Author’s articles
On the evening of 8 January, Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Lviv. A critical infrastructure facility was damaged, explosions were reported, and the missile travelled at a speed of about 13,000 kilometres per hour, with no civilian casualties.
The US-seized tanker Marinera or Bella 1 is linked to the Russian shadow fleet, a Russian company from Ryazan, and the transport of oil from Venezuela and Iran. The crew faces criminal charges and possible extradition.
Russian troops attacked two ports in Odesa region with missiles and drones. Two men were killed and eight other people were injured. Port infrastructure, administrative buildings and oil containers were damaged, and rescuers extinguished fires.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Paris that Ottawa will increase joint arms production with Ukraine through joint ventures. Canada is also ready to increase logistical, intelligence and cyber support and expand its training mission.
The European Commission has announced that the first tranche of the EU loan to Ukraine under the agreed EUR 90 billion loan should be disbursed no later than the second quarter of 2026.
Donald Trump said that the US is actually in control of the situation in Venezuela, seeking access to oil and not ruling out new strikes. He also spoke harshly about Colombia, Mexico, Cuba and Greenland.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Yevhen Khmara as interim head of the SSU. During the meeting, the parties discussed the systemic development of the service and scaling up the experience of special forces.
In the Lipetsk region of the Russian Federation, drones attacked the Energia defence plant in Yeltsin again. Eyewitnesses report a fire. This is at least the fourth attack on the enterprise since May 2025.
On 4 January, departures and landings at Greek airports were suspended due to problems with radio frequencies. Flights were diverted to other countries, and the airspace was almost empty.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the effectiveness of the Coalition of the Willing depends on the readiness of countries to have a military presence in Ukraine, and explained his position on the elections, the referendum and the role of the United States in the peace process.
Ukraine informed its European partners of the military document agreed with the US at the level of the General Staffs and began similar work with European countries on the parameters of a peace agreement.
The sanctioned tanker Bella 1, which the US considers to be a flagless vessel, is trying to avoid detention by claiming Russian registration. Moscow has already appealed to Washington to stop the persecution.
