Russians are attempting to cross the Siversky Donets river in rubber boats near Dronivka and Platonivka. The situation in the Dronivka area is escalating daily, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding back the enemy.
Czech President Petr Pavel stated that the Czech Republic will transfer combat aircraft to Ukraine to destroy Russian drones. These are medium-class aircraft, possibly L-159s.
The head of a private company is suspected of supplying substandard protective equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and embezzling almost UAH 60 million in budget funds. The purchased ballistic goggles did not meet technical specifications but were paid for.
A squad commander in Donetsk region was exposed selling MANPADS and two machine guns. 549 drones, explosives, and $74,000 were seized from him.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the head of a district Military Medical Commission systematically received bribes for declaring conscripts unfit for service. Law enforcement officers seized over $307,000 from her.
On January 16, Russian occupiers struck a checkpoint near Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region with a KAB. As a result of the airstrike, two servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two police officers were wounded.
The SBU detained two agents of Russian military intelligence in Odesa who were preparing attacks on Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel using a quadcopter. The perpetrators face life imprisonment.
The ATESH partisan movement conducted reconnaissance of the headquarters of the 2nd Russian Army in Samara, which directs offensive operations in the Pokrovsk direction. The obtained data has been transferred to the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy announced a meeting with the Minister of Defense and the Commander of the Air Force regarding the protection of energy facilities. The government must ensure the simplification of electricity imports and the connection of additional equipment.
The Cabinet of Ministers is preparing a decision to introduce an emergency in the energy sector for a quick response to damage and power shortages. This formalizes the current state, allowing for operational repair work and infrastructure protection.
Russian occupation forces continue to use the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as a military facility. They launch drones from the plant's territory and store weapons near the power units.
The Russian advance slowed down in late December 2025 and early January 2026. This was likely due to less favorable weather conditions and the cessation of efforts to meet "arbitrary deadlines" at the end of the year.
The head of the accounting group of a combat brigade in the Zaporizhzhia direction has been served with a notice of suspicion of fraud. He appropriated UAH 9.72 million by changing the details of servicemen's salary cards to his own accounts.
Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov announced significant financial and personnel challenges affecting the planning of payments to military personnel. Decisions on increasing payments will be made after analyzing the available capital.
Mykhailo Fedorov, a candidate for the position of Minister of Defense, announced a forthcoming deep audit of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The audit aims to identify additional opportunities to improve the financial and social welfare of military personnel.
Russia launched an attack on Ukraine overnight, using 3 ballistic missiles and 113 attack UAVs. Air defense forces shot down one missile and 89 drones.
In Kremenets, a fight broke out between drivers after a road accident. A 41-year-old serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine sustained facial injuries.
The 414th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade "Magyar's Birds" destroyed a missile and artillery weapons depot of the Russian 51st Army in Makiivka. Critical elements of industrial power supply in Mariupol were also hit.
On January 12, Russian troops lost 950 soldiers and 933 UAVs. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 12.01.26 amount to 1,220,950 personnel.
Drone operators of the 412th brigade destroyed enemy P-18 Prima radar, Tor and Tunguska air defense systems in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk directions. According to Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, these are the 9th, 10th, and 11th destroyed radar stations and air defense systems from January 1 to 12.
A cadet of a Ukrainian military institute has been sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property for collaborating with the FSB. He adjusted missile strikes on military facilities, including training buildings and barracks.
The Prosecutor General's Office is stepping up its efforts to combat human trafficking. In 2025, 162 criminal offenses were registered, which is 47.1% more than in 2024.
On the night of January 12, Russia attacked Ukraine with 156 attack UAVs from several directions. Air defense forces shot down 135 enemy drones across the country.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces may have received the newest American "Tempest" air defense system, developed by V2X, for testing in real combat operations. The complex, presented in October, is designed to combat drones.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that after the development of a peace plan and security guarantees for Ukraine, Russia must demonstrate its interest in ending the war. The 20-point peace plan was discussed by Zelenskyy and Trump in 2025.
The UK Ministry of Defence is developing the Nightfall ballistic missile with a range of over 480 km for Ukraine. This will allow striking targets in Moscow.
The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck three drilling rigs of the Lukoil corporation in the Caspian Sea.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces struck drilling rigs in the Caspian Sea and an air defense unit of the Russian occupiers. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada is preparing a draft law that may restrict the right to deferment from mobilization for men aged 25+ due to studies. The number of such students has increased to 250,000, and inspections have revealed almost 50,000 fictitious students.
Russian troops will not be able to regain access to Kupyansk, where a sweep is underway. The loss of the city deprives Russia of an important railway hub and makes further offensive impossible.
