Ukraine
Germany's highest criminal court has kept a suspect in the Nord Stream sabotage in custody, publicly accusing Ukraine for the first time. The court stated that the explosions were carried out "on behalf of a foreign state," referring to Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussing the energy situation and efforts to end the war. Rutte emphasized support for Ukraine's defense and ensuring lasting peace.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a list of dangerous items and substances that are prohibited on the territory and premises of Ukrainian schools. The list includes weapons, explosives, drugs, alcohol, and other dangerous items.
President Zelenskyy met with Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the IMF. They discussed a new financing program for Ukraine, which envisages support until 2029.
The head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, Vitaliy Kim, proposed strengthening state support for IDPs, considering them as strategic human capital. He focused on the problems of housing, employment, and psychological support, offering comprehensive solutions.
Ukrenergo announced the implementation of hourly power outage schedules and power limitations on January 16 across Ukraine. The reason is the consequences of Russian attacks on energy facilities.
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.
The President of Ukraine met with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Olta Xhaçka. Defense production, EU integration, and Albania's possible accession to the PURL program this year were discussed.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Kingdom Valerii Zaluzhnyi. They discussed current diplomatic tasks aimed at strengthening Ukraine and its resilience.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko met with IMF head Kristalina Georgieva, inspecting the consequences of enemy attacks on Kyiv's energy facility. They discussed preparations for the adoption of the IMF support program for Ukraine.
Russia is intensifying attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro, to disable heating and electricity supply systems. The goal of these actions is to undermine the morale of the population and force Ukraine to make concessions in peace negotiations.
The prosecutor filed a motion with the court for a UAH 50 million bail for Yulia Tymoshenko, who is suspected of offering undue benefits to people's deputies. NABU and SAP confirmed the suspicion against the faction leader.
A year ago, Ukraine relied primarily on American intelligence capabilities. Today, France provides two-thirds of these capabilities.
Czech President Petr Pavel arrived in Ukraine on a working visit, meeting with the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi. The Czech Republic remains a strategic partner of Ukraine, having provided military assistance worth 837 million dollars.
Ukraine, the USA, and Germany exposed a transnational hacker group that blocked the systems of 11 American corporations, demanding a ransom. The damage caused amounts to $1.5 million; searches were conducted at the homes of two Ukrainian citizens.
Russia attacked the Chornomorsk port pier with a ballistic missile, where a civilian vessel under the Maltese flag was located. One crew member was wounded, and the vessel was preparing to transport container cargo.
Russia plans to launch a large-scale geological exploration program in Donetsk region in 2026. It is designed to run until 2031 and involves the exploration of deposits of strategic and rare metals.
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 Ministry of Justice of Ukraine seized 25% of the shares of the "Kryukiv Railway Car Building Works" into state revenue. The High Anti-Corruption Court satisfied the claim against Stanislav Hamzalov, owner of Russian enterprises that supplied goods for the Russian military-industrial complex.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the situation in Kyiv is particularly difficult. The government will fix what the city authorities failed to do.
President Zelenskyy held an energy selector meeting, following which he announced decisions regarding the curfew.
The SBI exposed two TCC sergeants in Ivano-Frankivsk region who were illegally transporting men of conscription age to Romania for money. They charged 8,000 dollars for their services and ensured unhindered passage.
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 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.
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.
Poland will transfer up to nine MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. Technical discussions are currently underway, and Ukraine has agreed to the proposal, Warsaw says.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian dictator, did not confirm Russia's consent to the deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine with the participation of Chinese military personnel. However, according to him, Russia considers it relevant to continue dialogue with the United States on Ukraine.
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 spokesman for the Russian dictator, Dmitry Peskov, announced that the Kremlin expects a new visit of US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Russia. He also noted that Russia considers it relevant to continue the dialogue with the United States on Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Russia rejected the peace plan prepared by the US, not Volodymyr Zelensky. He emphasized that Russia's only response was missile attacks, so pressure on it must be increased.