Newsletter 02/01/2025

A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine

Jan 02, 2025

TOP

Magura drone boats destroy two Russian helicopters in Black Sea – HUR

On December 31, 2024, Magura V5 missile-equipped drone boats destroyed two Russian Mi-8 helicopters in the Black Sea.

Updated information confirms that the Group 13 special forces unit executed the operation near temporarily occupied Crimea. Using Magura V5 naval drones, they destroyed two Russian Mi-8 helicopters, eliminating their crews.

Industry shuts down in Transdniestria due to cutting of Russian gas supply

The termination of Russian gas supplies to breakaway Transdniestria has led to the shutdown of all industrial enterprises in the region, except for food producers, on January 2.

"All industrial enterprises are idle, with the exception of those engaged in food production – that is, directly ensuring food security for Transdniestria," Sergei Obolonik, first deputy prime minister of the region, told a local news channel.

Obolonik added: "It is too early to judge how the situation will develop... The problem is so extensive that if it is not resolved for a long time, we will already have irreversible changes – that is, enterprises will lose their ability to start up."

The so-called president of Transdniestria, Vadim Krasnoselsky, mentioned that the region had gas reserves that could likely last for 10 days of limited usage in its northern parts and twice as long in the south. He said the main power plant had switched from gas to coal and should be able to supply electricity to residents in January and February.

Farmers set to rally in Warsaw against Ukrainian exports during Polish EU presidency opening ceremony

Polish agricultural organizations are organizing a demonstration in Warsaw on January 3, protesting, among things, against the free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries and the import of agricultural products from Ukraine.

Polish farmers will picket the European Commission's representation in Warsaw, as well as the National Opera House, where the official opening ceremony for the Polish presidency of the EU will be held this Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Farmers will protest against five dictates of the European Commission. These are the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur countries, the European Green Deal, the import of agricultural products from Ukraine, the destruction of Polish forests and hunting opportunities, as well as the creation of obstacles to the development of the Polish economy.

Farmers plan to start the rally outside the Warsaw office of the European Commission before moving on to the National Opera House, where the ceremonial opening of the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU will take place.

Defense intel shows raw footage of Vovchansk Aggregate Plant liberation

The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry (HUR) showed exclusive episodes of the liberation of the Vovchansk Aggregate Plant in September 2024.

The video shows exclusive episodes of combat performance of the Stuhna unit’s Timur group, involving assault missions, 120-mm mortar support, capturing Russian invaders, and combat medics in action.

MFA Ukraine rejects UN’s false accusations of alleged restrictions on religious freedoms

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry rejects the UN’s conclusion, seen in the report drawn by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the inadequate justification of the ban on religious organizations affiliated with the Russian Federation.

The ministry emphasized that the law mentioned in the report does lay down a ban on any of the churches existing in Ukraine. It only does not allow the subordination of religious organizations in Ukraine to the decision-making centers located in a state that has committed or is committing armed aggression against Ukraine and/or temporarily occupied part of its territory, as well as religious organizations that support armed aggression against Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded the UN that Russia systematically weaponizes religion in its war of aggression against Ukraine and, through the Russian Orthodox Church that it controls, sanctifies atrocities against Ukrainians and praises the criminals committing them. In this context, the Ukrainian state has a duty to protect its citizens from the destructive influence of the aggressor state, including with the use of religious organizations that in Russia are intertwined with the government and have directly declared their goal to destroy Ukrainian statehood, culture, and identity, the ministry added.

War

Married couple of scientists killed in drone attack on Kyiv

During the morning shelling of Kyiv on January 1, a married couple of prominent scientists — neurobiologist Ihor Zyma and Doctor of Biological Sciences Olesia Sokur and their cat — were killed.

"Tragically, the enemy UAV attack claimed the lives of distinguished neurobiologist Ihor Zyma and his wife, scientist and Doctor of Biological Sciences Olesia Sokur," wrote on Facebook by Ukraine’s Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi.

He noted that the couple had devoted nearly their entire lives to science, working for many years at the Institute of Biology and Medicine of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

Ukraine’s military on Chasiv Yar: AFU control virtually entire city as Russians trying to cross canal

The situation in Chasiv Yar remains stable while the enemy does not abandon intentions to cross the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal and has reduced the intensity of attempts to seize the refractory materials plant.

That’s according to Viktor Trehubov, spokesman for the Khortytsia grouping of troops, who spoke in national television, Ukrinform reports.

“Everything is quite stable there in terms of intensity. The Russians have caught on to the opposite side of canal, in the suburbs behind the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal. Ukrainians control virtually the entire city and repel attacks, while the Russians are trying, first, to cross the canal, and secondly, to attack the already well-known refractory materials plant,” the spokesman said, adding that the enemy has reduced the intensity of attempts to get into the plant premises in recent days.

War update: 140 combat clashes reported on frontline over past day
Ukrainian forces down 47 Russian drones, 24 veer off course
Military sappers clear almost 253K ha of Ukrainian lands of mines, UXOs in 2024
Russian forces attack Kharkiv region with GABs, drones
Russian commanders conceal true losses among North Korean troops in Kursk region – Ukrainian intelligence
Battlefield situation most challenging in Pokrovsk, Kurakhove axes - Zelensky
200 Ukrainian pilots complete training in UK ahead of F-16 flights
Ukrainian soldiers hit two Russian tanks, six IFVs in Kharkiv region

Building of National Writers' Union damaged in Russian attack on Kyiv

In Kyiv, a Russian drone attack caused damage to the building of the National Writers' Union of Ukraine.

Defense

Ukraine's Defense Ministry showcases fiber-optic FPV drone technology

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Directorate for Defense Innovations has conducted a demonstration of fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones for senior commanders of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

During the presentation, domestic manufacturers showcased more than ten drone models, some capable of carrying payloads of up to 3 kilograms. These demonstrations were closely observed by experienced UAV operators -- potential end-users of the technology on the battlefield.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Tkachenko, head of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Department at the Main Directorate for Innovations, the enemy is continually advancing its capabilities in fiber-optic drone control technologies, making it crucial to neutralize their advantages in this domain.

Share Ukrinform Newsletters

Politics

Economy

Government invests over UAH 11B in SMEs development via eRobota grants since 2022

Since the eRobota government project was launched in July 2022, the state has invested more than UAH 11 billion in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) via grant programmes.

“About 24,000 entrepreneurs have received grant support for the development of their businesses under the eRobota programmes that we launched two and a half years ago. Overall, the state has already invested more than UAH 11 billion in entrepreneurship through grants,” Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister, Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko noted.

In her words, grant recipients have already returned about UAH 7 billion through tax payments and duties, which is 60% of the total amount invested by the state. As part of the programme, more than 60,000 jobs were created across Ukraine.

Winter Support project: Ukrainians receive UAH 3.9B in 2024 for purchasing warm clothing

Over 590,000 Ukrainians have received assistance totaling 3.9 billion UAH for the purchase of warm children's clothing under the Winter Support project.

Another form of social assistance for the population is payments for the purchase of solid fuel for heating during the winter. In cooperation with the United Nations Refugee Agency, this assistance has reached 467,800 households, which have collectively received 4.5 billion UAH.

Ukrinform Newsletters