Ukraine Invasion: Part 60

[MagicFox]

We have got to thread 60. So many thanks as always to regular contributors and to those providing updates. For the 60th time, Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

**
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Kyiv Post:

🔹 At an anniversary marking an uprising against Russia, Zelensky said Ukraine is now seeking an “EXACT DATE” for EU membership.

🔸 The next round of trilateral talks between delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the United States is scheduled for next week, Kremlin spokesman Peskov said.

I’ve just watched the Oscar nominated documentary Mr Nobody Against Putin, available on BBC iPlayer.
It documents the militarisation of a school in rural Russia (which has of course been mirrored all over the country) filmed by one of the teachers, who has subsequently fled to Denmark. I thought the extent of changes to the curriculum had been exaggerated, but I was wrong, the propaganda children are being exposed to is Orwellian in its scale and reach.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/tracking-russias-military-reforms/

Key Takeaways

1. The United States and Europe are finalizing security and economic guarantees with Ukraine that aim to deter future Russian aggression and rebuild Ukraine’s post-war economy.
2. The Kremlin continues to exploit the lack of clarity about the outcome of the August 2025 US-Russian Alaska summit to falsely portray Ukraine — not Russia — as the unwilling negotiating partner.
3. The Kremlin is reviving its use of nuclear arms control rhetoric to push the United States to make concessions on Ukraine in return for normalizing US-Russian relations.
4. Russian forces are increasingly using Starlink satellite systems to extend the range of BM-35 strike drones to conduct mid-range strikes against the Ukrainian rear.
5. Russia’s domestic populace is increasingly bearing the economic costs of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
6. Russian forces recently advanced in northern Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, in the Dobropillya tactical area, and near Slovyansk.

I am not sure how Russia is going to climb out of its demographic hole. It was bad enough before the war. Kidnapping Ukrainian children is not going to be enough. Every developed country has a demographic time bomb even at the best of times.

So Russia is suing a Ukrainian officer for sinking a ship that the Russians refuse to admit was sunk by the Ukrainians, instead insisting that it was sunk by 'accident'? The cognitive dissonance is incredible.
militarnyi.com/en/news/russian-court-demands-29-million-from-ukrainian-navy-officer-for-sinking-of-moskva-missile-cruiser/

1. The United States and Europe are finalizing security and economic guarantees with Ukraine that aim to deter future Russian aggression and rebuild Ukraine’s post-war economy.

How on earth can Ukraine ever believe that any security ‘guarantee’ is worth the paper it’s written on given how well the last set of guarantees worked out for them?

1. Russian forces are increasingly using Starlink satellite systems to extend the range of BM-35 strike drones to conduct mid-range strikes against the Ukrainian rear.

Wouldn't Musk have to give approval for Russia to access Starlink? The reliance of critical communications technology on private companies is worrying enough but when quixotic erratic individuals are involved, all the more so.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

Exclusive: Russian negotiators soften hardline stance in private, US officials say. Ukrainians urge caution
(kyivindependent.com/kremlin-negotiators-drop-hardline-stance-behind-closed-doors-us-official-reveals/)
U.S. officials leading the talks are convinced that Russian negotiators have taken a more pragmatic tone behind closed doors than Moscow’s public hardline rhetoric suggests, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Exclusive: Iran gave Russia over 350 Fath-360 missiles. Ukraine has yet to see one launched. (kyivindependent.com/exclusive-iran-gave-russia-over-350-fath-missiles/)
Russia has not carried out a single confirmed launch of an Iranian-made ballistic missile against Ukraine during the full-scale war, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent on Jan. 26.
While Tehran has delivered more than 350 Fath-360 short-range missiles to Moscow, Ukraine has yet to confirm their deployment against targets on Ukrainian territory, HUR spokesperson Andrii Yusov said.
The reasons could be “possible limitations of a technical or political character,” he added, not ruling out that Russia may have conducted test launches on its own territory.

⚡️ Hungary, Slovakia to challenge (kyivindependent.com/hungary-slovakia-to-challenge-eu-russian-gas-ban-in-court/) EU Russian gas ban in court.
Hungary and Slovakia plan to sue the European Union over its REPowerEU plan to phase out imports of Russian oil and gas, officials stated on Jan. 26.

Fact-check: Russia’s ‘most successful disinformation campaign’ targets free speech in Europe (kyivindependent.com/fact-check-russias-most-successful-disinformation-campaign-targets-free-speech-in-europe/)

• (kyivindependent.com/fact-check-russias-most-successful-disinformation-campaign-targets-free-speech-in-europe/)* Moscow’s propaganda machine has been hard at work depicting Europe as a “digital gulag,” hellbent on suppressing free speech online.

“Russian propaganda portrays any effort to combat disinformation as a threat to freedom of speech”, says Jakub Kalensky, an expert on disinformation at the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats.

⚡️ UK shipping company helped Russia raise $3.2 billion in LNG trade revenue (kyivindependent.com/uk-shipping-company-linked-to-russias-3-2-billion-lng-trade-campaigners-say/) in 2025, campaigners say.
Seapeak's share of Yamal LNG's trade in 2025 amounted to 37.3%, more than any other company, according to Urgewald's analysis based on Kpler data.

Russia tightens (kyivindependent.com/russia-tightens-passport-rules-for-children-in-occupied-ukraine-complicating-escape-activists-say/) passport rules for children in occupied Ukraine, complicating escape, activists say
A new Russian law requires Ukrainian children in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine to obtain Russian international passports to travel abroad; experts say the move complicates efforts to flee the occupation.

⚡️ Mass Russian drone strike on Odesa kills 1, injures 27, more may be under rubble (kyivindependent.com/mass-russian-drone-strike-on-odesa-injures-27-leaves-more-under-rubble/).
Odesa was the hardest hit among Ukrainian cities overnight.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 1h
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — JAN 26, 2026
■ New 🇷🇺 area gains confirmed; 217 km² net gained in the last 30 days with 28,000 casualties
■ Engagements and casualties remain below the 7-day average; snowfall in Kyiv
■ Robust drone & artillery losses
■ Overnight 🇷🇺 attacks: 165 drones; 82% intercepted, w/ 23 locations hit or affected by debris
■ 6 🇺🇦 strikes reported; 🇷🇺/🇺🇦 30-day strike ratio slightly up

UNITED24 Telegram Highlights

❗️The next trilateral meeting between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States is scheduled for February 1, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced.

NATO Secretary General Rutte called on EU countries, when allocating €90 billion in loans to support the Ukrainian army, not to adhere to the principles of “buy European” or “buy Ukrainian,” but to purchase the weapons Ukraine needs — including from the United States.

🇱🇹 Lithuania called on Poland to build a joint military training ground in the Suwalki Corridor — Nausėda

By the end of 2025, Russia had recruited about 18,000 citizens from 128 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America for the war against Ukraine, with at least 3,300 killed — The Telegraph.
To enlist them, Russian authorities use fake recruitment agencies and shadow migration networks, promising civilian or non-combat roles such as guards or cooks.
Once in Russia, foreigners are stripped of their passports, forced to sign documents in Russian, and sent to the front. Many die within the first 72 hours due to lack of training and understanding of their situation.

The EU is preparing a new sanctions package against Russia focused on energy revenues and the “shadow fleet,” Germany’s Foreign Ministry said.
The 20th package aims to curb Russia’s income from energy exports, neutralize its shadow fleet, and block sanctions-evasion schemes.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the measures will also target Russia’s hybrid threats at sea, in the air, and in cyberspace, and strengthen protection of Europe’s critical infrastructure.

The UK Financial Sanctions Enforcement Authority has fined the Bank of Scotland for breaching the financial sanctions regime against Russia.
In February 2023, the bank processed 24 payments totaling around £77,000 into a personal current account held by an individual subject to UK sanctions.

🇩🇪 Germany could be at the epicenter of a potential Russian attack on NATO within the next 2–3 years, said Lieutenant General Gerald Funke, head of the German Armed Forces Support Command.
In a worst-case scenario, he said, logistics would be one of the main challenges.
“It is crucial to keep Germany as a logistics hub and ensure supply routes function smoothly for as long as possible. If one route fails, others must be available,” Funke noted.

Gold hits new highs, surpassing $5,100 per ounce (about $164 per gram), according to Reuters.
In 2025, the precious metal has gained 64%, marking its strongest annual increase since 1979. Since the beginning of this year alone, prices have risen by more than 18%.
The rally is driven by demand for safe-haven assets, easing US monetary policy, active purchases by central banks — including China, which bought gold for the 14th consecutive month in December — and record inflows into exchange-traded funds.

PACE is headed by a woman for the first time in several years. In her speech, Petra Bair thanked Ukraine.
The Austrian deputy received an absolute majority of votes — 164 against 50 for Sweden’s Viktoria Thiebl.
In her address, Bair stressed that Russia’s war against Ukraine is an attack on international law, the European peace order and human rights.
“The power of law, not the right of the strong, must prevail,” she said, thanking Ukrainians for their struggle for freedom and justice, which matters for all of Europe.

Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo “Aonishiki” Yavhusyshyn wins the Emperor’s Cup for the second time in a row.
The 21-year-old athlete from Vinnytsia claimed victory at the Hatsu Basho 2026 grand tournament.

Ukrainian illustrator Maria Rizak is among the 75 winners of the prestigious 60th Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

🇺🇦🎾 Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has reached the Australian Open semifinals for the first time in her career.

Border guards from the Phoenix unit show the current state of Kostiantynivka compared to 2021. https://t.me/United24media/39371

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Russia is withdrawing its forces from Syria, evacuating aircraft and military equipment.
The video shows a base at Qamishli Airport — one of three Russian sites in the area, located about 6 km from the Turkish border. https://t.me/Kyivpost_official/34298

The US and Russia will hold new trilateral talks later (www.kyivpost.com/post/68809) this week after Abu Dhabi meetings aimed at ending the war and defining a framework for further diplomacy.

If Ukraine withdraws its forces from the region, the United States would be ready to provide additional weapons (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/68859)* to strengthen Ukraine’s military, as Washington links future security guarantees to a potential peace deal that could include territorial concessions.*

Russian military command is reportedly weighing the removal of Black Sea (www.kyivpost.com/post/68801) Fleet chief Sergei Pinchuk after repeated failures to stop Ukrainian naval drone attacks.

More than 130 generators donated by Poland arrived in Kyiv (www.kyivpost.com/post/68828) on Monday after a fundraising campaign raised over $2 million in just ten days, the city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko announced.

German company Circus SE will deliver CA-1 robotic kitchens (www.kyivpost.com/post/68799) to the 3rd Army Corps, part of a plan that could bring up to 25 systems to Ukraine.
The kitchens are fully autonomous and can handle everything from picking ingredients to cooking, serving, and cleaning. [ where's the heart in a meal cooked by robots!]

A university building is burning in Kharkiv after a Russian strike, with another facility reduced to rubble.

During an air raid alert on Tuesday, Kyiv residents were seen crossing to the other side of the city on foot — walking across a frozen river as temperatures remained below –10°C.

OPINION: (www.kyivpost.com/opinion/68817) Europe finds its balls in Davos, but China is the ultimate winner.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇫🇷🇬🇧🇺🇦France has opposed the idea of simplifying the procurement of British Storm Shadow missiles for the Armed Forces of Ukraine The Telegraph reports.

The €90 billion EU loan stipulates that weapons should be purchased primarily from EU countries and Ukraine. However the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine estimated that this year the country will need €24 billion worth of armaments from outside the EU.

Therefore 11 countries of the bloc proposed softening the loan rules so that Ukraine could buy Storm Shadows. But France insists that the funds must be spent only within the EU.

🇨🇿 Czech philanthropists from the "Gift for Putin" fund have already raised over €4 million for the purchase of generators for Ukraine, according to their page on X.

🇸🇰🫂 Slovaks have launched a fundraiser in support of Ukraine: they are collecting €500,000 for generators.
The fundraising is being implemented by the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovakia together with 11 public organizations. In just 3 days people managed to raise more than €500,000.

Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere in the parliamentary elections and ordered the Ukrainian ambassador to be summoned for a talk.

The Ukrainian air defense shot down 135 out of 165 Russian UAVs the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.
24 drones hit 14 locations and debris fell in another 9 locations.
In Kryvyi Rih Dnipropetrovsk region a fire broke out in a high rise building as a result of the Russian attack.
The Odesa region was attacked by more than 50 drones. 23 people were injured 9 of whom were hospitalized including two children and a pregnant woman.

France has opposed the idea of simplifying the procurement of British Storm Shadow missiles for the Armed Forces of Ukraine The Telegraph reports.

Leaving politics aside for a moment despite what the Telegraph says Storm Shadow is not British, it's Anglo French, originally a joint BAe / Matra product and known as SCALP-EG by the French military.

That's why the French position is slightly odd ATM, I'll have to do some digging at this end to see how to decipher what's going on..

Here's the article from The Telegraph. The link should bypass the paywall. Let me know if it doesn't, and I'll copy and paste it.

www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/23673899f1f1b6c3

Thanks, I'll have a look but by default the Telegraph will have an anti-EU/France/Macron slant on this....(as demonstrated by the British missile statement....).

That's how I feel as an American when I read most of the British press, particularly The Guardian.

Ah yes, that I can understand.

FWIW and ATM most coverage of the Storm Shadow story, especially places like X and Reddit, seems to be leaning on the Telegraph piece as a primary source.

Presumably something has triggered the DT piece but as yet not finding anything to confirm the details.

I mostly read The Telegraph for the defense coverage and their US news reporting. They have some excellent defense editors and commentators, and it's interesting to me to get a British perspective on what's happening here that isn't openly hostile to the US.

Dom Nichols and Hamish de Bretton-Gordon are both former BA officers and are very insightful and knowledgeable about land warfare.

Finally the British public are waking up to the threat that russia poses. Maybe we’ll get some proper investment in the armed forces now.

Headlines are one thing, problem is when it comes to the crunch a lot of the public don't want foot the bill, or run a mile at having their DC actually contribute to the effort ....and the politicians know that.

I sadly fully expect all sorts of smoke and mirrors to be deployed to show defence spending is up (e.g. shifting relatively normal government spend into the defence budget from e.g. trade, education or infrastructure...Italy I'm looking at rumours about you) and I'll bet the front line forces won't see much improvement...

I really hope I am wrong.

Headlines are one thing, problem is when it comes to the crunch a lot of the public don't want foot the bill, or run a mile at having their DC actually contribute to the effort

Here, most people don't mind if the defense budget goes up as long as their taxes don't, so you need economic growth to increase tax receipts without raising tax rates. Fortunately, we've generally had good economic growth over time.

My impression is that military service is viewed more positively here than in the UK. That may be because more people have friends and relatives who served. There was also a lot of money put into improving pay, benefits, living conditions, and training, which made the military more attractive as a career option. We also have the GI Bill, which provides generous benefits when you get out.

I cancelled my subscription to the Telegraph over the way they were attacking my colleagues during an industrial dispute, I want press that will hold governments to account rather than just repeat party lines. The military stuff was always good though.

I subscribe to the Times now instead. I find it about as balanced as is possible to achieve when humans are involved. Times Radio provides good coverage on Ukraine through their Frontline programne; including appearances from Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, Malcolm Nance and Ben Hodges on the military side; and the likes of John Bolton, Bill Browder and Scott Lucas explaining the political and diplomatic machinations.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-27-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. The United States is reportedly pushing Ukraine to cede the remainder of Donetsk Oblast to Russia in exchange for US security guarantees. ISW continues to assess that Ukrainian concessions of territory that Russia is unlikely to seize quickly or easily militarily would be a strategic mistake.
2. The Russian military command continues to present demonstrable lies and exaggerations about Russian battlefield gains in order to push Ukraine and the West to concede to the demands that Russia remains unable to achieve militarily.
3. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has been lying about the scale of Russian advances for months, provoking repeated criticisms from even pro-war Russian milbloggers.
4. The Russian military command has been boasting about the seizure of small, rural villages and presenting these seizures as alleged evidence of the prowess of the Russian military to further the false narrative that Russian victory in Ukraine is inevitable.
5. Russian officials continue to indicate that Russia’s demands go beyond control of territory in eastern Ukraine, despite the Kremlin’s efforts to claim to Western audiences that Donbas is the main issue in ongoing peace talks.
6. Russia will not be satisfied with a peace settlement that does not meet all of its demands and is instead using informational tools to push for Ukraine’s pre-emptive capitulation.
7. Russian forces conducted a Shahed drone strike against a civilian passenger train in Kharkiv Oblast on January 27, killing at least five people.
8. Russian forces continue to commit war crimes on the battlefield, including in areas where Russian forces have recently intensified offensive operations.
9. Russian forces recently advanced near Slovyansk, in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, and near Pokrovsk.

What follows is as good an explanation as any of the Storm Shadow story the DT was running with a day or so back;

Summary..there are two production lines for the weapons, one in UK one in France.

Either can fulfil Ukraine reqirements.

France is arguing that since the funding is EU provided specifically for EU produced ordnance the French line should fulfil the order.

x.com/SONARROW_OSINT/status/2016165746355650716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2016165746355650716%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ US reportedly ties security guarantees (https://kyivindependent.com/us-reportedly-ties-security-guarantees-to-ukraine-ceding-donbas/) to Ukraine ceding Donbas territory to Russia.
As an additional incentive, the U.S. has reportedly offered Ukraine more weapons to equip its army in the post-war period.

⚡️ Update: US source denies 'forcing' Ukraine (https://kyivindependent.com/us-reportedly-ties-security-guarantees-to-ukraine-ceding-donbas/) on territory as reports tie security guarantees to Donbas ceding.
A U.S. source familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent that Washington "is not trying to force any territorial concessions upon Ukraine."

⚡️ Ukraine war latest live (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2026-01-27/): Russian forces intensify pressure in Pokrovsk direction, military says.

⚡️ Ukraine sees shift in Russia's peace talks delegation (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-sees-shift-in-russias-peace-talks-delegation/) as 'pseudo-historical lectures' end, foreign minister says.
"These are different people... the conversations were very focused," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

⚡️ Ukraine targets (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-targets-oil-depot-in-russias-voronezh-oblast-strikes-several-military-facilities-in-occupied-territories-general-staff-says/) oil depot in Russia's Voronezh Oblast, strikes several military facilities in occupied territories, General Staff says.

The attack on the oil depot caused a fire at the facility and ignited stored petroleum products. Thick smoke is rising above the site, the General Staff said.
⚡️ European coastal countries warn Russia's shadow fleet ships (https://kyivindependent.com/european-coastal-countries-warn-russias-shadow-fleet-over-maritime-safety/), step up maritime safety.
Fourteen European countries warned on Jan. 26 that ships sailing in the Baltic Sea and North Sea under multiple flags may be treated as stateless vessels.

⚡️Spain escorts (https://kyivindependent.com/spain-escorts-shadow-fleet-vessel-sanctioned-for-carrying-russian-oil-reuters-reports/) shadow fleet vessel sanctioned for carrying Russian oil, Reuters reports.
An EU-sanctioned shadow fleet vessel was being escorted to Morocco by a Spanish rescue ship, Reuters reported on Jan. 27, citing Spain's maritime authorities.

The Chariot Tide (https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9323376#google_vignette), formerly known as Marabella Sun, was flying a Mozambique flag when its engine broke down on Jan. 22 in international waters within Spain (https://kyivindependent.com/tag/spain/)'s search-and-rescue zone.

⚡️Hungary summons Ukrainian ambassador over election interference claims (https://kyivindependent.com/hungary-summons-ukrainian-ambassador-over-election-interference-claims/).
Ukraine's ambassador to Hungary was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Budapest on Jan. 27, as Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Kyiv of interfering in Hungary's upcoming parliamentary elections.

⚡️Russia has suffered 'more losses than any major power' (https://kyivindependent.com/russia-has-suffered-more-losses-than-any-major-power-since-world-war-ii-report-says/) since World War II, report says.
Russian forces have sustained nearly 1.2 million casualties since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, paying a steep price for limited gains, a new CSIS report finds.

⚡️Pro-Ukrainian partisans sabotage (https://kyivindependent.com/pro-ukrainian-partisans-sabotage-electrical-substation-in-russias-udmurt-republic-disrupt-power-supply-to-military-industrial-plant-group-claims/) substation in Russia's Udmurt Republic, disrupt power supply to military‑industrial plant, group claims.

⚡️ Ukraine war latest live (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2026-01-27/): Russian agent sentenced to 15 years for coordinating Russian strikes, SBU says.

⚡️ Public safety warnings issued (https://kyivindependent.com/public-safety-warnings-issued-after-russian-strike-on-lviv-oblast-oil-terminal/) after Russian drone strike on Lviv Oblast oil terminal.
"People with chronic respiratory and cardiovascular conditions are advised, if possible, to stay indoors," officials said.

⚡️ Update: Four people (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2026-01-27/) confirmed killed in Kharkiv train attack, officials say.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 2h
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — JAN 28, 2026
■ Engagements and casualties remain below the 7-day average; 2 km² reclaimed by 🇺🇦
■ 1k+ drone losses (4th highest); four pieces of special equipment hit in the last seven days; snowfall in Kyiv
■ Visually confirmed batch: 23 🇷🇺 : 35 🇺🇦 — 0.8x in the last 90 days (0.7x in 2026)
■ Overnight 🇷🇺 attacks: 147 drones and an Iskander-M; 70% intercepted, with 22 locations hit
Seven 🇺🇦 strikes reported; 🇷🇺/🇺🇦 30-day strike ratio below 19 again

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

🗣️ President Zelenskyy is ready to meet with Putin to resolve the two most sensitive issues, — Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Ukraine expects to sign a 20-point peace plan once it is agreed, as the most difficult issues — territories and the Zaporizhzhia NPP — remain unresolved.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged European parliamentarians to pressure their governments to accelerate the delivery of air defense missiles to Ukraine.
He stressed the importance of the PURL program, under which allies purchase interceptor missiles from the United States, but said it is not enough as Russian attacks are intensifying.

✈️ Ukraine expects additional Mirage 2000-5 aircraft from France, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said after a conversation with his French counterpart Vautrin.
He also noted that Ukraine is counting on the supply of interceptor missiles for the SAMP/T and Crotale air defense systems, as well as long-range weapons.

😡 “Cultural invasion.” The song Sigma Boy may be part of Russian propaganda — The Economist
The song has been streamed more than 270 million times since its release in April 2025. The term “sigma” is associated with the image of a “cool lone wolf” who lives by his own rules.
Children in Britain can now be heard humming Sigma Boy on playgrounds. Scholars across Europe are questioning the sudden popularity of the Russian song.
Some describe it as a “cultural invasion,” says George Charonitis of the University of Thessaly in Greece.
The Ukrainian government states that the song is being promoted by bot farms and may be part of Russian propaganda efforts.
According to Karl Miller of the Demos Center, Russia is changing its approach to disinformation, increasingly promoting ideas of masculinity, strength and patriotism, with a focus on young audiences.

🇪🇺 The Council of Europe has prepared the text of an agreement to launch the work of a special tribunal against the Russian Federation, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative said.
According to Tochytskyi, questions from several member states are currently being addressed, in particular regarding the tribunal’s budget, premises and other operational expenses.

In Zaporizhzhia, an enemy attack damaged more than 100 apartments and about 20 cars. A fire broke out.

🤔 “Expresses serious concern.” UNESCO responds to Russian attacks on cultural heritage sites in Ukraine
Sites under enhanced UNESCO protection in Odesa, Lviv, and Kyiv have been damaged, including St. Sophia Cathedral and the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The organization is working with Ukrainian authorities to assess the damage and protect cultural heritage during the war

Five people were killed in a Russian strike on a passenger train in the Kharkiv region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
One of the Russian drones hit a carriage carrying 18 people. More than 200 passengers were on the train in total.

As a result of Russian shelling in Kherson, the historic “European” Hotel burned down.
Built in 1915, the “European” was one of the city’s oldest and most well-known hotels. It stood at the intersection of Katerynenska and Ryshelievska streets and remained one of Kherson’s most beautiful buildings.

📘🇺🇦 The Guardian editor to release book Ukrainian Lessons
Charlotte Higgins, culture editor at The Guardian, will release a new book titled Ukrainian Lessons, exploring the deep connection between war, art, and life. [...]Ukrainian Lessons will be published on August 20, 2026.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine plans to become a member of the European Union as early as next year.

Ukraine has denied statements by Russia’s General Staff (www.kyivpost.com/post/68892) claiming the alleged “capture” of Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi in the Kharkiv region, saying the settlement remains under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

The pressure is aimed primarily at Kyiv: “If they were pushing just one side… that would be the Ukrainian side. Ukraine’s silence suggests the conversations are uncomfortable, John Herbst, a former US ambassador to Ukraine and senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, told Kyiv Post. (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/68832)

Zelensky appointed Mykhailo Brodovych as Ukraine’s new ambassador to Georgia, (www.kyivpost.com/post/68879) ending a two-year vacancy.

Russia is moving Cuban and Indian migrants into homes of displaced Ukrainians in occupied Crimea (www.kyivpost.com/post/68854) and southern Ukraine.

Kyiv Post is proud to announce that our CEO, Luc Chénier, will take the main stage at Web Summit in Doha, Qatar, on February 3, representing both Kyiv Post and Ukraine.

1.8 MILLION casualties and rising: (www.kyivpost.com/post/68906) the combined losses of Russian and Ukrainian forces could reach TWO MILLION by spring 2026.

Millions of Ukrainians fled Russia’s full-scale invasion in search of safety. In the United States, many found protection — and a chance to rebuild their lives.
This film follows three Ukrainians living in the US who are navigating a period of legal uncertainty.
https://www.kyivpost.com/videos/68898

"Drooling imbecile" — Elon Musk lashed out at Poland's foreign minister, Radostaw Sikorski, after he urged restrictions on Russia's use of Starlink.

Trump hung a joint photo with Putin in the White House, media report.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Sybiha reported that Ukraine will sign a 20 point peace agreement on the settlement of the Russian Ukrainian war with the USA and the USA will separately sign a document with Russia.
Regarding the participation of Europeans in the approval of "peace documents" the European side according to the Minister is "present in the peace process and in the agreements on security guarantees."

🇧🇩 Russia is recruiting citizens of Bangladesh for the war in Ukraine under the guise of civilian work according to an AP investigation.
One of the recruits Rahman said he was looking for a job abroad and received an offer to become a cleaner at a military camp in Russia with pay of $1,000—1,500 per month and accommodation.
After arriving in Moscow he and a group of other workers were asked to sign documents in Russian which turned out to be military contracts.
To force the recruits to fight the Russians threatened them with 10 year imprisonment and beat them. Rahman sustained a leg injury after which he fled to the Bangladesh embassy in Moscow and returned home.
▪️Bangladesh police and human rights organizations have confirmed at least 10 cases of disappearance of their citizens who went to work in the Russian Federation. However according to AP estimates about 40 Bangladeshis have already died in Russia's war against Ukraine.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is "alarmed" by Donald Trump's behavior and "psychological state" after a personal meeting Politico writes citing sources.
According to diplomats Fico called Trump's actions "dangerous" and said that he was "not himself."
These words were spoken during informal conversations on the eve of the emergency EU summit on January 22 which was organized due to Trump's statement about Greenland and pressure on European allies.
Publicly Fico presented the meeting differently — he called it a "sign of great respect" and spoke of an "open and friendly" conversation about Ukraine and the crisis in the EU.
The White House denied everything calling the publication "fake news." At the same time in Brussels according to Politico there is increasing unofficial discussion of concerns over the US president's unpredictability.