Russian propaganda
Estonia has expelled Russian citizen David Arutyunyan due to a national security threat. He spread Russian propaganda and was a reserve serviceman of the Russian Armed Forces.
Iran's leader Ali Khamenei called for a harsh crackdown on rioters, accusing the US of instigating the protests. Russia accused the US of interference and is helping Iran suppress the protests.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decision on sanctions against individuals who justify aggression and are involved in Russian propaganda. He also announced further sanction steps.
The GUR reports that Russia is considering an option to attack power transmission substations that ensure the operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The goal is to force Ukraine to capitulate and increase pressure on Europe.
Russia exported over 2 million tons of grain from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in 2025, passing it off as its own product. To do this, captured ports and a "ship-to-ship" scheme were used to circumvent sanctions.
The NSDC's Center for Countering Disinformation refuted information about an alleged complete power outage in western Ukraine. This letter is an element of hybrid warfare aimed at destabilizing society.
The Russian military command is publicly disseminating false information about the battlefield. This is part of a cognitive warfare effort to influence US decisions regarding peace negotiations.
Residents of Voskresensk, Moscow region, reported heavy smoke on the evening of January 16. The source of the smoke is located on the territory of the Voskresensk Mineral Fertilizers enterprise, which produces phosphate fertilizers and ammonia.
Adam, the son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, was transported to a Moscow hospital after a car accident in Grozny. There have been no official comments from the republic's authorities.
Gerhard Schröder refused to transfer documents about conversations with Putin to the German Federal Archives, keeping them at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. These documents concern his time in power from 1998 to 2005.
The Russian leadership positively received statements by the leaders of France, Italy, and Germany on resuming dialogue with Moscow. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it a "positive evolution" of the Europeans' positions.
Military personnel from several European countries are arriving in Greenland as a show of support. This comes amid threats from US President Donald Trump to purchase the island.
On the night of January 16, Russian Ryazan was subjected to drone attacks. A local oil refinery was likely the target of the attacks.
Russia's Ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that the US is using the situation in Iran to destabilize the country. He accused the US of interfering in internal affairs and called for an end to the escalation.
Sweden has arrested a citizen suspected of spying for Russia since 2022. The former IT consultant for the Armed Forces had access to leading Swedish media outlets.
Yulia Svyrydenko and Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Latvian Saeima, discussed the state of Ukraine's energy system and countering the aggressor's plans. Latvia will allocate 0.25% of its GDP to Ukraine's needs.
On January 15, the finalists of the competition for the Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine 2026 were determined. In total, 36 participants will compete for victory in 13 nominations.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called the International Committee of the Red Cross's statement regarding "strikes on critical infrastructure in Ukraine and Russia" shameful. The head of the ICRC delegation to Ukraine will be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for explanations.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution that provides for updating the orthography by 2026, introducing a single font for parliamentary acts, and blocking pro-Russian content. The Cabinet of Ministers is to develop draft laws to protect the Ukrainian linguistic space.
The Verkhovna Rada summoned Natalia Kalmykova, head of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, to report on the provision of fake exemptions from mobilization. This concerns, in particular, Serhiy Ivanov and Volodymyr Petrov, hosts of the YouTube channel "ISLND TV".
In 2025, Russia recorded a record increase in serious crimes, linked to the return of war participants. The Kremlin is preparing for elections but fears its own "veterans" who are becoming a threat.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister has called for sanctions against Russia's "shadow" grain fleet, which has stolen over 2 million tons of Ukrainian grain. Intelligence has identified 45 vessels involved in the theft, and Ukraine has already imposed sanctions on 43 of them.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia's goals in Ukraine include Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions. This expands Russia's demands even beyond the 28-point US peace plan.
The head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, announced damages in Donbas and border regions of Russia amounting to over 706 billion rubles. The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine points to manipulation and Russia's attempt to bill Ukraine for the consequences of its own aggression.
The UN Security Council asked Secretary-General Guterres to provide monthly reports on Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. In response, Russia suggested the Council monitor the Caribbean, where the US is striking drug traffickers.
The White House has published an image symbolizing Greenland's geopolitical choice between the US and Russia with China. This visualizes the struggle for influence over the island amid Trump's interest in the Arctic.
The Kremlin is increasing pressure on Russia's indigenous peoples, combining repression, control over international discourse, and disproportionate involvement in the war. In December 2025, 17 representatives of indigenous peoples who defended the rights of their communities were detained.
NAC "Naftogaz of Ukraine" denied information about the introduction of gas supply restriction schedules in Khmelnytskyi region. The company stated that there are no restrictions and none are planned.
In Mariupol, a shootout occurred between Kadyrovites and Russian soldiers near a club. One Russian soldier was killed, and a 'Akhmat' fighter was seriously wounded.
Yevgeny Primakov admitted the participation of a "well-known African PMC" in the opening of "Russian Houses" in Mali and the CAR. This statement shatters the myth of the exclusively cultural nature of "Russian Houses" activities, indicating the use of силових інструментів under the guise of diplomacy.