Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) has launched a criminal investigation into Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, according to a response from the agency to an official inquiry from Radio Liberty.
The Defense Minister is accused of power …
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Spies, Lies, and Algorithms
Amy B. Zegart
Ukraine
Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov under investigation by Anti-Corruption Bureau for alleged abuse of power
Ukraine
Russia
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Finland, Ukraine develop warfare drone, media reports
Ukraine
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Ukrainian drones hit Russian missile arsenal, oil pumping station in Tver Oblast, SBU source claims
Ukrainian drones hit the Andreapol oil pumping station and missile arsenal in Russia’s Tver Oblast overnight on Jan. 29, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent.
Drones operated by the SBU and the Special …
Ukraine
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Syria calls on Russia to hand over Assad, key aides in first post-ouster talks, media reports
Syria’s new government has allegedly requested that Russia hand over former President Bashar al-Assad and his close aides, Reuters reported on Jan. 28, citing a Syrian source close to the matter.
The demand was reportedly raised during the first …
Ukraine
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USA
Russia's 25% military budget hike demands stronger sanctions, more Ukraine aid, PM Shmyhal says
Russia has increased its military budget by 25% in 2025, underscoring the need for stronger sanctions, more weapons, and greater assistance from Ukraine’s international partners, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 29.
“Russia …
Ukraine
Russia
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Russian assault intensity declines, focus on Pokrovsk sector, monitoring group reports
The intensity of Russian assault operations in Ukraine is declining but remains high, according to an analysis by the monitoring group DeepState, published on Jan. 28.
Russian forces have concentrated 44% of their attacks in the Pokrovsk sector, a …
Ukraine
Russia
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Russian army recruitment centres in Moscow see five-fold drop in applicants, media reports
The number of Russians signing contracts at Moscow recruitment centres to fight in the war against Ukraine has fallen five-fold since its peak in late summer of last year, the independent Russian outlet Verstka reported on Jan. 29.
The daily number of …
Ukraine
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Syria demands Russian compensation for 'past mistakes' in first talks since Assad's fall
Syria’s new government pressed Russia for compensation and the correction of “past mistakes” during its first talks with a Kremlin delegation on Jan. 28, following the ouster of Russian-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. …
Ukraine
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USA
Slavoj Zizek: Leftists falsify the choice that Ukrainians face during wartime
In times of war, the fundamental questions of survival, morality, and identity not only dominate the discourse but also expose the fissures in global political ideologies. Amid the clamor of media narratives and entrenched partisan frameworks, a few …
Ukraine
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USA
Trump must call Putin’s bluff on Ukraine talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin is starting 2025 with a bang. In a nod to U.S. President Donald Trump’s desire for a settlement in Ukraine, the Kremlin has announced its readiness for negotiations “without preconditions.”
However, the devil is in …
Ukraine
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EU to propose phased ban on Russian aluminium in new sanctions package, Bloomberg reports
In its latest round of sanctions, the European Union (EU) is proposing to introduce a phased ban of Russian aluminium, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 28 citing unnamed sources.
The bloc, which covers 8% of its annual aluminium needs by Russian imports, …
Ukraine
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Australian POW feared executed by Russia is alive, Penny Wong says
An Australian volunteer soldier fighting for Ukraine who was reported to have been executed by Russian forces after being taken prisoner is alive, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Jan. 29.
“The Australian government has received …
Ukraine
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USA
Rubio issues humanitarian waiver for Trump's foreign aid freeze, WP reports
U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio has backtracked on a near-total freeze of U.S. foreign aid, issuing a waiver for “life-saving humanitarian assistance,” the Washington Post (WP) reported on. Jan 28 citing memos sent to aid organizations. …
Ukraine
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USA
Zelensky orders report on Ukrainian programmes affected by Trump's foreign aid freeze
President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered a report on U.S.-funded projects in Ukraine affected by President Donald Trump’s freeze on foreign assistance, he said during his evening address on Jan. 28.
U.S. President Donald Trump suspended all U.S. …
Ukraine
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Russian state delegation arrives in Syria, first since fall of Assad
Russian officials arrived in Damascus, Syria on Jan.28, the first such delegation to visit the country since its Kremlin-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad was ousted from power in December, AP reported, citing Russian state media.
Assad was ousted from …
Ukraine
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FAKE: Zelenskyi is trafficking Ukrainian children to European pedophiles
Verification within Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program
A video circulating on social media — including on Threads — shows former Dutch MEP Marcel de Graaff calling for the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Putin to be revoked. …
Ukraine
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USA
'4 out of 4' — Russian Lukoil oil refinery struck by multiple Ukrainian drones, military intelligence source claims
A Lukoil oil refinery in the Russian oblast of Nizhny Novgorod was struck by multiple Ukrainian drones in the early hours of Jan. 29, a military intelligence (HUR) source told the Kyiv Independent.
Drone strikes were reported by local officials across …
Ukraine
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General Staff: Russia has lost 834,670 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost 834,670 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Jan. 29.
This number includes 1,670 casualties Russian forces suffered just over …
Ukraine
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USA
Kallas, Rubio discuss Ukraine in first official phone call
EU Chief Diplomat Kaja Kallas spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Jan. 28 in their first official phone conversation since the Trump administration took office.
“Good call with Sec. Rubio,” Kallas wrote on X.
“We discussed global …
Ukraine
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2 killed in Mykolaiv amid Russian missile attack
Two people were killed in the city of Mykolaiv amid a Russian missile strike, regional governor Vitalii Kim reported on Jan. 28.
“Sadly, two women were killed as a result of the Russian missile strike on Mykolaiv,” Kim said on Telegram. “They …
Ukraine
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USA
US judge temporarily halts Trump's federal aid freeze, NYT reports
A federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo that sought to freeze up to $3 billion in funding for various U.S. federal aid programs, the New York Times (NYT) reported on Jan. 28.
U.S. …
Ukraine
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Drone strikes target multiple Russian regions, hit oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Ukraine launched waves of drone attacks targeting oil and power facilities in western parts of Russia overnight on Jan. 29, according to local officials.
Drone strikes were reported …
Ukraine
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Mayor in Ukraine's Lviv Oblast fined for disrupting mobilization activities
Taras Kuchma, Drohobych Mayor in Lviv Oblast, was fined for disrupting mobilization activities, Ukrainian media outlet Zaxid.net reported on Jan. 28.
Ukraine updated its legislation in the spring of 2024, assigning several mobilization …
Ukraine
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USA
China urges Russia, US to cut nuclear arsenals before joining disarmament talks
China urged the United States and Russia on Jan. 28 to “further reduce” their nuclear stockpiles as a necessary step before Beijing would consider joining potential disarmament talks proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a video …
Ukraine
Russia
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US transfers 90 Patriot missiles from Israel to Ukraine, Axios reports
The United States has transferred around 90 Patriot air defense interceptors from storage in Israel to Poland for delivery to Ukraine, sources familiar with the operation told Axios.
The transfer comes as part of efforts by the Pentagon to bolster …