Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 01-18-2025

Do you know the key events that shaped the war in Ukraine this week? Stay up-to-date with Kyiv Post’s latest quiz covering the most significant stories over the last seven days.

Over the last week, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise counterattack in Kursk and showed off innovative uses of weapons – but that’s not all.

Europe is facing an existential threat. It must regulate technological platforms, which have become the main tool for spreading disinformation and manipulating the public.

As the world enters an era of uncertainty, the combination of technological power, populist rhetoric, and geopolitical ambitions is creating a threat the likes of which the democratic world has not seen since the Second World War.

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the X platform, and Aleksandr Dugin, the Russian extremist ideologue, have become symbols of this new era of chaos. Their statements aimed at destabilizing European democracies are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader strategy that combines an authoritarian narrative, technological influence, and populist manipulation to undermine the foundations of free societies.

Russia sentenced three of Navalny’s lawyers to prison for sharing his messages, sparking international outrage.

Russia on Friday sentenced three lawyers who had defended Alexei Navalny to several years in prison for bringing messages from the late opposition leader from prison to the outside world.

The case, which comes amid a widespread crackdown on dissent during the Ukraine offensive, has alarmed rights groups that fear Moscow will ramp up trials against legal representatives in addition to jailing their clients.

While by no means a national record, it still represents a small increase compared to 2023 and a return to pre-war volumes – despite Russia’s best efforts.

Ukraine’s state-owned Naftogaz subsidiary Ukrgazvydobuvannya increased its commercial gas production to 13.9 billion cubic meters (491 billion cubic feet) in 2024 compared to 13.2 billion cubic meters (466 billion cubic feet) in 2023.

Last year, the company commissioned 83 new wells, including 60 production wells and 23 exploration wells, the Friday press release on the Naftogaz website said. 

Despite initial reluctance, Germany has been indispensable in aiding Ukraine, both militarily and in humanitarian aid. However, with elections coming in February, the reluctance persists.

Ukraine’s fresh offensive in Kursk has once again showcased its ability to defy expectations, highlighting Russia’s vulnerabilities even as potential peace talks under a Trump administration loom. As Trump prepares to take office, one key ally that must be brought into sharper focus is Germany.

Just before Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Germany offered Ukraine 5,000 combat helmets as aid against a potential Moscow attack. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, called the gesture “an absolute joke,” sarcastically adding: “What support are they going to send next? Pillows?” Nonetheless, Germany’s support for Ukraine has significantly evolved throughout the war, solidifying its role as one of Ukraine’s most crucial allies.

Why does Greenland matter so much? And how is it connected to Russia’s war against Ukraine, the US-China rivalry, and global energy shifts?

In an intercepted call, a Russian says he fears the country’s ruler is creating a Kim Jong-un type dynasty where people will be working to get enough to eat.

In a newly intercepted conversation Ukraine’s and published by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) on Thursday, Jan. 16, a Russian resident suggests that Russia is becoming more like North Korea. Russians are beginning to fear that, in addition to hosting North Korean soldiers on their territory, the Russian Federation itself may soon transform into North Korea.

“Putin looks at Kim Jong-un and thinks, ‘Damn, why can’t we live like that? Imagine that’!” the Russian remarks.

German Defense Minister Pistorius said Berlin could send troops to a Ukraine-Russia buffer zone if a ceasefire is agreed.

Germany’s defence minister said he was open to sending German soldiers to Ukraine to help secure a demilitarised zone there if a ceasefire were agreed with Russia, in remarks published Saturday.

In an interview with the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, Boris Pistorius also said Germany should aim to spend around three percent of GDP on defence.

Polish Deputy PM Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz is preparing a defense industry delegation visit to Ukraine in 2025

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz of Poland is preparing a visit of the country’s defense industry delegation to Ukraine.

The Polish Deputy PM stated this on Friday in Warsaw while addressing the country’s military attaches, Ukrinform reports with reference to Wnp.pl.

For almost three years, Moscow has managed to weather economic setbacks imposed by the US and its Western allies, but now the Kremlin’s war machine is showing signs of implosion.

After nearly three years of sanctions, the wheels are starting to fall off of the Russian economy, and the hits just keep on coming. At this rate, economists say, if the US continues the strict sanctions launched by President Joe Biden’s administration, and by his Western allies in the EU and the UK, especially, Russia will be forced to abandon its gambit in Ukraine.

With less than two weeks to go in his administration, President Biden managed to land a couple of final blows to Moscow’s war machine by announcing plans to hunt down its rogue cargo ships and oil tankers, and by codifying into law a new set of sanctions on Russian energy. The latter prohibits any American cooperation with oil giants Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas. After March 12, 2025, non-compliant companies would face penalties.

Ukrainian Elina Svitolina defeated Jasmine Paolini 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 at the Australian Open, following her husband Gael Monfils’ win, as both reached the last 16.

Elina Svitolina completed a family fairytale day at the Australian Open on Saturday when she emulated her husband Gael Monfils in knocking out a world number four in the third round.

Ukraine’s Svitolina beat Jasmine Paolini 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the women’s draw just hours after Monfils stunned Taylor Fritz on the same Margaret Court Arena in the men’s singles.

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 is preparing for the return of the hostages from Gaza with the expectation that many are likely to have severe, life-threatening complications after more than a year in captivity in Gaza. While it’s impossible to know the exact conditions in which hostages have been held, the Health Ministry and the Hostages Family Forum, which represents families of the hostages, are preparing for several different scenarios based on information gathered from hostages previously released or rescued. Hamas militants kidnapped about 250 people during a cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that also left 1,200 people dead. About 100 hostages are still being held, though Israel believes a third of them are no longer alive. The war that followed the attack has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed. Hagai Levine, who heads the health team at the Hostages Families Forum, said he expects the hostages to return with cardiovascular and respiratory issues due to lack of ventilation in the tunnels. Among multiple other afflictions Levine expects are vitamin deficiencies, starvation, dramatic weight loss, vision problems due to a lack of sunlight, broken bones, cognitive impairment and mental health trauma - AP

TikTok is set to be removed from app stores on Sunday, when a new U.S. law goes into effect. President Biden signed a law that would ban TikTok unless the app’s owner, ByteDance, sold it to a non-Chinese company. On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld it. The ban will end a remarkable eight-year roller-coaster ride for TikTok in the United States. The company wriggled its way out of political danger time and again. The threats to its very existence came so often, from so many directions, dealing with them became almost second nature for executives — perhaps to the point of complacency. All the while, TikTok reached new heights of popularity and public influence. It boasts 170 million monthly U.S. users, giving the company confidence that those masses could help beat back whatever regulators aimed its way. Behind the scenes, TikTok conducted secretive negotiations with government officials and advertising blitzes aimed at rescuing it. But in the end, the company ran into a well-organized and focused effort among Washington officials that it could not stop. Its biggest gamble yet was that it could overturn the law and avoid a sale altogether — a bet that failed - NYT

The missile complex which sounds more like a Marvel superhero was urgently produced and will allow Ukraine to use air-air missiles that it already has in stock for ground-based air defense.

On his visit to Kyiv on Thursday this week, during which the UK signed a long-term security agreement with Ukraine, the country’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, announced a new military aid package worth £4.5 billion (€5.34 billion). Among the weaponry that made up part of the commitment for delivery this year was 15 units of the “Gravehawk” short range air defense (AD) system.

The British designed complex was jointly funded by the UK and Denmark and rapidly developed against an urgent operational requirement – Ukrainian close-in AD needs.

While Ukraine awaits Trump’s first decisions following his inauguration, the likely new US Secretary of State has shared his views on the future of the war in front of the American Senate.

Five years on, the truth about why a Ukrainian airliner was shot down by Iranian forces after it took off from Tehran still needs to be uncovered.

Five years on, Flight PS752’s destruction still haunts those seeking justice. Conflicting statements, concealed evidence, and conspicuous alliances hint at Iran’s deeper motives, casting doubt on its claims of a mere accident.

Five years have elapsed since the downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, which claimed 176 lives, including 15 children, shortly after its departure from Tehran on Jan. 8, 2020.

Russians in Moscow doubt Trump can quickly end the Ukraine conflict, with many skeptical about his peace promises.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House will not bring a speedy end to the nearly three years of conflict in Ukraine, Russians on the streets of Moscow told AFP.

The US President-elect, who will be inaugurated Monday, has pledged a swift end to the fighting, with his team insisting both sides will have to make concessions.

Ukrainian intelligence drones targeted an oil depot in Russia’s Tula region, 500 km from the border, causing a large fire despite Russian claims of successful air defense.

Drones of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) targeted an oil depot in Russia’s Tula region, located about 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the Ukrainian border, Kyiv Post sources in intelligence report.

“At least ten precise drone strikes hit the oil depot in Tula region in the early hours of Jan. 18,” said a source in HUR.

A Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at an industrial site in Lyudinovo, Russia, about 170 km from the border.

A Ukrainian drone attack on Friday sparked a fire at an industrial site in Russia some 170 kilometres (105 miles) from the border, authorities said.

Kyiv has upped its aerial attacks on Russian energy and military facilities in recent months, a campaign it describes as fair retribution for Russia’s relentless barrages of its cities and energy grid.

A Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv killed three and injured three, causing fires, debris, and damage to infrastructure.

Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv Saturday morning killed three people, the city’s military administration reported.

Russia frequently targets Kyiv with aerial attacks, but deadly strikes there are rare, as the capital is heavily protected by air defences and better able to fend off attacks than elsewhere in the country.