia of Trying to Recruit Election Trolls on Dark Web

Polish Deputy PM Accuses Russia of Trying to Recruit Election Trolls on Dark Web

Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski accused Russia on Tuesday of attempting to recruit Poles on the dark net to try to influence Poland’s presidential election campaign.

Warsaw has warned before of the danger of Russian interference in the mid-May election, but Moscow has repeatedly denied meddling in foreign ballots.

Gawkowski said Russia was looking for Polish citizens willing to influence the campaign from inside the country, offering them €3,000– €4,000 to spread content containing disinformation.

Partisans Uncover Russian Guard Unit in Smolensk, Gather Intel Over ‘Tea Chat’

Partisans Uncover Russian Guard Unit in Smolensk, Gather Intel Over ‘Tea Chat’

Atesh agents infiltrated a Russian Guard unit, established contact with servicemembers, and extracted valuable intelligence, which was swiftly relayed to Ukrainian forces, the group reported.

The Atesh guerrilla movement has conducted reconnaissance of a Russian Guard military unit on Nikolaeva Street in Smolensk, where its agents monitored the movement of personnel and equipment, the group reported on Telegram.

Atesh shared photos of the unit, along with precise coordinates:

USAID Funding Halt Leaves Ukrainian Media Seeking Support

USAID Funding Halt Leaves Ukrainian Media Seeking Support

Various Ukrainian media projects have asked for help following the suspension of USAID funding.

Earlier this week, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) suspended. all of its projects in Ukraine. The decision was made after USAID received a directive from the US State Department to freeze foreign aid for 90 days.

Against this backdrop, the investigative journalism project BIHUS.Info turned to its readers and viewers for help.

ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 30, 2025

ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 30, 2025

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

  • Kremlin newswire TASS published an interview with Valdai Discussion Club Research Director Fyodor Lukyanov on January 30 entitled “Don’t count on big agreements,” highlighting the Kremlin’s ongoing efforts to shape domestic and global expectations about future negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
  • Lukyanov stated during the interview that the “main thing” for future peace negotiations regarding Ukraine is “not the territories” but addressing the “root causes” of the war, which Lukyanov defined as NATO’s expansion into Eastern Europe in the 1990s and early 2000s.
  • Lukyanov’s statements assume that Trump and his administration are weak and more susceptible to being intimidated by the Kremlin’s shows of force than the former Biden Administration.
  • People’s Republic of China (PRC)-based companies continue to supply Russia with critical materials needed to sustain Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.
  • The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on January 28 defining its position on peace in Ukraine, closely echoing the principle of “peace through strength” that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously outlined.
  • The US military reportedly recently transferred Patriot missiles from Israel to Poland and is expected to deliver these missiles to Ukraine.
  • Ukrainian forces recently regained lost positions near Kharkiv and Pokrovsk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, and Kurakhove and in the Dnipro direction.

Sweden Pledges New $1.2B Military Package for Kyiv

Sweden Pledges New $1.2B Military Package for Kyiv

Noting that Europe needs to “take more responsibility for Ukraine,” Stockholm promises to send boats, missiles, trucks and ammo.

In the wake of the new US administration’s call on Europe to boost their contributions to NATO, and questions surrounding Washington’s overall commitment to Kyiv’s protection, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said on Thursday that Stockholm will be sending an additional $1.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine.

“Among other things, we’re financing Ukrainian investments in drones and long-range missiles,” Johnson said.

‘I Refuse to Be Their Puppet’ – Trump’s Intel Chief Pick Faces Tough Questions About Russian Sympathies

‘I Refuse to Be Their Puppet’ – Trump’s Intel Chief Pick Faces Tough Questions About Russian Sympathies

US Senators from both sides of the aisle are given pause about nominee for Director of National Intelligence, due to her friendliness with dictators and leniency for intel whistleblower Snowden.

The US Senate on Thursday grilled President Donald Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, specifically questioning her past relationships with dictators in Syria, Libya, and Russia.

Gabbard, presently a lieutenant colonel in the US Army Reserve, served as a Democratic legislator in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021 and as the Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 to 2016. She switched her allegiance to the Republican Party in 2022.

Russian Air Attack Kills Nine in Sumy Region

Russian Air Attack Kills Nine in Sumy Region

Three elderly civilians among the casualties of airstrikes in eastern Ukraine, as a boarding school, near border, housing displaced Russians was also damaged.

A Russian drone attack on a residential block killed nine people including three elderly couples in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, officials said on Thursday.

Moscow has pummeled Ukrainian cities with dozens of drones or missiles almost daily since it invaded in early 2022.