Newsletter 17/01/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
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4 killed, 9 wounded: rescue operations at site of Russian strike completed in Kryvyi Rih
Video: Zelenskiy / Official
At least four civilians have been killed in Russia’s strike on Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Earlier, the regional governor said that the Russian attack damaged an educational institution and residential buildings.
Explosions were heard in the city amid an air raid alert.
AFU hit Russian S-400 Radar Equipment in Belgorod Region
On January 16, in the afternoon, units of the Missile Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces, conducted precision strikes on military targets of the Russian army in the Belgorod region as part of long-range fire.
In particular, the positions of the anti-aircraft missile battalion of the 568th anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Russian army were attacked. The functioning of the 92H6 radar station of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system was recorded, which indicates a successful defeat of the target.
SOF eliminate and capture Russians who shot dead two Ukrainian soldiers
The Russian invaders captured two soldiers from the Territorial Defense Forces a few days ago in one of the sectors.
Meanwhile, a unit from the Special Operations Forces was carefully planning an operation to eliminate the enemy group and return the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers.
During the operation, the SOF operators eliminated part of the enemy group and forced the rest to surrender.
The captured Russians were marines from the 40th Arctic Brigade. During the questioning, they confirmed that they had captured two Ukrainian soldiers and reported this to their company commander by the radio.
Their commander ordered them to execute the Ukrainian soldiers. The Ukrainian soldiers heard this and ran away, but Russian soldiers with the call signs “Yaryi”, “Lebed”, “Boom” and “Belyi” immediately opened fire on them.
The latter three were killed by the SOF operators during the special operation, while “Yaryi”, along with two others, was captured.
Slovak opposition leader: Many Slovaks want to see Ukraine in Europe, in peace
The head of the opposition party "Progressive Slovakia", Michal Šimečka, said many Slovaks stand in solidarity with Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and security, and also support Ukraine's accession to the EU.
He said this during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
The leader of the opposition party "on behalf of the many people in Slovakia who support Ukraine" thanked all Ukrainians – both civilians and military – for their courage, heroism, and self-sacrifice.
"We in Slovakia know that this is not only about the sovereignty and security of Ukraine, but also Europe in general, and also Slovakia. I want to convey the message that lots and lots of people in Slovakia appreciate this very much and pray for Ukraine which is secure, which is sovereign, which is free, which is in peace, and which is in the European Union,” he said, adding that both from the economic and political perspective, partnership is extremely important for both countries, so that Ukraine becomes a member of the EU and part of the European family.
War
DPRK's military contingent in Kursk region may be destroyed by mid-April - ISW
The entire North Korean contingent (approximately 12,000 troops) currently stationed in the Kursk region (Russia) may be killed or wounded in combat by mid-April 2025.
It is noted that on November 5, 2024, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that North Korean forces had participated in “small-scale” clashes in the Kursk region.
Russian authorities exerting pressure on residents of occupied territories - HRW
The Russian authorities keep exerting pressure on residents of occupied territories of Ukraine, forcing them to obtain Russian passports through harassment, intimidation, arbitrary detention, and restrictions on access to social services, including health care.
HRW reported that in the past year, Russian officials in the occupied territories severely repressed fundamental rights, including the rights to freedom of speech, association, assembly, and religion. They arbitrarily detained journalists, volunteers, and community and religious leaders who refused to cooperate with the occupying authorities.
In occupied Crimea, Russian authorities continued to harass and arbitrarily detain politically active members of the Crimean Tatar community, journalists, and others critical of Russia’s actions in Crimea. Between December 2023 and September 2024, courts in Crimea convicted 254 people of “discrediting Russian armed forces.”
Combat work of anti-aircraft missile units on January 15, 2025
The footage shows the combat work of anti-aircraft missile units on January 15, 2025 in the area of responsibility of the West Air Command.
In total, dozens of enemy missiles were shot down that day, which the enemy directed towards the western regions.
Source: Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Russian military attacked Kherson utility workers from drone/Photos
Partisans locate Russian military boat division in Tarkhankut/Photos
Number of enemy UAVs increased significantly in Pokrovsk sector – National Guard spox
Six more children evacuated from frontline villages in Kherson region
AFU shot down 33 Russian drones since evening, 9 more were lost in area
Azov soldiers capture more than 30 Russian invaders in past month and a half
Soldiers from the 12th Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine have captured more than 30 Russian invaders in the past month and a half.
During a working visit to the Donetsk region, the minister heard reports from the command of the 12th Azov Brigade and the National Police rifle battalion, which are serving together in the Toretsk sector.
These combat units also killed 178 invaders and wounded about 40 more in the past week, Klymenko added.
Evacuation is being intensified in Sumy region due to Russian subversive groups
“According to the report of the military, today the situation is difficult, but controlled and stable... According to them, attempts by sabotage and reconnaissance groups to enter the territory of Sumy region are still being recorded in some places. However, the Armed Forces, the Security and Defense Forces successfully counteract and destroy Russian subversive reconnaissance groups... The Defense Council supported the military's proposal to intensify work on evacuating the population from those communities where there is a risk of sabotage groups,” stated Sumy Regional Military Administration.
In the Kyiv region, cafes and private homes were damaged by falling debris from downed drones
Ukrainian paratroopers capture 7 Russian servicemen in Kurakhove sector during assault
Defense
Italy prepares 11th package of support for Ukraine - Zelensky
Zelensky, Dutch FM discuss investments in Ukrainian arms production
No problems with drone supply in Defense Forces – military officer
Politics
Foreign Ministers of Ukraine, Southeast Europe call on world to cease any support for Russia - communiqué
Participants in the first ministerial meeting involving Ukraine and the countries of Southeast Europe reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine and called on the world to stop any support for Russia.
The participants noted that they met in Kyiv on January 17 for the first time in a ministerial format, and that their work today is based on the discussions and conclusions of the first, second, and third Ukraine-Southeast Europe summits.
Ukraine’s StratCom exposes Russia’s lies at UN
On 16 January, at a UN Security Council meeting, Russia’s Permanent Representative Nebenzia said that Ukrainians were allegedly fleeing Ukraine en masse, which had turned into a “Zelensky concentration camp” after “the cancellation of any elections”, the watchdog recalls.
It is noted that, firstly, the mass exodus of Ukrainians abroad began not after the decision to postpone the presidential election, which was to take place in the spring of 2024, but in the last days of February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainians – primarily women, children and the elderly – were forced to flee abroad due to the barbaric brutality of the Russian armed forces. Bucha, Borodianka, Mariupol, Izium and dozens of other Russian crimes forced some Ukrainians to leave their country temporarily.
Economy
Ukraine signs memorandum to supply hydrogen to EU
Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine LLC (GTSOU) and several key organizations and companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish and support the implementation of the Ukraine-EU Hydrogen Corridor.
The above initiative aims to develop renewable energy and hydrogen production in Ukraine and facilitate its transportation via pipeline through Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany for offtake in these countries after 2030.
The Ukrainian-produced green hydrogen will be transported via the existing pipeline network, parts of which are planned to be repurposed for hydrogen.
The memorandum also highlights the importance of joint efforts in infrastructure investment and regulatory alignment to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
The convening of the consortium was initiated by the Ukraine Green Industrial Recovery Platform led by Systemiq, with support of Breakthrough Energy, McKinsey and Company, as well as Ukraine’s Economy Ministry and Energy Ministry.
Photo
The T-80 tank, captured and restored by the fighters of the 100th Brigade, is now effectively destroying its former owners
