Newsletter 10/01/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
Ramstein meeting: results, plans for future
The 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, chaired by the United States and attended by the military leadership of 50 countries, the President of Ukraine, the NATO Secretary General, and other leaders, took place at the U.S. Ramstein airbase in Germany.
Zelensky: Additional support packages worth $2B agreed at Ramstein
President Volodymyr Zelensky says during today's meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format, additional support packages worth $2 billion were approved.
"I’d like to thank all partners, all defense chiefs, that's 50 countries plus. We had a very good meeting today and a very good result. Additional packages worth $2 billion to support Ukraine, plus, which is very important, eight capability coalitions. This is already on paper. Thirty-four countries already support these strategic coalitions," Zelensky said.
Among the important results of the Ramstein meeting, Volodymyr Zelensky named the guaranteed supplies of additional air defense systems.
“We have confirmation, we have support. Not all 19 systems (previously the President stated that this many Patriot systems were lacking to completely close the sky from Russian missiles - ed.), I will say it frankly, but there is a fairly serious number of systems that partners have guaranteed. We will work to ensure that the systems arrive faster," he said.
Scholz blocking additional funds for military aid to Ukraine - Spiegel
According to the Spiegel magazine, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius seek an opportunity to provide additional military aid to Kyiv, but Chancellor Scholz does not believe this is necessary.
"Defense Minister Boris Pistorius wants to mobilize an additional budget of about EUR 3 billion for urgent weapons supplies to Ukraine before the federal elections on February 23. But Olaf Scholz's office is slowing down plans for additional military aid," the article says.
Spiegel notes that for weeks there has been a struggle behind the scenes around the project. The Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Defense have already begun drawing up a new aid package for Ukraine after the ruling coalition collapsed in November 2024. Military experts from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry provided a list of urgently needed weapons systems, including three additional IRIS-T air defense batteries with ammunition, additional Patriot guided missiles, 10 wheeled howitzers, additional artillery rounds, etc.
Ukraine’s air raid targets Russian defense industry facilities disguised as civil factories/Video
The head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Andriy Kovalenko, says Ukraine attacked “disguised” defense industry facilities in Russia’s Rostov and Leningrad regions.
Ukraine’s Defense Forces hit ammo depot in Russia’s Rostov region – source
Early on January 10, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) together with the Ukrainian Navy, using drones and the Neptune missile, struck an ammunition and drone storage facility near the village of Chaltyr in Russia’s Rostov region.
According to the source, "first, the Security Service's drones overloaded the Russian air defense, and then the Neptune missile arrived at the target." The interlocutor also noted that the Russians spent the entire night complaining on social media about the sounds of drones, the operation of Russian air defense systems, and writing about a strong explosion from the missile. Later, they discussed multiple explosions near Chaltyr, indicating secondary detonation of munitions.
Ukrainian forces hit command post of Russia’s 3rd Army Corps in Svitlodarsk - General Staff
On January 10, the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit a command post of the 3rd Army Corps of Russia’s Armed Forces in the temporarily occupied city of Svitlodarsk, Donetsk region.
Annexation of "Southern Bessarabia": Ukraine’s Embassy responds to Bulgarian politician’s statement
"Referring to the statement of the leader of the Renaissance party, K. Kostadinov, on territorial claims to Ukraine and calls to annex ‘Southern Bessarabia’ to Bulgaria, the Embassy of Ukraine appeals to the leadership of the Republic of Bulgaria to condemn the statements of the politician who incites the destruction of international law, distorts historical facts, and encourages redistribution of borders in Europe," the Embassy noted.
The statement emphasizes that the comments from the leader of the Renaissance party regarding territorial encroachments on Ukraine are unacceptable for a politician of an EU member state, and confirm his systematic promotion of the Kremlin's narratives.
UK imposes new "energy sanctions" against Russia
These energy companies produce more than a million barrels of oil per day, for which, at current prices, they annually get approximately $23 billion, which exceeds the GDP of Jamaica.
“The profits from these 2 companies are lining Putin’s war chest and facilitating the war," the statement reads.
War
Ukrainian border guards repel Russian assault on Kupiansk front
Soldiers from the rapid response command of the Chernihiv Border Detachment successfully repelled Russian attacks in the Kupiansk sector of the front.
UN mission on Zaporizhzhia attack: Glide bombs become one of greatest threats to civilians
War update: Enemy attacked almost 50 times in Pokrovsk sector, 19 battles still ongoing
Ukraine downs 33 Russian drones overnight Friday
Number of Russian helicopter sorties over Black Sea - Navy spox
Fighting for TPP ongoing in Kurakhove, Russians attempting to push defense forces out of town
Defense
Warsaw preparing another package of security aid for Kyiv
Ramstein: Canada lays down over $300M in security aid to Ukraine
Government provides additional funding for 100 combat brigades in December — PM
Politics
UN to present humanitarian aid plans for Ukrainians for 2025 in Kyiv – Kyslytsia
“In response to the Russian aggression, the UN is implementing one of its largest humanitarian operations in our country,” said the Permanent Representative. ”Assistance is being provided in two areas: in accordance with the humanitarian needs and response plan, which is managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the regional response and assistance plan for Ukrainians forcibly displaced abroad, which is managed by the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees,” said Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya.
Both plans are scheduled to be presented to the global donor community on January 16 in Kyiv.
These plans address the most pressing needs: food and livelihoods, restoration of critical infrastructure, including housing, multi-purpose cash assistance, and support for water, sanitation and hygiene.
Trump says meeting with Putin being set up
MFA Ukraine says Polish official’s comments on membership in EU, NATO “manipulative”
Hindering Russia’s missile, drone production: Zelensky welcomes Japan's latest sanctions
New U.S. sanctions hit 184 tankers from Russia's shadow fleet
NATO leaders disagree with Trump's defense spending target while standing ready to raise sights - media
Tusk: Ukraine issues first permits for exhumation of Volyn tragedy victims
Economy
Parliament abolishes Commercial Code of Ukraine
According to the explanatory note, the amendments provided by the draft bill are aimed at improving corporate governance in the legal entities established on the base of state and municipal property, increasing the country’s investment attractiveness, implementing effective mechanisms to control the use of state and municipal property objects, and eliminating contradictions between the Civil Code of Ukraine and special legislative acts.
In particular, the draft bill proposes to declare the Commercial Code of Ukraine as null and void, as its provisions mostly have no regulatory effect, are declarative in content, and also contradict other laws and regulations, as well as the general principles of civil legislation.
Society
Ukraine’s Parliament amends procedure for military registration of 17-year-olds
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed a law outlining new procedures for the military registration of 17-year-old citizens and their medical examinations during basic military training.
The law stipulates that each year, from January 1 to July 31, male Ukrainian citizens who turn 17 during the year of registration will be added to the military conscription registry.
Under current legislation, the registration of 17-year-olds takes place annually from January through March.
The new regulations also allow conscripts to register through the "Reserve+" application or by visiting military recruitment and social support centers (TCC and SP) in person, submitting the necessary documents.