Stay on top of Russia-Ukraine war 01-26-2025 developments on the ground with KyivPost fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated war maps.
Amid a flurry of suspicious incidents, in which undersea cables have been severed in the Baltic Sea, governments and experts are pointing fingers at Russia.
Latvia said it had dispatched a warship on Sunday after damage to a fiber optic cable to Sweden that may have been “due to external factors.”
The Latvian navy said it had identified a “suspect vessel,” the Michalis San, which was near the location of the incident along with two other ships.
The US airbridge to Ukraine continues as the USTRANSCOM aircraft landed at Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, the focus for Western military aid destined for Ukraine.
The military issues blogger OSINTtechnical posted screenshots of “FlightRadar24” notice of three Boeing 747 cargo aircraft that flew from the US overnight to Poland’s Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport on his “Bluesky” social media channel.
The three aircraft were said to have been contracted by the US Department of Defense’s Transport Command (USTRANSCOM) to move a consignment of weapons for Ukraine. This may form part of the $500 million military aid package that the outgoing President Joe Biden, signed off as part of the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) in early January. It would bring the total of military aid provided by the US administration to more than $65 billion.
The Taliban has pledged to give Russia full support for its invasion of Ukraine.
In early 2022, the Taliban released a statement condemning the war in Ukraine. The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for the conflict to be resolved through “dialogue and peaceful means,” also expressing concern for the safety of Afghan nationals in Ukraine. The conflict also has dire, indirect consequences for Afghanistan, as much-needed global humanitarian and refugee aid has been redirected to Ukraine.
Just shy of three years later, Vladimir Putin is set to approve a bill that will allow Russian courts to remove organizations from their official list of terrorist groups.
The Ukrainian president attended a solemn remembrance, held in Kyiv’s Babyn Yar, of the 80-year anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, participated in a solemn ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous Nazi extermination camp, on Sunday, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Zelensky is himself of Jewish descent and has gone to great lengths to present himself as living testimony to the fallacy of Ukraine’s anti-Semitism, having been elected president with an overwhelming 73 percent of the vote in 2019.
“Europe’s last dictator,” as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is called, gears up for an election with a foregone conclusion. The diktat is victory by landslide.
Belarusians voted on Sunday in an election set to hand President Alexander Lukashenko a seventh term, prolonging his three-decade authoritarian rule.
Lukashenko – a 70-year-old former collective farm boss – has been in power in reclusive, Moscow-allied Belarus since 1994.
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.
Thousands of displaced Palestinians are still being prevented from returning to their homes in northern Gaza after Israel accused Hamas of breaching the terms of a ceasefire deal. On Saturday, Hamas freed four Israeli female soldiers it had held hostage since 7 October 2023, in return for 200 Palestinian prisoners. However, a dispute broke out when Israeli civilian Arbel Yehud was not included in the swap, even though Hamas was scheduled to free more non-military hostages. While Hamas insisted Ms Yehud is alive and will be freed next week, Israel reacted by delaying the planned withdrawal of some troops from Gaza, which would have allowed Palestinians to return to homes in the north - BBC
President Trump said he told King Abdullah II of Jordan during a phone call Saturday that he would like Jordan and Egypt to take in more Palestinians from Gaza, an idea that is likely to reignite debate about the future of nearly two million Palestinians. “I said to him, ‘I’d love for you to take on more because I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess,’” Mr. Trump told reporters on Air Force One. He added that he would also like Egypt to take in more Palestinians and that he would speak to the country’s president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, on Sunday. Mr. Trump made the remarks on an evening flight after a rally in Las Vegas; it is unclear whether they signal a change in U.S. policy toward Palestinians - NYT
With Russians claiming to have captured Velyka Novosilka, Kyiv’s forces report that they have managed to retreat from their defensive positions relatively unscathed.
Fighting in the town of Velyka Novosilka, about 85 kilometers (52 miles) west of Donetsk, continues, according to Ukrainian sources.
Earlier in the week, as Russian media channels reported the imminent capture of the town, Ukrainian fears of encirclement added to weeks of criticism about the General Staff’s handling of the fighting in the Donetsk sector, where Russians have been pressing steadily for months.
Joint Statement President Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, Kyiv, Jan. 25, 2025
President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu made a visit to Ukraine upon the invitation of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. The Presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova had talks, following which they:
Emphasized the importance of the relationship between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, based on the principles of good neighborliness, shared democratic values, and respect for international law. Furthermore, agreed to enhance collaboration on initiatives that will strengthen the partnership between the two states;
Franak Viačorka warned now was not a time for mass anti-regime rallies.
Sunday’s discredited elections in Belarus will likely be President Aleksander Lukashenko’s last, a senior figure from the country’s exiled democratic forces has said.
Franak Viačorka, chief advisor to opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, added that this is not the time for mass anti-regime rallies.
The document, seen exclusively by Euractiv Czechia, argues the measures will help the two countries “resist the malign influence of Russia”.
A Czech working document outlining proposals to deepen the EU integration of Ukraine and Moldova is gaining support among other member states.
The working document, first seen and reported by Euractiv Czechia, outlines concrete proposals for the integration of Ukraine and Moldova into the European Union’s internal market, focusing on sectors such as energy, agriculture and telecommunications.
What European media are saying about Trump’s first statements on how he proposes to get Russia to stop its war against Ukraine.
In his inaugural speech, US President Trump remained silent on the subject of the war in Ukraine. Now he has addressed Vladimir Putin on Truth Social: “STOP this ridiculous war!” If a solution isn’t found soon, he would have to impose “high taxes, tariffs and sanctions” on Russian exports, he said. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump has given his negotiator Keith Kellogg 100 days to broker a deal.
Dragging the Kremlin out of Beijing’s orbit
Ukraine has established itself as a strong international actor capable of being an outpost of defense of Western civilization against external threats.
Common suggestions are that the ability of the State as an actor of international relations in the context of war to create the necessary configuration of foreign policy cooperation and build the proper alliance relations can essentially ensure the ultimate victory in the war and become a factor in deterring potential aggressor countries from further\future hostilities.
Ukraine has signed multiple bilateral agreements and has received substantial alliance building within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein). Partnerships and alliances have shown their own development with the progression of the war beginning in 2014 from almost non-existent to lukewarm to hot. The concepts of “assistance,” “support,” “partnership,” and “interaction” can be used in different aspects, contexts, and meanings.
In any potential deal to end Russia’s War in Ukraine, European policymakers now have a unique opportunity to stand up for the principles and institutions of international law.
The beginning of 2025 is a crucial time for European policymakers to lock in the issues of justice and accountability in any potential deal intended to end the hostilities in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
European policymakers now have a unique opportunity to stand up for the principles and institutions of international law, which are likely to face significant political and economic challenges in the new year. The 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act in 2025 also offers an important reminder of the importance of restoring respect for the principles of the European security order.
For the second time in three days, Kyiv launched a massive UAV attack on a critical oil refinery in Ryazan, which produces fuel for Russia’s war machine.
Ukrainian drones attacked the Ryazan Oil Refinery on the night of Jan. 26, the second time in three days, causing a large-scale fire, according to media accounts.
Kyiv also hit the a Russian forward command post located near the village of Korenevo, Kursk Oblast, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Is this really the end of Russia’s gas influence? We examine the implications for Ukraine, Russia and Europe of Ukraine’s decision to halt to the transit of Russian gas through its territory.
On Jan. 1, Ukraine halted the transit of Russian gas to Europe through the Druzhba, Soyuz and Yamal-Yevropa pipelines. The names of these pipelines – drawn from Soviet-era words meaning “friendship”, “union” or “brotherhood” – are, in all their irony, the remnants of a 60-year-old gas transit friendship.
Until any new deals are made, most gas flowing through Ukrainian pipelines, aside from a tiny share of imports from Hungary and Moldova, will be Ukraine-produced gas.
The Ukrainian president said in Kyiv that talks to end the war should be held between the United States, Ukraine and Russia, as well as the European Union.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday said allies should work towards determining a format for potential peace talks with Russia, reiterating that only talks involving Kyiv could bring about a sustainable peace.
His comments are the latest to pile on speculation over the possibility of negotiations to end the brutal conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives after almost three years of fighting.
Many Russians were left without mobile communications and internet after Ukrainian military intelligence launched a cyberattack against one of Russia’s largest telecoms companies.
Cyber specialists from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) have executed a large-scale cyberattack against MegaFon, one of Russia’s largest mobile and internet operators, known for supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine,
HUR sources told Ukrinform.
Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.
Key Takeaways from the ISW: