• Heavy bombing of Kyiv and Kharkiv. Zelensky: “Crimea is the focus of the war.”
• Kiev: “Russians specifically target residential buildings.”
• Ukraine is short of ammunition: here's why.
01:44 a.m. – Russian missiles on Kharkiv, damage to civilian infrastructure
Russian forces launched two rocket attacks on Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine last night, causing damage to civilian infrastructure in the center of the city: this was announced by the head of the city's military administration, Oleg Sinegubov, on Telegram, Ukrinform reported. “The occupiers attacked Kharkiv twice with S-300 missiles. There are no victims at the moment. There is information about damage to non-residential civil infrastructure in the central part of the city,” the statement said.
1:42 a.m. – White House: Congress stops new military funding
The US Congress' stop blocks further military funding for Ukraine. This was confirmed by White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby during today's briefing, as reported by the Ukrainian press, who, however, guaranteed that the Biden administration will continue to stand by Ukraine. The arms shipments “are forced to stop,” Kirby said. “The President signed the last aid package that we had the authority to allocate. “Now we need another law to continue providing assistance to Ukraine.” The most recent package totaling 250 million air defense weapons, artillery and anti-tank ammunition was signed on December 27th announced and will arrive in Ukraine in the next few weeks, but “later, due to lack of additional funds, there.” “There are no other magical sources to fall back on,” said the spokesman.
5:33 p.m. – Moscow: “248 Russian soldiers released thanks to UAE mediation”
248 Russian soldiers were released after a complex negotiation process. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Tass news agency reports, the return of the soldiers to Russia was possible thanks to the mediation of the United Arab Emirates. “After a complex negotiation process, 248 Russian soldiers were repatriated from territory controlled by the Kiev regime. The return of Russian soldiers from captivity was made possible thanks to the humanitarian mediation of the United Arab Emirates,” the ministry statement said.
1:51 p.m. – Poland will not lift the ban on imports of Ukrainian wheat
The new Polish government will not lift the ban on imports of Ukrainian wheat into the domestic market introduced on September 15, 2023 for the time being. This was announced by Polish Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski, reports Ukrinform. citing Cenyrolnicze.pl. “Poland wants to help Ukraine, but the country needs rules on quotas and transition periods.” These are not only negotiations between Poland and Ukraine, but also with the participation of the EU. “Warsaw will support the embargo on Ukrainian grain until other conditions are agreed,” Siekierski said. According to the minister, “a good solution would be the introduction of transport licenses, which at the same time allow the use of transit routes for Ukrainian grain outside Poland.”
1:50 p.m. – Moscow changes tactics and attacks Kiev's defense industry
According to the latest report from British military intelligence, Russia has temporarily changed the targets of attacks in Ukraine and is now targeting the defense industry instead of energy facilities, as it did last winter. British analysts note that since December 29, 2023, Moscow has increased the intensity of its long-range strikes against Ukraine, using a significant part of the stockpiles of cruise missiles and ballistic missiles accumulated in recent months
11:24 a.m. – Telephone call between Kiev and the USA, important for strengthening air defense
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office chief Andriy Yermak held a telephone conversation with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Yermak himself reported this in a post on
10:10 a.m. – The EU imposes sanctions on the Russian diamond giant Alrosa
The EU Council has added the company PJSC Alrosa and its CEO Pavel Alekseevich Marinychev to its blacklist of people and organizations subject to restrictive measures. Alrosa is the largest diamond mining company in the world, owned by the Russian state and responsible for more than 90% of all Russian diamond production. “The company represents an important part of an economic sector that brings significant revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation,” the council noted in a statement
9:22 a.m. – Tajani, the political solution and peace are the end goal
The political solution and peace in Ukraine is the ultimate goal: the West and Europe help Kiev prevent violence from prevailing over international law. This is what Council Vice President and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Rainews. “Imagine what would have happened without the help of the West: Russia would have invaded Ukraine in defiance of international law,” Tajani said. “We are helping the Ukrainian people not to be forced to give in in the face of Russian violence,” the minister added.
8:21 a.m. – Media, explosions in Sevastopol
Yesterday evening, heavy explosions were heard in Sevastopol in occupied Crimea: This was reported by the Telegram channel “Crimea.Realities”, as reported by Ukrinform. For his part, the head of the peninsula's pro-Russian government, Mikhail Razvozhaev, said that a missile had been launched near Sevastopol, adding that there was no damage to infrastructure.
6:02 a.m. – The OSCE strongly condemns the recent Russian bombings
Leaders of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have strongly condemned recent Russian bombings on the territory of Ukraine and called for an immediate end to the war. The OSCE's current president, Malta's Foreign Minister Jan Borg, and the organization's Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid, noted in a joint statement that the new year “started in a depressing way, just as the last one ended.” Death and destruction have robbed women, men, boys and girls of their lives and destroyed essential infrastructure.” “Every day it is civilians who pay the price for this terrible conflict.” They should never be victims of deadly drone and missile attacks – that is it further in the message. Together, we deeply deplore these ongoing attacks and urge an immediate end to the incessant violence, which only perpetuates a vicious cycle of misery and suffering. We demand that this war ends now.”
5:25 a.m. – Zelensky, “300 missiles and 200 drones from Russia in 5 days”
“In a few days, from December 29 to today, Russia has used about 300 missiles and over 200 “Shahed” drones against Ukraine.” This is what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in the daily evening video message published on X a few hours ago: “ Before Ukraine, no country in the world had ever successfully repelled such attacks in combination with the use of drones and missiles, including air-launched ballistic missiles. Today alone, ten Kinzhal were shot down,” he said, referring to Tuesday’s attacks. Zelensky then added that “every additional air defense and missile system saves more lives.” “Here in Ukraine and with our air defense, we must show that democracies are capable of protecting lives from all types of terror,” concluded the Ukrainian leader.
3:51 a.m. – Five dead in “massive” Russian attacks, Kiev urgently wants more military aid
Russia carried out new “massive” attacks against Ukraine today, killing at least five civilians and wounding 130 people, mostly in Kiev and Kharkiv, according to Ukrainian authorities who are pleading with their Western allies for more military assistance. As usual, the Russian army was careful to only target military facilities, all of which were “destroyed” with long-range missiles and explosive drones. “The trajectories were specifically calculated by the enemy to cause the greatest possible damage. This is completely deliberate terror,” denounced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his daily speech.
2:33 a.m. – Ukraine: Russian missile hits Kharkiv, hitting a school
A Russian missile hit one of the schools in the Osnovyansk district of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine yesterday evening: the official Ukrainian radio station Suspline reported about it on Telegram. After the attack, part of the two-story building collapsed, the statement said. The rocket also damaged at least three houses near the school.
01:21 a.m. – Kiev: “The USA will strengthen Ukraine’s air defense”
The USA has agreed with the Kiev government to strengthen Ukrainian air defense, also against the background of yesterday's Russian missile attack on Kiev with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles: Ukrainian presidential adviser Andry Yermak announced this after a telephone conversation with the National Security Adviser of the White House Telegram known Jake Sullivan. “We discussed the consequences of the recent large-scale bombardment of the territory of Ukraine by the Russian Federation with various types of rocket weapons and kamikaze drones of the Shahed type,” Yermak wrote, adding that he was briefing Sullivan on the “results of …” have work of the air defense system of Ukraine, which shot down the vast majority of enemy air targets, including Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles.”
The US “agreed on the importance of strengthening Ukraine's air defense,” the official continued: “It was emphasized the importance of maintaining the necessary level of support for Ukraine's air defense from the United States Kiev and Washington also agreed on “coordinated steps to implement the Ukrainian-American cooperation plans for 2024 in all directions, including in the field of national security.”