RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kyiv, worldwide reaction, and the plight of civilians and refugees. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Latest Developments At A Glance
- A Ukrainian military spokesman claimed on January 18 that the situation in Pokrovsk remains "stable" and that there are no Russian troops inside the embattled Ukrainian city, even as authorities rushed to evacuate children from the bombed-out ruins.
- The Russian military has launched a deadly strike on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and also hit the city of Zaporizhzhya, local authorities reported.
- A fire broke out late on January 17 at an industrial site in Russia's Kaluga region south of Moscow after it was hit by drones.
- Four people were killed and seven others were wounded in a Russian missile strike deep in the heart of Ukraine, partially destroying an educational facility in the central city of Kryviy Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown.
- U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on a visit to Kyiv on January 16 that any deal to end the war in Ukraine must "guarantee" Ukraine's security and independence.
- U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has removed the chairman of the powerful House Intelligence Committee who has been an outspoken supporter of assistance for Ukraine.
- President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be the top U.S. diplomat, said it is “unrealistic” to believe that Ukraine’s armed forces can push Russian troops back to pre-invasion lines and that Kyiv will have to make concessions to Moscow to end the war sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion.
- Russian forces tried to prevent Ukrainian troops who captured a North Korean soldier in Kursk earlier this month from taking him off the battlefield, according to a Ukrainian soldier involved in the mission in comments to RFE/RL.
- Russia's foreign minister signaled that Moscow was ready to hear from President-elect Donald Trump and advisers on proposals to resolve the Ukraine war, saying the incoming administration had "started to acknowledge the realities on the ground."
- NATO and EU leaders agreed to launch a monitoring mission of the Baltic Sea in the wake of several "serious incidents" damaging critical undersea infrastructure, some of which are suspected to involve vessels that form part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet.
Why Do Ukrainians Oppose Lowering The Conscription Age?
A Ukrainian mother told RFE/RL that she has sent her teenage sons abroad so that they can avoid military service when they came of age – and she’s not alone. Suggestions by senior U.S. politicians that Ukraine lower the conscription age from 25 to18 are deeply unpopular. Read the report by Ray Furlong, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, and Current Time here.
Ukraine Has Launched A New Offensive Into Russia. Why And Why Now?
Ukraine has launched a new offensive in Russia’s region of Kursk. But it’s not clear why exactly Ukraine is waging a new assault in Kursk, and why now. Read the report by Todd Prince here.
What Awaits Ukraine War In 2025 Amid Shifting Political Climate?
The outgunned Ukrainian military has relied on Western support to buoy its defensive efforts as Russian forces look to seize more Ukrainian territory. Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden is rushing to deliver more aid to the country before he leaves office in January. But it's unclear how the incoming Trump administration will support Ukraine in 2025. By Donbas.Realities, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Austin Malloy
Will The Ukraine War End In 2025?
A durable peace deal seems very distant. But a push for a cease-fire is almost a given in light of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s promises to end the war quickly. What are the chances the guns could go silent in 2025 -- and what would it mean for Ukraine? Read the report by Steve Gutterman here.
Hundreds Of Ukrainian Marines Missing After 'Hell On Earth' Battle For Krynky
Families of missing Ukrainian marines are desperate to learn whether the servicemen were killed or captured following a risky mission to liberate the village of Krynky. After crossing the Dnieper River in late 2023, the marines failed to hold a bridgehead on the Russian-occupied eastern bank. Months of fighting that lasted until this summer reportedly left more than 250 Ukrainian troops dead and nearly 800 unaccounted for. The families of the missing marines say they have been stonewalled by representatives of the military units in which their relatives served. By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Margot Buff
North Korean Troops Take Pounding As Kim Reportedly Doubles Down
North Korea’s elite troops have faced severe losses Russia's war with Ukraine, with over 1,100 killed or injured in recent weeks, according to South Korean intelligence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy estimates the toll at more than 3,000. Despite his forces’ lack of preparation for modern trench warfare, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears undeterred, doubling down on his alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin in exchange for oil, cash, and military technology. Read the report by Todd Prince here.
What Would The Russian Capture Of Pokrovsk Mean For The Ukraine War?
Russia could soon capture the key southern Donetsk logistics hub of Pokrovsk, which would cap a year of material territorial gains in Ukraine. However, Russia's year-long offensive has come at such significant human and equipment losses that its forces may not be able to use Pokrovsk as a springboard for big gains in the short-term. Read the report by Todd Prince and Oleksiy Prodayvoda here.
What A Ukraine Peace Plan Could Look Like
In European capitals, behind closed doors, diplomats and leaders are spit-balling what a Ukrainian peace plan might actually look like. European peacekeeping troops are one option (don’t expect much enthusiasm from Moscow). Read the article by Mike Eckel here.
Interactive: Occupied, Militarized Crimea
As Ukrainian leaders vow to reclaim all territories seized by Russia, Moscow has prepared extensive defensive measures, particularly in Crimea, a region unlawfully annexed in 2014. This area, now under Russian occupation, has been heavily militarized with an array of air bases and army bases, making it one of the most fortified zones in the war. View the interactive map by Crimea.Realities, Schemes, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Central Newsroom here.
