Tuesday, January 21

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A mural depicting a Ukrainian tractor pulling a Russian tank is pictured on an apartment block in Kharkiv’s Saltivka district on Jan. 20, 2025. Ukraine faces a pivotal moment in its war with Russia as its biggest military ally, the United States, inaugurates a new president and with it a new foreign policy. (Carl Court / Getty Images)

Russia launched nearly 550 drones, 60 missiles, over 660 aerial bombs against Ukraine in a week. “More Patriot (air defenses) for Ukraine means more protection of life,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

‘I didn’t know who I’d be fighting’ — North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine speaks in new footage. The POW said he arrived in Russia on a cargo ferry with over 100 other North Korean soldiers.

Commander of scandal-hit Ukrainian brigade detained, accused of failing to report desertions. The State Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation into the 155th “Anne of Kyiv” Brigade on Jan. 3.

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Putin congratulates Trump amid inauguration, signals readiness for talks. This comes as reported peace proposals, including freezing the front lines, have been publicly rejected by Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that his country would begin peace negotiations if Kyiv agreed to withdraw from the four Ukrainian regions Moscow partly controls.

Trump instructs aides to arrange call with Putin ‘in coming days’ after inauguration, CNN reports. President-elect Donald Trump has previously said he wants to meet with Putin “very quickly” after his inauguration.

Ukraine Air Force specialists safe from transfer to infantry but mobilization issues remain, Syrskyi says. Reports last week indicated that since 2024, thousands of Air Force soldiers have been transferred to the Ground Forces.

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Ukraine war latest: Ammunition used by Russians halved following Ukrainian strikes, Syrskyi says

Despite being regularly outgunned by Russian forces since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has managed to progress in arms production, with the country producing about 33-34% of its annual weapons needs — up from less than 10% before the all-out war.

Photo: Ukraine’s Defense Ministry media center / Telegram

Massive Russian hack on government database shows cracks in Ukraine’s digitalization drive

The hack posed a major threat, highlighting how vulnerable government and Ukrainians’ personal data is to cyber attacks. In pushing to digitize its services quickly, the government may have taken shortcuts that opened the door to digital onslaughts.

Photo: Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images

Russia’s primitive glide bombs are still outmatching Ukraine’s air defenses, killing more civilians

Russia continues to modify and adapt its glide bombs, increasing their range and destructive power, meaning more and more Ukrainian towns and cities are coming under threat.

Photo: Ivan Samoilov / Gwara Media / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

International response

Macron warns of prolonged Ukraine war, urges stronger European defense strategy. “It is essential to provide Ukraine with the means to endure and to negotiate from a position of strength in the future,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on Jan. 20.

China’s support for Russia falls short in replacing Western materials, media reports. China has emerged as Russia’s largest supplier of goods, but Chinese imports have failed to fully replace Western equipment and raw materials lost due to sanctions, The Moscow Times reported on Jan. 20, citing data from the Gaidar Institute.

Lithuania sends drones, thermal imagers, loaders in new Ukraine aid package, Defense Ministry says. “Keeping Ukraine safe means taking care of our security. We have as much time as Ukraine has,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said.

‘False story’ — Denmark denies Russian claims of F-16 instructor killed in Kryvyi Rih strike. “This is a false story being spread by the Russian media — probably with the aim of discrediting Denmark,” Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

EU plans to eliminate Russian fossil fuels, aims to end gas imports. Gas deliveries from Russia to Europe persist despite the EU’s efforts, and Brussels is determined to halt this, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, the EU’s spokesperson for energy and housing, said on Jan. 20.

Opinions and insights

Trump sees peace in Ukraine as a deal but refuses to play his winning hand

“Trump and Kellogg don’t appear to have a deep understanding of Ukraine, Putin, or European security. Ukraine’s fate doesn’t seem to rank high among Trump’s priorities, which focus instead on ‘Making America Great Again,’” writes Timothy Ash, an associate fellow at the Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia Programme.

Photo: Charly Truballeau / AFP / Getty Images

In other news

Trump sworn in as 47th US president, says he’s taking back Panama Canal; doesn’t mention Ukraine. “Golden age of America begins right now,” U.S. President Donald Trump said.

Arms procurement head should keep post, supervisory board says. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov planned to merge the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) and the State Logistics Operator (DOT) into one agency but changed his mind after a NATO statement said that the two agencies should be kept separate and two separate supervisory boards should be established.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Chris York, Boldizsár Győri, Kateryna Hodunova, Oleksiy Sorokin, Tymur Zadorozhnyy, Olena Goncharova, and Sonya Bandouil.

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