U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has declassified previously undisclosed efforts to support Ukraine’s drone industry, including $1.5 billion funding sent in September 2024, The New York Times reported on Jan. 17, citing anonymous officials.

Ukrainian drones have been utilized for reconnaissance, combat, and other missions, showcasing their versatility and impact in countering Russian forces.

U.S. intelligence officers reportedly assisted in advancing Ukraine’s drone capabilities, helping to design a new generation of drones intended to revolutionize modern warfare.

While much of the U.S. aid for Ukraine has been publicly disclosed — covering missiles, air defense systems, tanks, and training — support for the drone sector has largely remained secret.

The declassified data reveals that the U.S. allocated funds for drone manufacturing and facilitated partnerships between U.S. tech companies and Ukrainian drone producers.

These efforts intensified during preparations for Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive, which struggled to achieve significant territorial gains, reportedly due to Russia’s extensive drone use. In response, the U.S. accelerated aid to Ukraine’s drone sector.

Officials reportedly believe this investment has made Ukrainian drones more effective and deadly. Ukrainian maritime drones, credited with destroying 25% of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, and aerial drones deployed on the front lines have slowed Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.

By the end of 2024, Ukraine had delivered over 200,000 domestically produced drones to frontline units, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said in December.

Ukrainian special forces target Russian soldiers behind POW executions — several reportedly killed, captured

The captured Russians were identified as marines from the 40th Arctic Brigade.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Amidst an aura of apparent stability lies a significant financial crisis in the Russian economy, largely driven by massive military expenditures, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reports.

As the war with Ukraine continues, along with an increase in the military budget to 8% of GDP, Russia's official state deficit in 2024 hit just 1.9%. However, the newspaper notes this figure conceals a sharp rise in corporate debt, fuelled through commercial banks under Kremlin directives.

Since the beginning of the war, Russia's corporate debt has climbed 71%, reaching $415 billion, about one-fifth of the nation's GDP. Over half of this debt is directly linked to the military economy and loans issued under government pressure.

A crucial tool in cloaked financing involves coercing Russian banks to provide low-interest loans to military-industrial enterprises. Economist Craig Kennedy's research suggests nearly half of these companies are essentially "zombies," unable to survive without state support.

The crisis deepens with actions by Elvira Nabiullina, Chair of the Bank of Russia, who raised the key rate to 21% in an attempt to curb inflation. This move sparked outrage among leaders of defense giants like Sergei Chemezov (Rostec) and Alexey Mordashov (Severstal), who reportedly complained directly to Putin.

Italian analysts highlight the Kremlin's dilemma. Continuing the war demands increasing financial input, mounting pressure on an already overextended banking system. Meanwhile, ending the conflict threatens widespread bankruptcies of enterprises dependent entirely on military orders.

Adding to the concern, Putin's advisor Nikolai Patrushev made a chilling statement that Ukraine "could cease to exist within a year." Corriere della Sera) interprets this as an indirect admission that Russia cannot maintain the war without complete economic and financial collapse.

Experts warn that the Russian economy is teetering on the brink of disaster, with the delicate balance between banks and businesses under threat and debt burdens escalating. The Italian publication emphasizes that with each passing month, Russia's financial future becomes increasingly insecure and harder to conceal from the public.

Russian ships blocked from Syria's Tartus naval base: Seven of Russia's vessels are being denied entry to their only overseas naval base in Tartus, Syria, according to Navy Captain Third Rank Dmitry Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy. This has forced them to drift in the Mediterranean Sea.

Pletenchuk explained that these are seven ships, including two missile carriers, which have been stranded at sea for over a week due to their inability to enter the port and retrieve Russian military equipment.

"As of now, they are essentially adrift at sea. We've been observing how the Russians have been denied access to what was once their sole overseas naval base for more than ten days," stated Pletenchuk.

Earlier, Pletenchuk reported that Russian forces have stopped repairing military ships in the temporarily occupied Crimea out of fear of Ukrainian Defense Forces' strikes.

Basic general military training for students of Ukrainian higher education institutions will begin in September 2025, the Defense Ministry announced on Jan. 17.

President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier approved amendments to the law on military duty and military service in Ukraine. The updated law stipulates systematic basic military training for students.

The course will consist of 90 academic hours of theory study ,and 210 academic hours of practical training.

The theory part is compulsory for both men and women, aged 18 to 25. The practical course is mandatory only for men. Women can attend it at their own request, having previously passed a medical examination.

During the course, students will gain basic knowledge of tactical, intelligence, and psychological training, first aid, and the basics of military discipline. They will also master the skills of handling weapons, according to the ministry’s statement.

Following the basic military training, students will take the military oath, receive a certificate, and obtain a military specialization.

Men who complete the course will become liable for military service, but according to the law on mobilization training and mobilization, they will not be drafted into the army until they are 25 years old. Up until that age, they can do so voluntarily.

As the full-scale invasion broke out, the Ukrainian government began reviewing educational programs in schools and higher education institutions to ensure that civilians were better prepared for the challenges posed by the war.

Starting in 2024, Ukrainian schools also launched a pilot program of the updated Defense of Ukraine subject, which has been taught since Soviet times. The updated program’s subject will become mandatory in 2027.

How will Russia’s war end?

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump promised to end the Ukraine-Russia war during his campaign. As inauguration approaches on Jan. 20, the Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell lays out the four scenarios that could see an end to the war in Ukraine — for better or worse.

The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

Editor’s note: This story is being updated.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian have signed a strategic partnership agreement in Moscow on Jan. 17, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Moscow and Tehran have long ties but their cooperation only intensified after the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022.

Iran has provided Russia with thousands of Shahed drones used in attacks against Ukrainian cities, as well as short-range ballistic missiles.

Partners, not allies: What to expect from Russia-Iran agreement set to be signed on Jan. 17

For Moscow, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Russia on Jan. 17 is a diplomatic victory. The trip’s centerpiece will be the finalization of a long-heralded partnership deal between Russia and Iran, signed by Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. The agreement…

The Kyiv IndependentKatie Marie Davies

OSCE observers not invited to monitor upcoming presidential election in Belarus.

Belarus to host over 13,000 Russian troops for Zapad-2025 joint military drills with Russia.

Belarus sentences EU diplomatic staffer to four years in prison.

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Irregular crossings into EU from eastern borders more than triple in 2024, Frontex reports.

Belarusian state TV airs a propaganda film with jailed journalists, attempting to discredit their coverage of 2020 elections ahead of upcoming vote.

Belarusian opposition announced it will issue “New Belarus” passports, yet legal uncertainty remains for exiles.

Belarus refuses to invite OSCE observers to upcoming election

Minsk has not invited observers from the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions to monitor the upcoming presidential elections in Belarus, the OSCE announced on Jan. 9.

The presidential elections, which are expected to provide Belarus’s longtime dictator Alexander Lukashenko with a seventh term in office, are scheduled for Jan. 26. The poll, dismissed as a “sham” by the Belarusian opposition, will be the first presidential race since the 2020 election — which sparked an unprecedented wave of anti-government protests and an ongoing domestic political crisis.

The OSCE said Belarus’ decision not to invite its member states via the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) was “regrettable” and “deprives the country’s citizens of a transparent and full assessment of the entire process.”

“The lack of transparency further undermines faith in the electoral system of Belarus,” said OSCE PA President Pia Kauma.

This is the third time the office will be unable to observe elections in Belarus since the contested 2020 vote — it was not invited to observe the 2022 constitutional referendum or parliamentary elections.

Speaking at a meeting with the chairs of regional executive committees on Jan. 3, Lukashenko mentioned the idea of inviting international observers, saying, “We should meet with the Central Commission once again and decide whether we will invite these foreigners (Western observers) to the elections.”

However, Lukashenko raised the issue less than three weeks before the elections, with the key stages of the campaign — the nomination of candidates, the formation of local electoral committees, and the selection of national observers — already having been carried out.

The rushed presidential election campaign is being held nearly half a year earlier than is stipulated in Belarus’s election law. The Belarusian Central Election Committee (CEC) cleared the heads of three loyalist parties — Aleh Haidukevich, Alexander Hizhnyak, and Siarhei Syrankou — along with another sham candidate representing the so-called “constructive opposition” — Hanna Kanapatskaya — to “challenge” Lukashenko for the presidency.

As of Jan. 8, the Belarusian Central Electoral Committee (CEC) had accredited 362 foreign observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (PA CSTO) — all Russia-led international alliances favoring the Lukashenko regime.

Among the 28,330 national observers, 79% come from political parties or pro-government professional unions, the independent news outlet Pozirk reports. Since 2020, Lukashenko has eliminated all but four loyal political parties and liquidated over 1,800 civil society organizations.

The expert observation mission organized by the Viasna Human Rights Center and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee claims that the electoral campaign is organized in a “repressive climate of threat, fear-mongering, pressure, and persecution in connection with any civil activity unauthorized by the state.”

Will Transnistria’s gas crisis lead to its collapse and reintegration into Moldova?

By halting natural gas supplies to Moldova on Jan. 1, Russia created an unprecedented economic crisis in the Russian-occupied part of the country — Transnistria. The crisis prompted a question: will the breakaway region, occupied by Russia since 1992, survive without Russian gas? Free-of-charge Ru…

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Minsk expects 13,000 Russian troops to take part in joint military drills in 2025

Over 13,000 Russian troops will participate in the Zapad-2025 joint military exercise, the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced on Jan. 10, citing Major General Valery Revenka.

Military allies Russia and Belarus have been conducting the Zapad (“West” in Russian) strategic drills every two years since 2009. Approximately 12,800 Russian soldiers were hosted in Belarus in 2021. Another military drill, “Union Resolve 2022,” followed the Zapad-2021, and was used to disguise a troop buildup on the Ukrainian border ahead of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022.

In an interview with a state-owned TV channel, Major General Revenka said that Belarus has already notified OSCE member states about the drills in line with the Vienna Document, extending an invitation to “allies, friends, partners” to observe the exercises.

According to Revenka, Belarus “views positively” only some EU and NATO member countries — without specifying which ones. Noting that Belarus had not been invited to observe European military drills last year, Revenka said that a decision regarding an invitation to NATO members remained to be taken.

The date of the Zapad-2025 drills has not officially been announced, but they are believed to be scheduled for September 2025. In October 2024, the Belarusian Air Force announced “major drills with Russia in September 2025,” right after a meeting of the joint board of the Belarusian and Russian Defense Ministries approved a concept plan for the Zapad-2025 joint strategic exercise.

The Vienna Document on security and confidence-building requires its members to provide notification 42 days or more prior to holding military drills.

Aside from Zapad-2025, Belarus plans to host three military drills — Search, Interaction, and Echelon — along with members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Russia-led bloc Moscow set up in 2002, over a decade after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact.

While not committing Belarusian troops to Russia’s war on Ukraine, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory as a jumping off point for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, provided supplies to the Russian army, and offered to host Russian tactical nuclear weapons.

EU diplomatic staffer in Belarus sentenced to 4 years in prison

Minsk City Court has handed down a four-year prison sentence to a local staff member of the European Union’s diplomatic service in Belarus, Politico reported on Jan. 9.

The sentence, issued in late December 2024, has only now been made public. The court found the EU staffer, Mikalai Khilo, guilty of “incitement of hatred and calls for actions harming Belarus’s national security.”

The EU’s External Action Service condemned the decision and reiterated calls for Khilo to be released.

“We continue calling for Mikalai Khilo’s immediate and unconditional release,” EU spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Anitta Hipper said in a statement shared with Politico.

The EU diplomatic service previously called for Khilo’s release ahead of his trial, which was held on Dec. 23. At the time, a Lithuanian member of the European Parliament, Petras Auštrevičius, told Politico that Minsk was “testing the EU” by arresting its employee. He said Belarusian diplomats should be expelled from the EU if Khilo was convicted.

Forty-one-year-old Khilo split his time between working for the EU diplomatic mission and serving as a preacher in a local Baptist church, as confirmed by CV (formerly known as Christian Vision) — an international Christian ministry that monitors the repression of clergy and religious groups.  

According to an unnamed EU official, Khilo was detained by the Belarusian KGB security service in front of the EU delegation office on April 24, 2024. The Viasna Human Rights Center, a human rights organization based in Belarus, recognizes Khilo as a political prisoner.

Although there have recently been eight rounds of pardons of political prisoners in Belarus, 1,240 political prisoners remain behind bars in the country. According to CV, 86 clergymen from various confessions are behind bars because of their public support for anti-government protests in 2020.

‘You’ll die here’ – Belarusian political prisoners recount experiences ahead of Lukashenko’s reelection

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power for 30 years, is looking to reelect himself for the seventh time. In the run-up to the January 2025 presidential elections, Lukashenko has pardoned prisoners convicted of extremism, claiming that it was a “humane gesture” toward those…

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

EU border agency: Irregular crossings of eastern border more than tripled in 2024

The number of detected cases of migrants irregularly entering the European Union through its eastern borders more than tripled in 2024, to 17,000, the European border agency Frontex said in a report on Jan. 14.

Following the introduction of European sanctions in 2021 over the contested 2020 presidential election and crackdown on dissent, the regime of Lukashenko orchestrated an artificial migration crisis, allowing migrants from the Middle East and African to storm Belarus-EU borders.

Frontex preliminary data show that while the overall number of irregular border crossings to the European Union declined by 38% (returning to the post-pandemic level of 2021), the eastern border route (including Belarus and Ukraine) bucked the general trend: There were 17,000 illegal crossings of the bloc’s eastern border out of a total of 239,000 crossings recorded in Europe last year.

In 2021, the EU recorded 8,000 illegal crossings of its eastern border, in what Frontex monitoring described as a “hybrid operation targeting the EU external border.” Following an initial settlement that led to a decline in the registered irregular border crossings to 5,608 in 2023, the artificial migration crisis reignited again, with Russia joining the effort.

In late 2024, the EU authorities revealed that 90% of the migrants arriving via Belarus had Russian student or travel visas. The bloc pledged 170 million euros to its eastern members — Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, and Finland — and to Norway to fortify their borders.

As “hybrid warfare” involving migrants continues, the border security agencies of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia have thwarted a total of 36,291 attempts to illegally cross their borders from Belarus in 2024.

In 2024, Poland reimposed a 200-meter-wide buffer zone next to its border with Belarus, and considered temporarily suspending the right to asylum.

Belarusian state TV shows jailed journalists ahead of 2025 vote

The Belarusian state-owned TV channel ONT aired on Jan. 14 the first segment of propaganda interviews with journalists held in Belarusian prisons, in an apparent attempt to discredit the work of independent media during the 2020 presidential elections.

In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, widely viewed as neither free nor fair, the free media field in Belarus was eradicated. Thirty-seven journalists remain behind bars on politically motivated charges, and hundreds were forced into exile. In 2024 alone, 35 independent media were branded as “extremist” and banned in Belarus.

The first part of the series “about employees of American Media,” was filmed in prisons, yet is titled “Freedom of Speech.” RFE/RL’s Belarus Service freelancer and political prisoner Andrey Kuznechyk, who was charged with six years of imprisonment for allegedly “creating and participating in an extremist formation.”

In the interview, Kuznechyk appears in a black robe in the prison yard, looking emaciated. The interviewer urges him to condemn the independent media in Belarus for biased coverage and “trying to set Belarus on fire” during the 2020 elections.

The program is airing ahead of the Jan. 26 presidential elections, the first presidential vote since the contested 2020 race, which is expected to provide Lukashenko with a seventh consecutive term in office. After winning the country’s first and last fair election in 1994, Lukashenko remained in power for 30 years, gradually giving up parts of Belarusian sovereignty to Russia.

Other segments are to feature RFE/RL Belarus Service journalist Ihar Losik, who has been held incommunicado for nearly two years, as well as former reporter Ihar Karney and opposition activist Yuras Zyankovich, who hold dual citizenship of Belarus and the United States.

The international press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF)  placed Belarus 167th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index, calling the country the fourth largest jailer of journalists in the world, and Europe's most dangerous country for journalists up until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Belarusian opposition announces issuing ‘New Belarus’ passports

Political opponents of the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko will start accepting applications for the alternative identity documents for exiled Belarusians on Jan. 26, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has announced on her Telegram channel.

In September 2023, Lukashenko barred Belarusian embassies from issuing or renewing passports of Belarusians living abroad, forcing the regime’s critics to return to Belarus — risking arrest — to renew their essential documents. As a result of Lukashenko’s move, over 300,000 exiles who have fled Belarus since the contested 2020 elections risk finding themselves in legal limbo, unable to prove their identity, renew residence permits, or access essential services in host countries with expired passports.

In response, the Belarusian opposition in exile announced the “New Belarus” passport project in 2023, but there was little progress on it in 2024. After a change of leadership of the project and a scandal involving the Lithuanian contractor for producing the passports — which was found to have ties with the Lukashenko regime — the opposition has since produced the first prototypes of the passport.

However, the new document has yet to be recognized as suitable for travel or as official proof of identity, and it will initially be available only to EU-based Belarusians due to verification constraints, according to project head Marius Gudelaitis.

Franak Viachorka, a chief advisor to Tsikhanouskaya, said that the passports will have “specific functionality” within a year.

“Our goal is that this document can replace a foreign passport, be used for travel, and also replace expired (Belarusian) passports when submitting documents for legalization, for example,” Viachorka told news outlet Zerkalo.

However, the former head of the passport project, Valery Kavaleuski, who earlier resigned from Tsikhanouskaya’s Transitional Cabinet, has warned that gaining recognition for the document under present conditions is unlikely. According to Kavaleuski, the issuing center has had to undergo an independent audit before issuing the documents. Besides, the passport will reportedly use a new country code, instead of the existing Belarusian one, which Kavaleuski described as a "dead end" for the recognition process.

The passport will be presented to the public at the “Belarusians Deserve Better” congress in Warsaw, Poland on Jan. 26 – the same day as Lukashenko's latest presidential election, which has been dismissed as a sham by the Belarusian opposition. Meanwhile, Belarusian prosecutors have already issued warnings that congress participants could face criminal prosecution.

Belarusian soldiers fighting for Ukraine say time is running out for their brother-in-arms extradited to Belarus

In Alexander Lukashenko’s Belarus, helping to defend Ukraine against Russia gets you labeled as a terrorist. Vasil Verameichyk, a Belarusian who enlisted in Ukraine’s Armed Forces just four days after Russia launched its all-out war, was detained on Nov. 13 in Vietnam in a suspected covert operatio…

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged the European Union to lift sanctions on Russia, news portal Telex reported on Jan. 17.

According to the Hungarian outlet, Orban said it’s “time to throw sanctions out the window” and establish a sanctions-free relationship with Russia during a radio interview.

He also described the European Union as being in a “drunken stage” but predicted a “sobering up” in Brussels.

The statements come as Orban reportedly told EU leaders he plans to wait until U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office before deciding on extending the bloc’s sanctions against Russia, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 19.

Orban, whose government is widely regarded as the EU’s most Russia-friendly, has repeatedly criticized aid for Ukraine, arguing it prolongs and escalates the war.

“If they hadn’t cheated in 2020, Donald Trump would have remained president, and then there would be no Ukrainian-Russian war,” he said, referencing false claims that President Joe Biden stole the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

Orban framed peace in Ukraine as essential to Hungary’s economic goals, saying that European perspectives on Ukraine should go beyond the “lens of war."

Orban also announced plans for protective economic measures to “safeguard” Hungarian agricultural sectors, citing Ukraine as a potential economic threat to Europe.

Orban’s remarks come amid strained relations between Hungary and the EU. In July, the European Commission criticized Hungary for failing to meet democratic standards, particularly regarding political financing, conflicts of interest, and media independence.

Opposition leader Peter Magyar called for early elections on Jan. 1, citing Orban’s declining popularity and allegations of corruption, which Magyar claims have turned Hungary into “the EU’s poorest, most corrupt nation."

Slovak opposition leader arrives in Kyiv to ‘reopen door Fico slammed’

“Our goal is clear — to reopen the door that Robert Fico slammed with his aggressive outbursts,” pro-Western opposition leader Michal Simecka said on social media.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Russia has expressed its readiness to supply gas to the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria, escalating a tense energy standoff in Eastern Europe. Moscow is prepared to assist Transnistria, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists when asked whether Russia is planning to purchase gas for Transnistria from the European spot market.

Peskov stated that practical steps should be taken to ensure the delivery of gas and procurement by Moldova. “As of now, we have not heard any statements regarding their readiness to undertake these actions,” the Kremlin representative added.

According to a report by "Kommersant" citing sources, the plan involves supplying gas to Transnistria through purchases on the European spot market with the help of an intermediary company, with costs shouldered by the Russian budget. This initiative is expected to run from January through April, delivering up to 3 million cubic meters per day. "Kommersant" estimates the gas procurement for this period could amount to $164 million, or roughly 16.8 billion rubles.

Industry insiders indicate the gas will likely be supplied to the Transnistrian "Tiraspoltransgaz" by Natural Gaz D.C., rather than "Moldovagaz", which holds a monopoly on supplying the region. Arkady Vikol, co-owner of Natural Gaz D.C., affirmed to the Moldovan outlet NewsMaker that his company has a framework agreement with "Tiraspoltransgaz" to supply 2-3 million cubic meters of gas daily to Transnistria.

Moldova’s Prime Minister Dorin Recean reported that the Moldovan Information and Security Service questioned Arkady Vikol regarding plans to supply gas to Transnistria. MoldoГvagaz asserted that no party other than "Moldovagaz" is authorized to supply gas to the Transnistrian region.

Meanwhile, Moldovan President Maia Sandu stated that Chisinau does not intend to hinder Transnistria’s efforts to address its energy crisis. Vadim Krasnoselsky, the head of the separatist region, announced that Russia would provide gas to the unrecognized republic as humanitarian aid, without detailing how this assistance would be delivered.

The transit agreement for Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine expired on January 1. Consequently, Russian energy giant Gazprom halted gas flows through Ukraine to European nations, including Moldova.

This situation triggered an energy crisis in unrecognized Transnistria. Regional authorities warned that gas reserves posed to be depleted by the end of January. As a result, some residents found themselves without heating, hot water, and gas.

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump promised to end the Ukraine-Russia war during his campaign. As inauguration approaches on Jan. 20, the Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell lays out the four scenarios that could see an end to the war in Ukraine — for better or worse.

Ukrainians who have lost family members due to Russia’s military aggression are being urged to apply for compensation through the international Ukraine Damage Registry (RD4U) in The Hague, established by the Council of Europe. On Thursday, January 16, RD4U announced it has begun accepting claims for financial compensation from the families of those killed in the conflict.

Eligible applicants include parents, spouses, civil partners, and children of victims of the war instigated by Russia against Ukraine. Other family members may also apply if they can demonstrate a legitimate interest.

Applications must be submitted electronically and should include information about the applicant, their deceased family member, and the circumstances surrounding their death. Notably, proof of financial losses stemming from the loved one’s death is not required. Comprehensive details on the application process are available on the organization’s website in English and Ukrainian.. Compensation payments will be made after the war ends.

“This marks a significant step towards supporting those enduring immense suffering caused by Russian aggression and ensuring these families can restore justice and acknowledge their irreplaceable losses,” stated the leadership of the registry.

In April 2024, The Hague began receiving claims from Ukrainians who sustained material losses due to the Russian invasion. This is just one of 44 categories outlined by the registry, according to its executive director Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, who spoke at a conference on restoring justice in Ukraine. As of early 2025, RD4U has received approximately 13,000 compensation claims for material damages, including destroyed homes, totaling around 800 million euros.

Ukrainian officials describe the initiative as an unprecedented challenge, anticipating around 8 million claims with expectations for further growth. “Russia must pay for the consequences of its aggression against Ukraine. The damage registry is a beacon of hope for ordinary people experiencing immeasurable suffering,” Kliuchkovskyi declared, acknowledging, however, the process of actually compensating these losses could span years.

The international registry for Ukraine's damages was established on May 17, 2023, at a Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik. It represents the first step toward creating an international compensation mechanism for victims of Russian aggression, a move joined by 43 countries and the European Union, dpa reports. A RD4U office has also been opened in Kyiv. The registry's administration will handle claim collection but not decide on compensations. This task will be resolved by a specialized international compensation mechanism planned to be established post-war.

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces reported on Jan. 17 that they had located and targeted Russian soldiers responsible for executing two Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs).

According to the unit, several were killed, and three were captured. The detainees are reportedly providing testimony.

The targeted Russian soldiers had allegedly taken two Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces fighters captive days earlier, later executing them on the orders of their company commander, the Special Operations Forces said.

The unit conducted an operation to eliminate the group, recover the bodies of the Ukrainian soldiers, and capture any surviving members.

The captured Russians were identified as marines from the 40th Arctic Brigade. During interrogations, they allegedly admitted to taking the Ukrainian POWs and executing them under orders.

Ukrainian forces reportedly killed three members of the firing squad during the operation, while three others, including one identified by the call sign “Yaryy,” were captured.

The Kyiv Independent cannot verify the claims.

Throughout the full-scale war, Ukraine has documented widespread violations of the Geneva Conventions by Russian forces, including the execution of at least 124 Ukrainian POWs, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Reports of torture, murder, and abuse of Ukrainian captives — particularly in Donetsk Oblast — have surged in recent months.

Visual evidence of these atrocities continues to emerge, underscoring Russia’s disregard for international law.

‘He wanted to live’ — How Ukraine captured a North Korean POW, told by the soldiers who took part

Editor’s note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. It was a month-long mission with one primary goal — capturing a North Korean soldier alive. One of the biggest obstacles facing the…

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Ukraine has ramped up its offensive operations deep into Russian territory, employing advanced tactics that demonstrate its technological prowess. According to experts, Kyiv’s persistent assaults on key infrastructure are making peace negotiations an unavoidable path for Moscow.

Cutting-edge long-range drones are striking strategic industrial sites almost daily, including oil refineries, fuel depots, and defense sector facilities. This unrelenting approach aims to make war too costly for Russia.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have extended the range of their strikes to hit targets previously deemed untouchable by Russia just a year ago. Regions like Tatarstan, Saratov, and Novosibirsk are now within reach of Ukrainian operations, challenging the safety of even the farthest Russian territories.

Experts have pointed out that Russian air defenses struggle to cover the sprawling territory effectively. This vulnerability has turned Russia into an "easy target" for Ukraine's drone strikes, putting its industrial giants in jeopardy with alarming regularity. Such factories, which are crucial to the Russian economy, have become "tickets to destruction" without adequate protection.

Since the beginning of 2024, Ukraine's strikes have resulted in the loss of 12% of Russia's refining capacity, forcing the Kremlin to impose fuel export restrictions. Despite these efforts, domestic fuel prices have surged by 11% over the past year, according to analysts.

Beyond oil refineries, Ukrainian attacks have also targeted facilities involved in the chemical and metallurgical industries. These sectors supply essential materials to Russia’s defense complex, and their disruption might lead to a significant degradation of Russia's production capabilities if Ukraine maintains its current offensive rate.

Each Ukrainian strike not only obliterates production facilities but also undermines Russia's logistics networks. Disruptions in fuel and ammunition supplies compel Moscow to expend vast resources on repairs. At the same time, Western sanctions continue to restrict access to vital technologies, limiting the Kremlin's ability to offset these losses.

Experts warn that if Ukraine continues — or steps up — its attacks, Russia might find itself "bare": with a devastated industrial landscape, a declining economy, and an inability to sustain its military operations.

Every night brings fresh destruction for Russia, and it's merely a matter of time before the Kremlin faces the brink. Analysts assert that Ukraine is not just fighting for its land; it’s systematically disarming and weakening its adversary with every strategic hit.

Russia, long confident in the untouchability of its land, must now watch as its strategic assets are reduced to rubble. Kyiv's approach implies that peace talks might eventually be a necessary recourse for Moscow.

Russia’s seaborne exports of petroleum products declined by 9.1% to 113.7 million metric tons in 2024, reflecting mounting challenges to its fossil fuel industry, Reuters reported on Jan. 17.

Ukraine has targeted Russia’s fossil fuel infrastructure as part of its strategy to undermine a key funding source for Russia’s war effort. Drone strikes on refineries in Tuapse, Ilyich, and Novoshakhtinsk have led to reductions or suspensions in operations.

Russian refineries reportedly processed approximately 267 million metric tons of oil in 2024, the lowest since 2012, as rising production costs, falling prices, and an export ban on gasoline strained operations.

Exports through Baltic ports fell by 9% to 61.96 million tons, while shipments via Black and Azov Sea ports dropped 10% to 42.75 million tons.

Notably, exports from Tuapse plummeted by a third to 9.1 million tons, largely due to drone attacks and operational disruptions at state-owned Rosneft refineries. Exports from Novorossiysk increased by 4% to 19 million tons.

Arctic ports, including Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, saw a 14% decline in exports to 1.01 million tons, while Far Eastern ports experienced a 3% drop to 7.97 million tons.

Despite the overall annual decline, marine exports of petroleum products rose 10.8% in December to 10.37 million tons.

Sanctions from the Biden administration and the U.K., announced on Jan. 10, have further pressured Russia’s oil sector.

These measures target nearly 200 vessels in the “shadow fleet,” key oil companies, and associated entities.

The sanctions have driven Brent crude prices up by nearly $5 per barrel. G7 nations are reportedly considering tightening the $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil.

Ukraine strikes Russian S-400 radar equipment in Belgorod Oblast, military claims

“The termination of the functioning of the 92H6 radar station of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system was recorded, which indicates a successful target hit,” the statement read.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Listening to the confirmation hearings of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s various appointees in Congress this week, it’s becoming clear there is no meaningful grand plan from Trump to end the war in Ukraine quickly. In fact, Trump, along with figures like Keith Kellogg, the incoming Ukraine envoy, has backtracked from claiming the war could be ended in days — around the time of the inauguration — to acknowledging it may take months. This suggests they are still searching for a strategy.

There is a genuine desire to end the war, as Trump says, to “stop the killing” and reduce the U.S. budget burden. For some hardline MAGA China hawks (such as former White House chief strategic Steve Bannon), there’s also a desire to strike a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, possibly in a Nixonian way, realigning for an eventual confrontation with China. These hawks often envision a world where the West and Russia form a Judeo-Christian alliance against China’s non-believers.

For Trump, the solution seems simplistic: give Putin some “wins” — allowing him to keep the territories he holds, blocking NATO membership for Ukraine, restricting Ukraine’s use of Western long-range missiles, and moderating sanctions. In return, Trump believes Putin would halt the war. The assumption here is that Ukraine’s victory would simply be Putin halting offensive military actions.

This is naive. It overlooks Ukraine’s security, which is central to both its stability and Europe’s security.

Trump’s recent comments about territorial claims on Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal suggest he shares Putin’s long-held view that great powers deserve “spheres of influence.” This could indicate that Trump might even entertain a “Yalta 2” scenario, where Putin gets Ukraine, and Trump gains Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. The question remains — would Chinese President Xi Jinping be invited to the table, and what would he get?

The issue from the perspective of long-term Putin watchers is that such a deal wouldn’t satisfy Putin. He would take everything Trump offers, then push for more. This is the pattern of all Putin’s conflicts, from Georgia to Moldova, Ukraine, Syria, and Libya. For Putin, it’s not just about territory — it's about eradicating the very system of Western liberal market democracy.

Putin's invasion of Ukraine wasn’t about NATO membership — an unrealistic prospect in 2014. It was about the threat posed by Ukraine’s shift from a Russian client state under then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to a potential member of the Western club of liberal market democracies with the 2013 EU association agreement. Putin feared that if Ukraine succeeded in adopting a democratic, rules-based order, Russians would demand the same, threatening his own rule. It is democracy, not NATO, that Putin despises. He’s in an existential battle with the West — it’s kill or be killed. Trump simply doesn’t understand this, or doesn’t care.

Putin will not stop at a “Yalta 2.” He seeks total victory over the West.

What Trump doesn’t grasp is that unless any peace deal ensures Ukraine’s security from future attack, Putin will inevitably use any perceived weakness as an excuse for further military invasions. This reality means Ukraine won’t receive the investment necessary for its economic development. Without this, Ukraine risks repeating the 22 years of failed economic progress between 1991 and 2013, a period when it remained caught between East and West without a clear anchor, leading to social and political instability.

Ask why Ukraine had two revolutions in 2004-2005 and again in 2014. History will surely repeat itself if millions of soldiers and migrants return to disappointment, leading to further instability that Putin could exploit, either to influence Ukrainian politics or justify future invasions.

Trump isn’t going to provide the leadership Ukraine or European security needs. Yes, his call for European partners to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP is a bold one, but because Trump will likely fail in his peace plan for Ukraine, Europe must take the lead — and perhaps should have done so already. Europe needs Plans A, B, and C.

Plan A: Educate Trump about the importance of securing a lasting peace for Ukraine.

The pitch to Trump should focus on his aversion to failure. He must be told that if Ukraine lacks the security to fend off Putin, it could collapse entirely. This would be devastating for Europe, as millions of migrants would move westward, destabilizing European economies and their social fabric. A weakened Europe would become a reduced market for U.S. goods and a less valuable long-term ally in the looming battle with China. All this would happen on Trump’s watch — it would make Biden’s failure in Afghanistan look like a sideshow.

Plan B: Emphasize how ensuring Ukraine’s security could benefit the U.S. economy.

Ukraine has proven capable of defending itself but could have already won the war with timely, well-supplied Western — mainly U.S. — military support. NATO membership and bilateral security agreements are desirable but unlikely given the politics. Better for Ukraine to trust in its own defense, provided it is assured the necessary military technology and kit will be delivered. The U.S. defense industry is the only one capable of supplying these. Europe, a $26 trillion economy, is more than capable of funding this effort — likely around $150 billion annually, a modest price considering that each 1% increase in NATO spending, due to the Russian threat, costs Europe $250 billion per year.

Europe could even fund increased defense spending by unlocking $330 billion in frozen Russian assets, dedicating a significant portion to purchasing U.S. military equipment.

Europe should also play to Trump’s ego. Pledge a ten-year, $1 trillion European-Ukrainian U.S. defense purchasing program, naming it the "Trump Defense of Democracy in Europe" program — a modern-day Marshall Plan.

Plan C: Prepare for Trump’s potential failure and a bad peace deal that could lead to Ukraine’s eventual defeat.

If this occurs, Europe must step up financial and arms supplies to Ukraine, buying time to ramp up its own defense capacity to 4-5% of GDP. At the same time, Europe should maintain sanctions against Russia, regardless of U.S. actions. If the U.S. doesn’t provide support, Europe should explore diplomatic, economic, and security ties with other powers like Turkey and even China. Though China poses a strategic threat to the U.S., for Europe, Russia remains the primary concern.

The flaws in Ukraine’s new brigades and foreign training programs

Newly formed brigades within the Ukrainian military face critical challenges on the front lines. Poor management, lack of experience, and inadequate training have resulted in territorial losses, damaged equipment, and tragic casualties. NATO’s training methods often fail to align with the realities…

The Kyiv IndependentSerhii Filimonov

A Slovak delegation headed by pro-Western opposition leader Michal Simecka of Progressive Slovakia party arrived in Kyiv on Jan. 17, he said on social media.

“Our goal is clear — to reopen the door that Robert Fico slammed with his aggressive outbursts,” Simecka wrote, who in turn initiated a confidence vote set for next week.

His visit comes days after President Volodymyr Zelensky invited Fico to visit Kyiv on Jan. 17 amid the Slovak prime minister’s threats to limit aid to Ukrainians and cut off electricity supplies due to the termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine to Europe.

Fico said on Jan. 16 he may meet with Zelensky in the “next few days."

According to the opposition leader, the Slovak delegation is planning to hold “important talks” with a Ukrainian side.

“Slovakia and Ukraine are close partners and can help each other a great deal,” he said.

Ukraine did not renew a pre-war agreement to transit Russian gas to Europe via Ukrainian territory, instead allowing the deal to expire on Jan. 1. Kyiv warned repeatedly that it would not extend the deal in order to stop financing Russia’s full-scale war.

Fico and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban have been among some of the most vocal opponents of Ukraine’s decision to stop Russian gas transit.

Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Orban and Fico have continued to maintain friendly ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, meeting with him, and promoting pro-Russian narratives in Europe.

On Jan. 14, Slovakia’s opposition parties announced plans to initiate a vote of no confidence in Fico’s government, citing concerns over his governance and foreign policy direction.  

‘You were shot. Why didn’t you forgive?’ Zelensky tells Fico, drawing parallels to Russian aggression

The Slovak government is playing very dangerous game by criticizing military support for Ukraine and getting closer to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with the Polish media on Jan. 16.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

The Economist recently reported that Ukraine is winning the economic war against Russia for the first time since the full-scale invasion began. Although the country has yet to return to its pre-war economic levels, the trajectory is promising. To sustain and accelerate this momentum, strategic investments, particularly in education, are crucial.

Investments in education have a multiplier effect, acting as a key driver of long-term economic growth. International support for Ukraine’s education sector is vital not just for recovery but for the social capital necessary for enduring progress.

As Ukraine enters its third year of full-scale war, the education system continues to operate under extraordinary circumstances. At the start of last year, one in seven schools was destroyed or damaged, and over 1.8 million students lost access to in-person education. The true cost, however, goes beyond physical destruction. It includes disrupted learning, emotional tolls on children, and the disconnection of students in occupied territories or abroad.

Despite these challenges, Ukraine has made significant strides in restoring education, prioritizing in-person learning where possible. These efforts have been bolstered by a 40% increase in state education funding over the past two years and substantial international support.

For the past year and a half, I’ve worked at Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science, promoting what I call “educational diplomacy” — advocating for Ukraine’s needs on global platforms and mobilizing resources. Today, 35 countries and more than 80 international organizations are helping support Ukrainian education, including leaders from UNICEF, UNESCO, the World Bank, and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

This international collaboration is delivering tangible results that extend beyond financial contributions, translating into concrete initiatives that impact students and teachers, laying a strong foundation for Ukraine’s recovery and future development.

In wartime, education — a fundamental right — is often one of the first casualties. Restoring it requires both innovation and collaboration. For example, the Device Coalition and international partners have provided over 247,990 devices since 2022, particularly to students in front-line and border areas, ensuring access to online learning.

Safe in-person learning also depends on the availability of shelters. In response, the Ukrainian government allocated $178 million for the construction of underground schools in 2024, with $147 million more planned for 2025.  Together with the support of partners such as the European Union, Belgium, Lithuania, UNESCO, and UNITED24 donors, we will be able to help over 100,000 children return to school. Additionally, the Coalition for Textbooks has distributed more than 7.5 million books to ensure students have the resources to thrive.

Key funding initiatives include a $28.2 million collaboration with GPE and a $21 million project with Education Cannot Wait, focused on Ukraine’s most affected regions.

Looking to the future, Ukraine is aligning its education system with European Union standards and investing in its human capital. For instance, UNICEF is supporting reforms in preschool and inclusive education, while the World Bank has provided unprecedented financial backing for general secondary education.

I recall the early days of my tenure when our team traveled to Washington to discuss education funding with the World Bank. What seemed an uphill battle led to the groundbreaking $415 million LEARN project — one of the largest in the World Bank’s portfolio — supporting the New Ukrainian School (NUS) reform and marking the first significant World Bank funding for Ukrainian schools in over a decade.

Ukraine’s educational transformation extends beyond recovery. By 2027, the country will adopt a European-style 12-year education model. Vocational education is being revitalized with support from Swiss experts and DECIDE, while higher education reform is being advanced through a $200 million program in partnership with the World Bank.

Throughout the war, Ukraine continues to develop sustainable educational reforms. A $2.7 million capacity-building grant from GPE is one of the resources enabling these efforts.

Building international partnerships is a long and rewarding process. Behind every achievement is a great deal of coordination, advocacy, and collaboration. These partnerships are built on mutual trust, shared vision, and a deep commitment to Ukraine’s future. Educational diplomacy is a two-way street, and we are committed to being a reliable and innovative partner, sharing our expertise gained through adversity.

Ukraine’s experience is unique: despite the devastation of war, we are not only restoring education but also laying the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient future. This progress would not be possible without the collective efforts of the global community.

The quality of Ukraine’s education system reflects the strength of international cooperation and the shared commitment to achieving sustainable development goals. By investing in Ukrainian education today, we are shaping a brighter future for both our country and the world.

To all those who stand with us, I extend my deepest gratitude.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

Putin’s war economy is running on fumes as inflation and shortages surge

Russian President Vladimir Putin frequently boasts about the strength of his country’s economy, claiming that Western sanctions only made it stronger (while in the same breath demanding that they be lifted). In fact, “stagflation” — inflation combined with minimal growth — is coming to Russia. His w…

The Kyiv IndependentAnders Åslund

Newly formed brigades within the Ukrainian military face critical challenges on the front lines. Poor management, lack of experience, and inadequate training have resulted in territorial losses, damaged equipment, and tragic casualties. NATO’s training methods often fail to align with the realities of modern warfare. Despite receiving advanced equipment and personnel, these brigades falter due to weak coordination and leadership.

These units lack a solid command and control “backbone.” Their core comprises reserve officers, officers from non-combat roles, and individuals promoted despite prior underperformance in combat positions.

One of the most striking examples is the 155th Mechanized Brigade. Despite receiving modern equipment, training in France, and near full staffing, the unit’s command lacked experience and an understanding of combat management, organization, and critical support elements, rendering it ineffective. Over 1,700 soldiers have gone AWOL (absent without leave).

These brigades are often redeployed to the front, far from their assigned sectors. After gaining some battlefield experience within “established” brigades, they are stripped of equipment, weapons, and personnel. I know of approximately 10 such brigades operating under these conditions.

Commanders are chosen by military leadership, and Western partners equip these units with advanced weaponry, including armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and tanks. However, most soldiers lack the training to effectively operate this equipment in combat.

Instead, experienced specialists in the established brigades, who know how to operate such weapons, are temporarily assigned to infantry roles. Artillerymen, mechanics, anti-tank gunners, and drone operators are placed in infantry positions due to limited expertise elsewhere. New equipment, like Mk 19 grenade launchers and M2 Browning machine guns, replace older systems, like T-64 tanks and AGS-17 grenade launchers — but only temporarily.

In Europe, soldiers may learn basic skills like shooting rifles and throwing grenades, but this accounts for only 10-15% of what is needed to survive. To endure on the battlefield, an infantryman must know how to camouflage, maneuver, set up positions, counter drones, provide medical aid, conduct surveillance, report accurately, and coordinate with comrades. Trust in leadership, which ensures comprehensive planning and support, is paramount. Unfortunately, such vital training is often neglected abroad and exists in Ukraine only within seasoned units.

For example, officers of the 155th Mechanized Brigade were unable to lead troops to positions near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast because their transport lacked a radio-electronic warfare system, leaving them unable to navigate safely. Driving unarmored vehicles to the front is perilous, and even military buses are unsafe just 10 kilometers from the front line.

An infantryman typically receives an assault rifle, four magazines, body armor, a helmet, a first aid kit, and a uniform. Yet, survival also requires radios, extra batteries, tablets, additional magazines, grenades, shovels, trench radio-electronic warfare systems, and drones like the Mavic. Volunteers and soldiers' families supply most of these essentials — everything except the grenades.

When a soldier joins a unit equipped with adequate resources and confident leadership, he will do everything to stay. Conversely, soldiers sent to positions immediately after European training or basic military training in Ukraine, without further preparation, often face fatal outcomes or abandon their posts.

Time that could have been spent on coordination, adaptation, and effective task distribution was squandered. This failure to prepare has resulted in poorly motivated, untrained soldiers, leading to operational setbacks and heavy casualties.

The realities of modern warfare show that foreign training, unless adapted to Ukrainian conditions and integrated with unit practices, is not only ineffective but dangerous. Ironically, our soldiers — mechanics, drivers, tankers, artillerymen, grenade launchers, and machine gunners — often teach NATO instructors how to operate the equipment provided. All we truly need from our partners is a proper maintenance manual.

Substantial reforms are urgently needed in Ukraine’s basic combat training. However, no reforms can succeed without commanders who earn the trust of soldiers and volunteers alike. The absence of this trust has led many soldiers to leave struggling brigades in favor of units with better leadership, taking advantage of laws decriminalizing initial desertion. Resources — both personnel and equipment — must be allocated to units that prioritize the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and deliver results.

Editor’s Note: This article was published by Ukrainska Pravda in Ukrainian on Jan. 10, 2025, and has been translated and republished by the Kyiv Independent with permission. The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

Putin’s war economy is running on fumes as inflation and shortages surge

Russian President Vladimir Putin frequently boasts about the strength of his country’s economy, claiming that Western sanctions only made it stronger (while in the same breath demanding that they be lifted). In fact, “stagflation” — inflation combined with minimal growth — is coming to Russia. His w…

The Kyiv IndependentAnders Åslund

Russia launched a missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on Jan. 17, resulting in the deaths of four people and leaving at least three others injured, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

Lysak said the attack damaged an educational institution and a residential building. Local authorities are assessing the full scope of casualties and damage.

According to the governor, the injured are a 22-year-old woman and two men, aged 34 and 56, all of whom are in critical condition.

The Ukrainian Air Force had earlier warned of a ballistic threat and detected a high-speed target heading toward the city. An air alert remains active in the region, with Lysak urging residents to stay in shelters until it is lifted.

Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, is a frequent target of Russian missile strikes.

With a population of approximately 660,000, it is the second-largest city in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and lies about 70 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of the nearest front-line zone.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 1, injure 16 over past day

Ukrainian forces downed 33 out of the 50 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Another nine were “lost,” and one more drone flew in the direction of Romania, according to the statement.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

The United States assured Russian President Vladimir Putin it would not deploy nuclear weapons in Ukraine, outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden said in a Jan. 17 interview with MSNBC.

“Tactical nuclear in Europe scares the hell out of everybody, including the Russians,” he said.

Biden recounted conversations with Putin, during which the Russian leader emphasized demands to keep nuclear weapons out of Ukraine and block Ukraine’s NATO membership.

“I said, ‘(Nuclear weapons are) not a problem. We’ve already taken the nuclear weapons out. There’s none there. We’re not gonna put them back in,'” Biden responded, without provided the date when such a conversation had occurred.

The U.S. president further criticized Putin’s ambitions: “All he wants to do is re-establish the Warsaw Pact. I can’t let that happen. This guy is not a good guy."

These discussions reflect long-standing tensions over Ukraine’s security, which were central to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Under the agreement, Ukraine relinquished its nuclear arsenal — the world’s third-largest — in exchange for assurances from the U.S., U.K., and Russia not to use force or economic coercion against Ukraine.

Despite these commitments, Russia launched a war against Ukraine and has repeatedly issued nuclear threats against Ukraine and its allies.

In November, Putin approved an updated nuclear doctrine, which snow allows Moscow to use nuclear arms against non-nuclear states. Russia later launched the intermediate-range ballistic missile “Oreshnik,” designed for nuclear weapons.

A November survey by Russia’s independent Levada Center revealed that 39% of Russians believe nuclear weapons use could be justified in the ongoing war against Ukraine, reflecting the domestic impact of Kremlin rhetoric.

Trump has opportunity to ‘negotiate a good deal’ in Ukraine, Blinken says

“And President (Donald) Trump talks about having good, strong deals. I think there’s an opportunity to get one,” outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Australian volunteer soldier Oscar Jenkins has the status of a prisoner of war (POW) and there is no confirmation of his death, a Ukrainian investigative journalism outlet Slidstvo.Info reported on Jan. 17, citing the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The news comes after reports that the body of Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher from Melbourne whose capture was reported in December, has been found. He was believed to have been executed by his Russian captors.

Some media outlets and Telegram channels published a video purporting to show bodies of soldiers, claiming that Jenkins was among them.

Slidstvo.Info verified that footage was published four years ago on an Iranian website. The description says that it was filmed in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the original video is in Armenian instead of Russian.

Jenkins is serving in the 402nd Separate Rifle Battalion, which is part of Ukraine’s 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the outlet wrote. He went missing on Dec. 16 in 2024 while being on a combat mission near the village of Mykolaivka in Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine’s Ground Forces Command told Slidstvo.Info.

“There has been no transfer of the body (of Oscar Jenkins),” the military said.

The Kyiv Independent has contacted the Australian Embassy in Kyiv and the Ukrainian authorities but has not received a response at the time of publication.

The Geneva Conventions mandate all warring parties to treat POW with respect and dignity, while executing POWs is considered a gross violation of international law and a war crime. Russia has been repeatedly accused of summarily executing Ukrainian POWs throughout the war.

Moscow calls foreign volunteers “mercenaries” and claims they are not entitled to protection under the Geneva Conventions.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged the “strongest action possible” if reports of an Australian national captured while fighting for Ukraine being executed by Russian forces are confirmed.

Australia’s Foreign Ministry has also summoned the Russian ambassador on Jan. 15 to demand information and stress compliance with international law.

‘He wanted to live’ — How Ukraine captured a North Korean POW, told by the soldiers who took part

Editor’s note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. It was a month-long mission with one primary goal — capturing a North Korean soldier alive. One of the biggest obstacles facing the…

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko