Newsletter 20/01/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
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Donald Trump, who won the November 2024 presidential election, was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday, January 20.
The inauguration ceremony took place at noon in the Capitol Rotund , as reported by a Ukrinform correspondent.
Zelensky congratulates Trump on inauguration
“I congratulate President Trump and the American people on the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States. Today is a day of change and also a day of hope for the resolution of many problems, including global challenges,” congratulatory message was published on Zelensky’s account on the social media platform X.
Zelensky noted that President Trump’s decisive nature and his declared policy of achieving peace through strength provide an opportunity to bolster American leadership and secure a lasting and just peace.
“This century is being shaped right now, and we must all work together to ensure that it is a great and successful century for democracies, not those who want us to fail. We wish you success, President Trump! We look forward to active and mutually beneficial cooperation. We are stronger together, and we can provide greater security, stability, and economic growth to the world and our two nations,” emphasized the Ukrainian President.
Ahead of taking oath, Trump again vows to end war in Ukraine
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has once again committed ahead of his inauguration to end the war in Ukraine and prevent World War III.
At the same time, he stopped short of specifying how exactly he plans to achieve an end to hostilities in Ukraine. During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged to end the war within 24 hours of taking office.
SSU interrogating North Korean POWs – Zelensky shares new footage
On January 20, Ukraine honors the Defenders of Donetsk Airport. Today marks 10 years since the end of the battles for the airport, which had been going on since May 2014.
The airport defenders have been widely referred to as “cyborgs” over their astonishing resilience and bravery in the face of the massive attacks.
Zelensky praises feat of Ukraine’s “Cyborgs”, Donetsk Airport defenders
President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Ukraine remembers the cost of the “battle for our freedom and our present”.
"Honor and glory to all who fought for Ukraine," President Zelensky emphasized.
Russia’s defense industrial facilities in Kazan come under drone attack
The city of Kazan, which saw a drone attack overnight Monday, is home to several critical military aviation enterprises.
A few major aviation enterprises are located in the area, playing a key role in the Russian military-industrial complex. Among them is the S. P. Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Plant, engaged in the production of Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 strategic bombers, as well as their modernization and repair. The plant is actively expanding, in particular to maintain these aircraft.
Another critical facility is the Kazan Helicopter Plant, which specializes in the production of helicopters for both military and civilian needs.
The city also operates the Kazan State Government Gunpowder Plant, which produces gunpowder and explosives for aviation munitions and missiles such as the Kalibr and Iskander.
Railway locomotive involved in Russian military logistics set on fire in Saint Petersburg – DIU
Video: The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
The incident took place on January 18 at the Ruchyi tram depot in Saint Petersburg.
In Russia’s Saint Petersburg, a 3M62U railway locomotive used to support the logistics of the Russian army, was destroyed.
The fire completely destroyed the locomotive's control system. This locomotive, which had been used to transport Russian weapons, ammunition, and military equipment, is beyond repair, as emphasized by the intelligence service.
Trump tells team to set up Putin call in coming days - media
"President-elect Donald Trump has directed his aides to arrange a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the days after he’s sworn in, with one goal of the conversation to discuss an in-person meeting in the coming months to try to end the war in Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter," CNN reports.
War
Key points from an interview with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky
CinC Syrskyi on deep strikes targeting Russian defense industry: Enemy artillery pressure halves
Ukraine’s forces doing utmost to prevent Russians from capturing Pokrovsk - CinC
North Korean soldiers apply Soviet-era battlefield tactics - SinC Syrskyi
General Staff eyeing various ways to intercept Russia’s Oreshnik missiles - Syrskyi
Russia’s main goal destruction of Ukraine’s statehood – CinC Syrskyi
Russians change routes, technical characteristics of drones - AFU
In the area of responsibility of the Siversk operational and tactical grouping of troops, changes in the routes and technical characteristics of Russian drones are being recorded.
“The technical characteristics of the drones used are also changing, they [drones] are constantly being improved both by the enemy and by our means of countering electronic warfare,” said the spokesman for the Siversk OTG Vadym Mysnyk.
According to him, the occupiers are also changing the routes of the attack, in particular from the territory of Kursk and Bryansk regions.
Denmark’s Defense Ministry debunks Russian fake about F-16 instructor’s death in Ukraine
"Denmark’s Ministry of Defense has officially refuted the disseminated information. In their statement, they emphasized that none of the Danish F-16 pilot instructors died in Ukraine, and the story spread by Russian media is fabricated," the CCD stated.
The CCD further emphasized that such falsehoods are part of Russia’s broader disinformation campaign aimed at promoting the narrative of a war against NATO and justifying acts of terror against Ukraine.
Russians launch missile strike on Shostka damaging infrastructure
One killed, two injured in Russian strikes on Kherson region in past day
Russian troops launch 319 strikes on 11 settlements in Zaporizhzhia region
Enemy shells Nikopol district with heavy artillery, MLRS overnight
Invaders kill one civilian, injure two in more in Donetsk region on Sunday
Vampire drones destroy eight Russian positions in Kharkiv region
Video: State Border Guard Service
Eight enemy positions were destroyed as a result of the nighttime deployment of Vampire drones, also known as Baba Yaga.
Politics
Russian fakes and California fires: Ukrainians 'steal' donations, actress Lee Curtis 'slams' Ukraine aid
Russian propagandists created fake content involving USA Today and Instagram story by American actress Jamie Lee Curtis
Specifically, Kremlin-backed media outlets and Telegram channels shared a fabricated news video with the USA Today logo. The video claimed that "Ukrainian" phone scammers had defrauded Americans of $40 million under the pretense of aiding fire victims.
This claim is false. The video does not exist on USA Today's official website or social media platforms.
The propagandists manipulated stock videos, images, and online footage of fires to produce the fake video.
Economy
Gas meter fraud: ESBU exposes officials of Firtash's company
Detectives from the Main Department of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine (ESBU) have uncovered a scheme involving state funds misappropriation during the installation of gas meters by a company linked to sanctioned oligarch Dmytro Firtash.
Investigations revealed that company officials had been engaged in gas meter installation work over three years under contracts with subcontractors.
The intentional actions of the involved officials caused damages exceeding UAH 1.27 million.
The scheme's organizer has been notified of suspicion under Article 191, Part 5 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, which addresses embezzlement or misappropriation of property through abuse of office. The issue of pretrial detention measures is currently under consideration.
Society
Most Poles do not see Ukraine in EU, NATO without resolving Volyn tragedy
The majority of Poles (59.5%) do not see Ukraine in the EU and NATO until the problems related to the Volyn tragedy are resolved in relations with Poland.
To the question “To what extent do you agree with the following sentence: I can't imagine Ukraine joining the EU and NATO until it has dealt with the past, that is, the Volyn tragedy,” 59.5% of Poles agreed with this statement. This question was answered “definitely yes” by 36.4% of Poles, and 23.1% - “rather yes”.
Instead, only 24.9% of Poles believe that resolving the Volyn tragedy in relations with Poland is not a prerequisite for Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO. To this question, 16% of respondents answered “rather not” and 8.9% answered “definitely not.”
At the same time, 15.6% of Poles said they were undecided on the matter.
The highest number of supporters of the thesis that Ukraine cannot join the EU and NATO without resolving the Volyn tragedy is among voters of right-wing conservative and nationalist parties, in particular Law and Justice (PiS) and Confederation (78%). Instead, a much smaller percentage of such people are among the supporters of the left-liberal parties of the ruling coalition (Civic Coalition, Left, Third Way) - 52%. At the same time, 36% of voters of the ruling left-liberal parties and only 20% of supporters of right-wing conservative and nationalist political parties do not support this thesis.
The survey was conducted on December 20-22 by a mixed method among 1000 adult Poles.
Civilian shootings in Bucha: 7 more Russian soldiers to be brought to justice
Seven more Russian soldiers involved in the shootings of civilians in Bucha, Kyiv region, will be brought to criminal responsibility.
During the pre-trial investigation, police found that two servicemen of the 6th Air Assault Company of the 234th Air Assault Regiment opened fire on a local man who was looking for food near a supermarket. The victim received four gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen and died on the spot.
Investigators also proved that the commander of the unit - the commander of a combat vehicle of the 4th Airborne Assault Company of the 2nd Battalion Tactical Group of the Russian Federation of the same regiment - shot a patriotic couple who spoke only Ukrainian with the Russians.\
It is also noted that the deputy commander of the 3rd parachute company of the 1st battalion tactical group of the 234th airborne assault regiment, together with the platoon commander, shot a man whose phone allegedly contained evidence of the transfer of data on the movement of Russian troops to the Ukrainian military. After killing the unarmed local resident, the Russians told witnesses that another unit would have shot them all for this.